Carbon Dioxide Emissions Are Set to Reach a New High This Year

Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel use will reach a record high this year despite countries’ pledges to begin lowering their climate pollution.

Emissions are projected to hit 38.1 billion tons, a rise of 1.1% compared to last year, according to the 20th annual Global Carbon Budget. The rise in atmospheric CO2 comes as the amount taken up by oceans and land shrinks, adding urgency to the COP30 climate talks happening in Brazil.

While the uptick in emissions has slowed since the 2000s, “we’ve been saying this thing for way too long,” said Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project ...