Image: Shutterstock
The three main greenhouse gases that caused global warming all reached record levels in 2021.
This is a conclusion drawn from data from World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which said this year may be the largest increase in methane emissions since it was recorded 40 years ago.
World Meteorological Organization revealed that according to experience, methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are three greenhouse gases related to global warming, and the amounts of these three gases are increasing due to human activities.
The study said that growth between 2020 and 2021 alone exceeded the annual growth rate in the first 10 years. "It is urgent to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent global temperatures from rising further in the future. This is a huge challenge and extremely necessary," said Taras, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization. Since 1990, the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on global warming has doubled.
Specifically, methane rose 262% during this period, carbon rose 149% and nitrous oxide rose 124%.
After the epidemic, the production of fossil fuels and cement recovered at a faster rate than before to make up for the lost time, which had a harmful effect on the earth's temperature and was also the reason for such a staggering increase in just one year.
Scientists said that in 2010, 48% of the emissions generated by human activities eventually entered the atmosphere, 26% entered the ocean, and 29% entered the land.
Biomass combustion and fertilizers are responsible for the rise in nitrous oxide, while methane emissions are expected to rise due to wetlands and rice fields.
Taalas added: "The continued rise in the main endothermic gas concentration , including a record acceleration in methane levels, suggests that we are heading in the wrong direction. The changes required are economically affordable and technically feasible. Time is not too long."”
Original text:
’Greenhouse Gases Reached Record Levels in 2021’
Image: Shutterstock
The three main greenhouse (GHG) gases causing global warming all reached record levels in 2021.
That’s according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which claims that this year could represents the largest annual increase in methode emissions since records began four decades ago.
methane, carbon dietide and nitrous oxide are the three GHG gases linked empirically with global warming – with the WMO revealing that all have increased due to human actions.
The increase between 2020 and 2021 alone was larger than the yearly growth rate of the previous decade, the study claims.
"[There is an] enormous challenge – and the vital necessity – of urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and prevent global temperatures from rising even further in the future," said Secretary General of the WMO, Petteri Taalas.
Since 1990, the impact of GHG emissions on global warming has doubled, the researchers say.
Specifically for each gas, method rose 262% in this time, carbon by 149% and nitrous oxide by 124%.
Fossil fuel and cement production resumed after the pandemic at even larger rates than previously to catch up with lost time, which has had a detrimental impact on the temperature of the Earth and is the reason for such a staggering increase in just a year.
The scientists state that during the 2010s, 48% of the emissions generated by human actions ended up in the atmosphere, 26% in the ocean and 29% on land.
Biomass burning and fertilisers are the reason for the uptick in nitrous oxide, with method predicted to be on the rise due to wetlands and rice paddies.
Taalas added: “The continuing rise in concentrations of the main heat-trapping gases, including the record acceleration in method levels, shows that we are heading in the wrong direction. The needed changes are economically affordable and technically possible. Time is running out."
