The increase in the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere "shows no sign of slowing down". This is "despite the commitments made by the international community under the Paris Agreement". As a result, the concentration of CO2 reached a new record in 2018: 407.8 ppm (parts per million). That is 147 per cent higher than the pre-industrial level of 1850. As if that were not enough, the rate of growth between 2017 and 2018 was higher than the average for the past ten years.

In 2017 CO2 had reached 405.5 parts per million

The alarm raised by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) amounts, in effect, to saying that those who should be acting are taking us for a ride. Whether the result has depended on governments' delays in translating their words into concrete actions, or on companies' reluctance to give up their businesses that are incompatible with safeguarding the climate, matters little.

What matters is that – despite the commitments, the conferences, the marches, the strikes and the appeals from the scientific community – humanity continues to be hurtling towards a wall. And, what is more, at ever increasing speed.

Read also: Climate, 11,000 scientists declare a state of emergency on Earth

The concentration of carbon dioxide had already reached, according to the UN agency's calculations, 405.5 parts per million in 2017, compared with 403.3 the previous year and 400.1 in 2015. According to other estimates made by the Potsdam Institute last May, the figures would be even higher: equal to 412 parts per million.

World Meteorological Organization @WMO

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WMO issues #GreenhouseGas Bulletin on concentrations of CO2 and other long-lived gases in atmosphere on Mon 25 Nov at 1100 CET (1000 GMT). Livecast on webtv.un.org
#ClimateAction #COP25

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CO2 concentration never this high in at least 3 million years

"It is worth remembering," stressed Finnish Petteri Taalas, secretary-general of the WMO, "that the last time such a high CO2 level was recorded in the Earth's atmosphere was between 3 and 5 million years ago. When the global average temperature was 2–3 degrees higher than it is today. And sea levels were 10–20 metres higher."

Read also: 12 years to act or the climate will go haywire

In addition to carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide must also be factored in. Their growth, too, has recorded a faster pace than the average for the past decade. Bringing them, just as in the case of CO2, to record concentration levels. Which is particularly alarming given that methane has a climate-altering potential approximately 30 times greater than that of carbon dioxide.

World Meteorological Organization @WMO

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Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reach new record high, locking in #climatechange for future generations. CO2 levels reached 407.8 parts per million in 2018, up from 405.5 ppm in 2017.

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The WMO's appeal: "Act in the interest of humanity"

It is for this reason that Taalas issued a clear appeal, directed at governments around the world, ahead of Cop 25 – the United Nations world climate conference – which will be held in Madrid from 2 to 13 December. "Commitments must be translated into concrete actions and ambitions raised. In the interest of all humanity," he stated.

To do so, however, it will be necessary to convince the usual suspects. Namely China, the United States, the European Union and India. Which together account for 56 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. At Cop 25, the groundwork must be laid so that, in the following year, emissions reduction pledges are revised. Work that will need to be completed by 2020, when Cop 26 will be held under the presidency of the United Kingdom and Italy. The next twelve months therefore represent, truly, the last opportunity to avert climate catastrophe.