Whilst many countries across the globe are trying to combat greenhouse gas emissions, especially in Europe, new figures suggest that in 2013, greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere reached record levels due to a surge in carbon dioxide emissions.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) monitors greenhouse gas levels. Rather than measure emissions coming directly from source, their annual greenhouse gas bulletin records the level of warming gases in the atmosphere after it has interacted in the air, land and oceans. In doing so, the WMO found that the global average atmospheric carbon dioxide has actually risen by almost three parts per million since 2012. This means that carbon dioxide levels are now 142% higher than the levels in 1750, which was before the industrial revolution began.
Although it is the case that carbon dioxide levels have increased, global temperatures have not, suggesting that global warming has paused.
However, scientists are baffled by the latest data as it suggests that an increased amount of emissions coupled with a reduced carbon emissions uptake by the Earth's biosphere has caused the rise. In the past, reduced uptake by the biosphere has been scientifically explained as there have been other contributing factors such as the El Nino phenomena, but as Oksana Tarasova, chief of the atmospheric research division at the WMO, explained, "In 2013 there are no obvious impacts on the biosphere so it is more worrying." Oksana added, "It could be that the biosphere is at its limit but we cannot tell that at the moment."
This latest report may well become the centre of attention after the world's political leaders gathered in New York on 23 September for the climate summit called by the UN Secretary Genera Ban Ki-Moon. Ban Ki-Moon had "asked these leaders to bring bold announcements and actions to the Summit that will reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and mobilize political will for a meaningful legal agreement in 2015."
However, UK climate secretary Ed Davey warned that although the agreement may be legally binding, any targets set for emissions reductions may not be.
