Greenhouse gas levels hit a new record in 2014

The global concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit another record in 2014, researchers announced on Monday. 

Worldwide levels of gases like carbon dioxide and methane increased to record highs last year, with carbon levels nearly crossing a critical global warming threshold for the whole year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said. 

{mosads}According to the group’s report, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide hit 397.7 parts per million in 2014, with some parts of the globe crossing the 400 parts per million barrier throughout the year. 

Some scientists consider that to be the maximum threshold allowed to prevent catastrophic global warming. In March American researchers detected carbon dioxide levels above 400 parts per million. 

According to the study, the worldwide warming effect of greenhouse gases increased 36 percent between 1990 and 2014, something the group blamed on the increase in carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from human activity.

The report comes weeks before a United Nations meeting in Paris focused on crafting a deal to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The WMO said that the increase in gases should be a warning sign for world leaders.

“Every year we report a new record in greenhouse gas concentrations,” Michel Jarraud, the group’s secretary general, said in a statement. 

“Every year we say that time is running out. We have to act now to slash greenhouse gas emissions if we are to have a chance to keep the increase in temperatures to manageable levels.”