The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin for 2023, highlighting a surge in global greenhouse gas (GHG) levels. The report reveals that greenhouse gas levels have reached a record high, with an over 10% rise in two decades. The bulletin provides critical data on GHG concentrations, their impact on radiative forcing, and the amplification of emissions due to climate change.
About the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin (GGB)
First Published: 2004, published annually by the WMO.
Contents:
- Tracks globally averaged surface mole fractions of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), and Nitrous Oxide (N₂O).
- Compares current GHG concentrations with the previous year and pre-industrial levels.
- Provides insights into radiative forcing changes due to long-lived greenhouse gases (LLGHGs).
Purpose: One of WMO’s key publications, the GGB informs the UN Climate Change Conference (COP).
Key Highlights of the 2023 GGB
- Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
- CO₂: 2023 concentrations are 151% of pre-industrial levels.
- CH₄: Methane levels have reached 265% of pre-industrial levels.
- N₂O: Nitrous oxide is now at 125% of pre-industrial levels (compared to levels before 1750).
- Radiative Forcing Increase
- From 1990 to 2023, radiative forcing by long-lived greenhouse gases surged by 51.5%.
- CO₂ alone contributes approximately 81% to this increase in radiative forcing, highlighting its dominant role in global warming.
- Methane (CH₄) Spike
- Methane has seen its largest three-year increase, attributed to:
- Increased emissions from natural wetlands due to climate change effects.
- Methane remains a powerful greenhouse gas, persisting in the atmosphere for about a decade and accounting for 16% of the warming effect from long-lived GHGs.
- Climate Change Amplification
Climate change is accelerating GHG emissions through:
- Ecosystems: Releasing additional GHGs as temperatures rise.
- Wildfires: Increasing CO₂ emissions.
- Oceans: Absorbing less CO₂, which also contributes to ocean acidification.
Radiative Forcing and Its Significance
Definition: Radiative forcing is the energy per unit area added to or removed from the climate system by GHGs.
Importance: Greenhouse gases disrupt Earth’s energy balance by trapping heat that would otherwise escape into space, leading to global warming.
Concentration Levels in 2023
- CO₂: Reached 420 parts per million (ppm).
- CH₄: Reached 1934 parts per billion (ppb).
- N₂O: Reached 337 ppb.
Notable Contributions of Each Greenhouse Gas
- Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): The primary greenhouse gas linked to human activities, accounting for 64% of the climate warming effect. Its long-term increase is largely due to fossil fuel combustion and cement production, with variations influenced by El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which impacts CO₂ uptake and release.
- Methane (CH₄): Accounts for 16% of the warming effect from long-lived greenhouse gases, with an atmospheric lifetime of around a decade.
- Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): An ozone-depleting gas, contributing 6% of radiative forcing from LLGHGs, further intensifying its warming effect on the climate.
About the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency within the United Nations (UN) system, acting as the primary global authority on the Earth’s atmospheric conditions, its interactions with oceans, climate effects, and the distribution of water resources.
Origins and Establishment
- Predecessor: Originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), founded in 1873.
- Formation: Officially established as the WMO in 1950 and designated as the UN’s specialized agency for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
Headquarters and Membership
- Location: Geneva, Switzerland.
- Membership: Comprises 191 member countries.
Governance Structure
- World Meteorological Congress:
- The organization’s highest governing body, comprising representatives from all member states.
- Convenes at least every four years to set overall policies and adopt regulatory measures.
- Executive Council:
- Consists of 36 members who meet annually to implement the Congress’s policies.
- Secretariat:
- Acts as the administrative core of WMO.
- Headed by a Secretary-General, appointed by the Congress for a four-year term.
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