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According to World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin Carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than at any time experienced during human history, rising by more than 11 per cent in just two decades.

About Greenhouse Gas Bulletin

The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin has been published annually since 2004. This publication presents the latest analysis of observations from the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Programme on concentrations of long-lived greenhouse gases in the atmosphere for 2023.

The Bulletin reports globally averaged surface mole fractions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). It compares these values to those of the previous year and pre-industrial levels. Additionally, it provides insights into changes in radiative forcing — the warming effect on the atmosphere by long-lived greenhouse gases and details the contribution of individual gases to this effect.

The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is released yearly to inform the United Nations Climate Change negotiations, the annual Conference of the Parties (COP).

Key highlights of the Bulletin

Greenhouse Gas	Concentration (2023)	Contribution to Warming Effect	Main Sources	Additional Details
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)	420 ppm	~64% of the warming effect	Fossil fuel combustion, cement production	Long-term increase primarily due to fossil fuels, with yearly variations influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impact on natural carbon fluxes.
Methane (CH₄)	1934 ppb	~16% of the warming effect	Agriculture (livestock), waste decomposition, natural gas extraction	Short-lived (remains in atmosphere ~10 years), but highly potent as a greenhouse gas.
Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)	336.9 ppb	~6% of the warming effect	Agricultural practices (fertilizers), industrial processes	Contributes to ozone depletion in addition to warming, with a long atmospheric lifetime.
Radiative Forcing	Increased by 51.5% (1990–2023)	CO₂ accounts for ~81% of the increase	Long-lived greenhouse gases, predominantly CO₂	Radiative forcing measures the influence of greenhouse gases on global temperatures.

About World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO)

The WMO is governed by the World Meteorological Congress, composed of representatives from member states. This congress meets every four years to set policies and priorities for the organisation. The WMO plays a vital role in assessing and communicating the state of the global climate.

READ IN DETAIL HERE- World Meteorological Organization

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THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.What is the significance of the latest findings from the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin in understanding climate change dynamics? Highlight the contributions of major greenhouse gases and analyze the implications of their rising concentrations on global warming and environmental policies. (250 words)