Greenhouse gas concentration reached a new record in 2019 and continues to rise | NOW

The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit a new record in 2019 and, despite the corona crisis, continued to rise in 2020, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports Monday.

Many scientists had expected a big drop in greenhouse gas emissions this year, as airplanes are largely grounded and people are massively working from home. This is disappointing, reports the WMO, which calls the decline limited. According to the organization, the decline is no greater than usual. Annual emissions fluctuate more often.

“In the short term, the impact of the corona crisis cannot be distinguished from natural fluctuations,” said the United Nations organization.

Every year, the WMO reports the concentration of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the air. The number of particles of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, reached a record 410.5 parts per million in 2019.

The annual increase was greater than that of the year before and also greater than the average increase of the past decade. “We have never seen such a large increase since the start of the measurements”, says Secretary General of the WMO Petteri Taalas. “The corona crisis is not a solution to climate change.”

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