Greenhouse gas concentrations surged to new record last year, UN experts warn
Levels of greenhouse gases surged to a record level in 2023, locking in future temperature rises for years to come, UN experts have warned.The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said carbon dioxide (CO2) is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than any time experienced during human existence, having risen by more than 10% in just two decades.In its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, released on Monday, the WMO said globally-averaged surface concentrations of the greenhouse gases CO2, methane and nitrous oxide reached 151%, 265% and 125% of pre-industrial levels respectively in 2023.Another year. Another record. This should set alarm bells ringing among...
Distress signals: Earth’s water cycle is becoming more erratic
Beneath the sun's heat, which feels stronger each year, our world is altering in ways we cannot ignore. The United Nations recently warned that the stability of Earth's water cycle is in jeopardy due to climate change. Parched planet Streams ran unusually low in 2023, hitting a thirty-year record for aridity. At the same time, glaciers recorded their worst half-century loss, surrendering gigantic ice-continent amounts. While one end of the spectrum experienced extreme drought, the other end saw a significant surplus of water, with floods washing across countries. President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Celeste Saulo, conveyed her concern about these stark...