Greenhouse gases (GHGs) regulate the Earth’s climate and temperature. In recent decades, the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere has increased dramatically due to human activities, leading to significant changes in the Earth’s climate. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) plays a crucial role in monitoring and understanding GHG emissions and their impact on the planet.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is a comprehensive report that analyzes the observations from the WMO GAW Programme. This report shows the globally averaged surface mole fractions for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). It compares them with the mole fractions during the previous year and with the preindustrial levels [1].
According to the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most important greenhouse gas, reached 413.2 parts per million in 2020 and is 149% of the preindustrial level [2]. The WMO publishes the Annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletins, which report the latest trends and atmospheric burdens of the most influential, long-lived greenhouse gases, including CO2, CH4, and N2O, and a summary of the contributions of the lesser gases [3].
The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin provides insights into the change in the mole fractions of CO2, CH4, and N2O [4]. The bulletin also represents the consensus of the WMO GAW Programme [3].
The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is updated annually, and the latest report, No.15, reports on the state of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere based on global observations through 2018 [5]. The 2022 WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin showed a steady and unabated growth in CO2 concentrations and an unexplained, accelerated growth in CH4 concentrations [7].
Continued from previous
These findings further exacerbate the trends in economic losses due to weather and climate extremes and the continued uncertainty about the effectiveness of measures to mitigate climate change [7].
In response to these findings, the WMO Executive Council has recently endorsed plans for a new Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure [8]. This new infrastructure will help monitor the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations and provide valuable data for decision-makers to address the challenges of climate change.
In conclusion, the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is a comprehensive report that provides valuable insights into the state of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The report highlights the steady and unabated growth in CO2 concentrations and the accelerated growth in CH4 concentrations, which pose significant challenges to the global community. The endorsement of the new Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure by the WMO Executive Council is a step in the right direction to address these challenges and mitigate the effects of climate change.
FAQs
- What is the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin?
- The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is a comprehensive report produced by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) that analyzes the observations from the WMO GAW Programme and provides insights into the state of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- What does the Greenhouse Gas Bulletin report on?
- The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin reports on the latest trends and atmospheric burdens of the most influential, long-lived greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
- Why has CO2 considered the most important greenhouse gas?
- CO2 is considered the most important greenhouse gas because it is responsible for the majority of the warming effect on the planet.
- What is the Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure?
- The Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure is a new initiative endorsed by the WMO Executive Council to monitor the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations and provide valuable data for decision-makers to address the challenges posed by climate change.
- Why is the WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin important?
- The WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is important because it provides valuable insights into the state of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and highlights the challenges of climate change. The report helps decision-makers and the global community address these challenges and mitigate the effects of climate change.
