Atmospheric CO₂
Assessed by an AI model against this signal's rubric. Describes conditions; not a forecast or advice.
CO₂ growth reaches 2 ppm a year as El Niño weakens carbon sinks
Why it's at this level
Mauna Loa recorded 427.2 ppm in the week of 25 Oct, 2.00 ppm higher than a year earlier, reaching the 2 ppm/yr Watch line from 1.59 ppm the previous week. Strong El Niño years usually speed up CO₂ growth as land carbon sinks weaken.
What this means for you
Faster CO₂ growth means more warming locked in. There is no immediate personal risk; this is a long-run indicator.
Part of a wider situation
Super El Niño: ONI +2.2: drought in Australia and East Africa, record warmth and weaker carbon sinks.
Why it matters
CO₂ concentration is the main long-run driver of warming; the growth rate shows whether emissions cuts are biting.
What moves it
Fossil emissions, land sinks, El Niño (weakens sinks), wildfires.