Since the interactive graph created in 2014, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels and global temperatures have continued to rise significantly.
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels
- In 2014, CO₂ levels were already elevated compared to pre-industrial times, but since then, they have increased steadily.
- By February 2025, monthly mean atmospheric CO₂ reached a record high of 427.09 parts per million (ppm), about a 20% increase compared to February 1990 levels
- The annual global average CO₂ concentration in 2024 was 424.61 ppm, continuing the upward trend
- The growth rate of atmospheric CO₂ has also accelerated, reaching about 2.67 ppm per year by mid-2024, the highest growth rate in modern times
- This ongoing rise is primarily due to human activities such as fossil fuel burning and industrial processes, with no sign of stabilization or decline
Global Temperature
- Global average temperatures have also increased markedly since 2014.
- 2024 was the warmest year on record since 1850, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by a clear margin
- The global annual average temperature in 2024 was approximately 1.62°C (2.91°F) above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline, exceeding the critical 1.5°C threshold for the second time
- The last decade (2015-2024) represents the warmest ten years on record, with land areas warming about twice as fast as oceans
- The World Meteorological Organization notes that January to September 2024 global average temperature was about 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels, with accelerating impacts such as ice loss and sea-level rise
- NASA data confirms 2024 as the warmest year on record since 1880, with an overall warming of about 1.47°C above the late 19th-century average
Summary
Since 2014, atmospheric CO₂ levels have risen to new record highs, now exceeding 425 ppm, with an accelerating growth rate. Correspondingly, global temperatures have increased, with 2024 being the warmest year on record, surpassing the 1.5°C warming threshold relative to pre-industrial times. These trends reflect ongoing human-driven greenhouse gas emissions and highlight the urgency of stronger climate mitigation efforts
