Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the Earth's atmosphere have increased significantly over time, particularly since the Industrial Revolution:

• Growth rate

  The annual growth rate of atmospheric CO2 has increased dramatically over the past 60 years: 
  • In the 1960s, the growth rate was about 0.8 ppm per year 
  • In the 2010s, the growth rate reached 2.4 ppm per year 
  • In mid-2024, the growth rate is estimated to be 2.67 ppm per year 

• Concentration

  The average global concentration of CO2 in 2022 was 417 parts per million, which is more than 20% higher than in 1979

• Comparison to past levels

  The current concentrations of CO2 are unprecedented over the past 800,000 years

• Comparison to natural increases

  The current rate of increase is about 100 times faster than natural increases, such as those that occurred at the end of the last ice age

Human activity has significantly altered the atmosphere within a few generations. The consequences include:

• Disruption of climate systems, such as more powerful storms, prolonged droughts, and deadly heat waves
• Ocean acidification 

Other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, have also increased significantly over the last few hundred years