Atmospheric levels of all three major greenhouse gases reached record levels, the warming effect increased by 50% between 1990 and 2021, and CO2 accounted for about 80% of that increase.
Scientists think rising methane levels may be caused by microbes in wetlands, rice paddies and the guts of ruminants, as rising temperatures have created ideal conditions for them, according to a new World Meteorological Organization (WMO) study, reports The Guardian.
WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas said this shows the world is moving in the wrong direction.
The researchers found that 2020 and 2021 saw the largest annual jump in methane concentrations since systematic measurements began nearly 40 years ago. Some scientists believe that the increase in hydraulic fracturing in the United States was the reason, but industrial emissions did not show such a sharp increase.
“Carbon dioxide levels are also rising rapidly, with the jump from 2020 to 2021 exceeding the annual rate of growth over the past decade. Measurements by stations of the WMO Global Atmospheric Monitoring Network show that these levels continue to rise," the article says.
According to WMO, the concentration of greenhouse gases in 2021 was:
- for carbon dioxide – 415.7 parts per million, 149% of the pre-industrial level;
- for methane – 1,908 parts per billion, 262% of the pre-industrial level;
- nitrous oxide – 334.5 parts per billion, 124% of the pre-industrial level.
Taalas noted that the steady increase in the concentration of major greenhouse gases, particularly the record acceleration of methane levels, shows that the world is moving in the wrong direction. However, the impact of methane on the climate is reversible, because it has a relatively short life span of less than 10 years, and CO2 poses the greatest threat.
"There are cost-effective strategies to combat methane emissions, especially in the fossil fuel sector, and we must implement them without delay," he added. "associated extreme weather conditions, and which will affect the climate for thousands of years through loss of polar ice, warming oceans and rising sea levels."
Taalas also stressed that time is running out to address the climate emergency as the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere continues to reach new peaks. Therefore, it is necessary to transform the industrial, energy and transport systems and the entire way of life.
"The necessary changes are economically affordable and technically possible. Time is running out," he said.
The material noted that the results of WMO research will be presented at the UN climate conference Cop27 in November 2022. However, even if the level of emissions rapidly decreases to the "net zero" observed temperature level will persist for decades.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that according to the National Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the level of methane in the atmosphere has reached an all-time high and increased by 17 parts per billion in 2021.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, a new study by the University of Stockholm, Sweden, showed that the current rate of warming will put the Earth at risk of crossing six dangerous climate tipping points. This will lead to disruption of the Earth's systems and will have catastrophic consequences.
