The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a record level in 2020, and increased more last year than the average of the previous decade, according to a WMO report.
Emissions fell by 5.6 per cent last year due to less activity in the corona pandemic. Nevertheless, it has no noticeable effect on the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It also had no noticeable effect on how fast the concentration of greenhouse gases increases.
– It’s not surprising. I think there will be a record year every year going forward. This will happen until we reach the point where no more greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere than are removed, says climate expert Svein Tveitdal.
Tveitdal is an environmental adviser and former UN director believes the record in 2020 will come several years ahead.
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Tveitdal is an environmental adviser and former UN director. Although the report shows a decline, he is more excited about what is happening now that the world has begun to reopen.
– What is interesting is what happens next year. Then I’m afraid we’ll get a real negative surprise.
Negative news before summit
The report from the World Meteorological Organization comes just days before the climate summit in Glasgow – COP26 – is launched.
Tveitdal does not think the report will affect the summit to any great extent.
– But it is a strong reminder of the severity of the emissions. The report says that we must cut 50 percent by 2030. It is seven percent every single year, which is a clear message to Norway and other oil nations, says Tveitdal.
Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide (Labor Party) commented on the report during a press conference before attending the meeting in Glasgow. Several times he pointed out how serious this was.
– It is even more dramatic than we thought. I guess it’s because the absorption in the ground and in the sea is saturated. It is very serious if you fail to change course on this, Barth Eide said at the press conference.
The report is called the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. Petteri Taalas, head of the World Meteorological Organization, believes the report must show the way for dealers in Glasgow.
“The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin contains a sharp, scientific message for climate negotiators at COP26,” says Taalas.
More extreme weather
With increased greenhouse gas emissions and increased temperatures, you will have more extreme weather, according to WMO. This means, among other things, more heat waves, heavier precipitation and melting of glaciers.
– We must turn our commitment into efforts that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change, says Talaas.
Although global emissions are rapidly reduced, carbon dioxide will remain in the atmosphere for decades to come as a result of its long life.
“With the current increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, we will see a temperature increase towards the end of the century that exceeds the Paris Agreement’s target of between 1.5 and 2 degrees from the pre-industrial level,” says Talaas.
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