Introduction

  • The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) released its annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Bulletin for the year 2023.
  • This bulletin provides the latest analysis from the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) on atmospheric concentrations of GHGs.

 

Understanding GHGs and Their Key Types

  • GHGs are atmospheric gases that trap heat from the sun, causing the Earth's surface to warm known as the greenhouse effect.
  • Key GHGs include Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), Nitrous oxide (N₂O), Water Vapour (H₂O), and Industrial Fluorinated Gases.
  • Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation and industrial processes have significantly increased the concentration of these gases, leading to global warming and subsequent climate change.

 

Bulletin Findings – GHG Levels and Trends

  • GHGs including CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O reached record levels in 2023.
  • Since 1990, the cumulative warming effect on our climate by GHGs has increased by 51.5%, with CO₂ accounting for approximately 81% of this effect.
  • Global temperatures in 2023 were 1.48°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.

 

Causes of Increased CO₂ Levels

  • Persistent high CO₂ emissions are due to human activities including fossil fuel usage and industrial processes.
  • The El Niño phenomenon brought warmer and drier conditions causing drier vegetation and forest fires, which released more GHGs into the atmosphere.

 

Climate Concerns

  • The bulletin warns of a vicious cycle where rising CO₂ levels and climate change risk transforming natural ecosystems into GHG sources.
  • There was a surge in Methane levels due to warmer and wetter La Niña conditions.

 

Policy Responses

  • According to the UNFCCC’s assessment, current NDCs fall short of the 43% reduction needed to limit warming to 1.5°C. Countries are urged to submit stronger NDCs by 2024.

 

Understanding the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW)

  • GAW, involving 100 countries, provides scientific data on atmospheric changes due to both natural and human influences.
  • Core Monitoring Targets of the GAW programme include ozone, UV radiation, GHGs, aerosols, selected reactive gases and precipitation chemistry.

 

About the World Meteorological Organisation

  • WMO, a UN agency, is responsible for atmospheric sciences, including Earth's atmosphere, weather, climate, water resources, and their interaction with land and oceans.
  • WMO has a membership of 193 Member States and Territories, including India.

 

Key Initiatives to Curb Greenhouse Gas Emission

  • Globally, measures include the Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, International Solar Alliance, and Global Biofuel Alliance.
  • India has implemented initiatives including Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) Emission Norms, National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), and India's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).