Despite the pandemic forcing large parts of the world economy to shut down, 2020 was far from a notch in the curve - on the contrary.
The level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere instead reached new record levels.
- We are far from being on the right track, says WMO's Secretary General Petteri Taalas in a press release.
Faster rate of increase
The carbon dioxide content reached 413.2 parts per million, ppm, and is thus 49 percent higher than it did before industrialization began in the 1850s.
In addition, the average increase for the year was even higher than the average for the last ten-year period, which was previously pointed out as particularly worrying.
And despite the fact that emissions decreased temporarily during the pandemic, the trend of rising levels continued in 2021.
- But the current rate of increase of the greenhouse gas content in the atmosphere, we will see a temperature increase at the end of this century that is far above the goal in the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature increase of 1.5 to 2 degrees higher than during pre-industrial times.
Carbon monoxide, which causes the heat radiation from the sun to remain longer in the atmosphere, accounts for almost 70 percent of the warming effect on the climate.
And as long as the world continues to burn coal, oil and natural gas, global temperatures will continue to rise.
Requires sharp commitments
WMO's hopes their report can be a wake-up call ahead of COP26 - the climate summit that begins on Sunday in Glasgow.
What is needed are sharp commitments from the participating countries, says Professor Taalas:
- We must go from words to concrete action that really affects greenhouse gas emissions.
It is about reconsidering the industry, the transport systems and our whole lifestyle.
And the changes required are both affordable and technically feasible.
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Hear the expert on tipping points: "It's a fight against the clock" Photo: David Goldman / AP / TT, SVT, Andre Penner / AP / TT