GENEVA: The concentration of heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere reached a record high last year, escalating to a level unseen in human civilization.

According to the World Meteorological Organization's latest bulletin on greenhouse gases, CO2 growth rates have tripled since the 1960s and have not been witnessed for at least 800,000 years.

The increase is attributed to heightened emissions from fossil fuels alongside an increase in wildfires, which contribute to a 'vicious climate cycle'.

While CO2 levels rose by 3.5 parts per million (ppm) between 2023 and 2024, up from the previous decade's average of 2.4 ppm annually, global efforts to reduce emissions remain insufficient.

The WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett emphasized the critical need for emission reductions to mitigate the climate crisis’s impact on economic security and community well-being.

The report also noted record levels of methane and nitrous oxide, other greenhouse gases driven by human activities.

This trend is expected to lead to further global temperature increase and challenges in achieving the 1.5°C target set forth in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

The UN climate chief has indicated that the Earth could see a temperature rise of 3°C.