Environment & Climate

Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations hit record highs in 2025

CBS News reports that a World Meteorological Organization bulletin records unprecedented 2025 levels of three key greenhouse gases.

Updated Oct 27, 2026 · 12:24 UTC1 reports

The short version

The World Meteorological Organization says atmospheric greenhouse gases reached record highs in 2025.[CBS News]
Carbon dioxide measured 426.8 ppm, methane 1,948 ppb and nitrous oxide 339.1 ppb in 2025.[CBS News]
Global CO2 rose 2.8 ppm in 2025, smaller than the prior record surge; a WMO scientist attributes the slowdown to land carbon sink recovery.[CBS News]

Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere reached record highs in 2025, according to the United Nations.[CBS News]
In 2025, carbon dioxide reached 426.8 ppm, methane 1,948 ppb and nitrous oxide 339.1 ppb.[CBS News]
These 2025 levels equal 153%, 267% and 126% of pre-industrial levels, respectively.[CBS News]
Global average CO2 rose 2.8 ppm from 2024 to 2025, smaller than the 3.6 ppm rise from 2023 to 2024.[CBS News]
WMO senior scientific officer Oksana Tarasova attributed the smaller 2025 rise to land carbon sink recovery and reduced fire emissions after the 2023/2024 El Nino.[CBS News]

The explanation for the slower CO2 rise is Tarasova's attribution and has not been independently assessed in the reporting.[CBS News]
Only CBS News is reporting this event, so the figures rest on a single outlet's account of the WMO bulletin.[CBS News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.