Record greenhouse gas levels - WMO 28OCT2024
/
3:13
/
MP4
/
379.2 MB
Transcripts
Download

Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO

WMO Press conference 28 October 2024

Greenhouse gases reached another record high in 2023, warns UN weather agency

New data released by the UN on Monday indicating that greenhouse gases have hit a record high shows once again that urgent action and not words is needed from the world’s major polluters to protect us all from climate change, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) insisted.
The appeal comes as global leaders prepare to gather for the UN’s Climate Change Conference in Baku next month, amid repeated dire warnings about the human cost of ignoring the existential crisis from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and others.
Echoing the UN chief’s longstanding appeals, WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett told journalists that carbon dioxide (CO2) – one of the three main greenhouse gases, along with methane and nitrous oxide - is now accumulating in the atmosphere “faster than at any time experienced during human existence”. Because of the extremely long lifetime of CO2 in the atmosphere, “we are committed to rising temperatures for many, many years to come”, she added.
WMO’s 2024 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin offers a stark, scientific reminder that rising CO2 levels need to be slowed. In 2004, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 377.1 parts per million (ppm), while in 2023, this reached 420 ppm, according to WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch Network. “This is an increase of 42.9 parts per million, or 11.4 per cent in just 20 years,” Ms. Barrett explained.
“These are more than statistics," the WMO deputy chief insisted. "Every part per million matters, every fraction of a degree of temperature increase matters; it matters in terms of the speed of glacier and ice retreat, the acceleration of sea level rise, ocean heat and acidification. It matters in terms of the number of people who will be exposed to extreme heat every year, the extinction of species, the impact on our ecosystems and economies.”
Key greenhouse gas-producing events include forest fires and the El Niño weather phenomenon which fuelled drier conditions and a “surge” in concentrations in the latter part of 2023, according to WMO. Its analysis shows that just under half of CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere, just over one quarter are absorbed by the ocean and just under 30 per cent are retained on land.
Senior scientific officer at WMO, Oksana Tarasova, described last year’s wildfires in Canada as “absolutely dramatic” in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced.
Today’s CO2 levels have not been seen “in the history of humanity”, she said. “The last time we see 400 parts per million of CO2 was three to five million years ago, and during that time, the temperature was three to four degrees warmer” and sea levels 10-20 metres higher.
The WMO report pointed out that from 1990 to 2023, radiative forcing – the warming effect on our climate from greenhouse gases increased by 51.5 per cent. CO2 accounted for more than 80 per cent of this increase, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Annual Greenhouse Gas Index.
“As long as emissions continue, greenhouse gases will continue accumulating in the atmosphere leading to global temperature rise,” the UN agency said. “Given the extremely long life of CO2 in the atmosphere, the temperature level already observed will persist for several decades even if emissions are rapidly reduced to net zero.”
Asked about whether the UN climate conference might be expected to yield tangible commitments from countries, the WMO Deputy Secretary-General noted that politicians worldwide do reference the latest scientific climate findings and forecasts in their public declarations. “So I do think they are listening, the question is to what degree will we see that manifest at COP29 in action,” she said.
Ms. Barrett noted that measures taken at a national level to transition to a “lower fossil fuel economy” were massively important to safeguard future generations.
“Even though there is a lag and temperatures will rise, we are not to be dissuaded from action,” she said, “because there will be a transformation and a downward trend in temperature in future. It all just depends on how quickly we take action and how fast we can reduce those temperatures.”

Story: Record greenhouse gas levels - WMO

Speakers:

Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General

Oksana Tarasova, Senior scientific officer, WMO

TRT: 0x’”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 28 October 2024 - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
RESTRICTIONS: None



SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley.
  2. Wide shot of the press conference room with speakers at the podium.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than at any time experienced during human existence, and because of the extremely long lifetime of CO2 in the atmosphere we are committed to rising temperatures for many, many years to come.”
  4. Medium shot of the podium’s speakers.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “These are more than statistics; every part per million matters, every fraction of a degree of temperature increase matters; it matters in terms of the speed of glacier and ice retreat, the acceleration of sea level rise, ocean heat and acidification. It matters in terms of the number of people who will be exposed to extreme heat every year, the extinction of species, the impact on our ecosystems and economies.
  6. Medium shot, TV screen showing CO2 dataset and graph with automatic TV camera in shot.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Yet again, unfortunately, we have to report that the main greenhouse gases, CO2, methane and nitrous oxide are all at record levels. In 2004, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 377.1 parts per million. In 2023, 20 years later, it was at 420 parts per million, according to data from WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch Network. This is an increase of 42.9 parts per million, or 11.4 per cent in just 20 years.
  8. Medium-wide shot of speakers and Press room.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) Oksana Tarasova, Senior scientific officer, WMO: “We have not seen these levels of CO2 in the history of humanity. The last time we see 400 parts per million of CO2 was three to five million years ago, and during that time, the temperature was three to four degrees warmer.”
  10. Medium, journalist typing on laptop.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “The reason you’re seeing such variations even in the projections of what temperature rise might be in our future, it’s because it’s very much linked to the actions countries take now and the rapid - the ability to - make a rapid transition to a lower fossil fuel economy. And even though there is a lag and temperatures will rise, we are not to be dissuaded from action, because there will be a transformation and a downward trend in temperature in future. It all just depends on how quickly we take action and how fast we can reduce those temperatures.”
  12. Medium, podium speakers, UN logo as backdrop.
  13. SOUNDBITE (English) Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO): “Personally, I see a lot of attention to science in the statements that are being made from politicians worldwide. So I do think they are listening, the question is to what degree will we see that manifest at COP29 in action.”
  14. Medium shot of TV screen showing data on greenhouse gas concentrations.
  15. Wide shot, Press room, TV screens showing Ms. Barrett and dataset.
  16. Medium shot, TV screen showing greenhouse gases dataset and graph with automatic TV camera in shot.


Audio Files 2
Download WMO Press conference 28 October 2024 (Continuity)
Download
Download Record greenhouse gas levels - WMO 28OCT2024 (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America ENG FRA

Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.   

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO

In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 13 May 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | ILO , OHCHR , WHO , UN WOMEN

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 13 May 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, and UN Women.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 09 May 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNRWA , UNICEF , OCHA , WHO , ITU , WFP , UNHCR

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Telecommunications Union.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

Israel’s aid plan will force Gaza families to choose ‘between displacement and death’ – UN humanitarians

Israel’s plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza risks increasing the suffering of families already exhausted by 18 months of war by putting their lives in danger and inciting more displacement, using aid as “bait”, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 06 May 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNDP , UNHCR , WHO , UNECE , OCHA , WMO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 06 May 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of

the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Gaza humanitarian blockade  OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza humanitarian blockade OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN Humanitarians reject Israeli plan to take over aid delivery

The reported Israeli proposal to deliver humanitarian supplies through hubs controlled by the military would be a breach of the core principles of neutral, impartial and independent aid delivery, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.

 

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025

1

1

1

Edited News , B-roll | OCHA

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA

Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.

/Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 02 May 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNDP , OCHA , UNHCR

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 02 May 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA ENG FRA

Children in Gaza are going to bed starving, says aid agency
The biggest UN aid agency in Gaza on Tuesday condemned the two-month Israeli blockade on Gaza that has left families sharing a single tin of food at mealtime and the sick and injured without lifesaving medical help, amid daily bombardment.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 29 April 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , UNHCR , UNRWA

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 29 April 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Ukraine attacks - UNHCR 25 April 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR

Ukraine attacks - UNHCR 25 April 2025 ENG FRA

Ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine force frontline areas to empty: UNHCR

With Ukrainian cities still reeling from this week’s deadly Russian missile and drone attacks, communities on the front line continue to be targeted too, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. “We also see attacks on frontline regions increasing and it's, as always, civilians that are bearing the highest cost of the war,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.