Record leap in CO2 fuels fears of accelerating global heating

CO₂ in air hit new high last year, with scientists concerned natural land and ocean carbon sinks are weakening

Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere soared by a record amount in 2024 to hit another high, UN data shows, deepening the climate crisis that is already taking lives and livelihoods across the world.

Scientists are worried that the natural land and ocean sinks" that remove CO₂ from the air are weakening as a result of global heating, which could form a vicious circle and drive temperatures up even faster.