Earth’s air quality is now more polluted than ever before, as carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels have reached 430.2 parts per million (ppm), according to data from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA.
This marks the highest CO₂ level in millions of years, measured at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The year-on-year rise of 3.5 ppm is driven by unchecked fossil fuel use, with global emissions continuing to rise.
“This problem is not going away, and we’re moving further and further into uncharted – and almost certainly, very dangerous – territory,” warned Ralph Keeling, director of the Scripps CO₂ Program, urging urgent action to stop the climate crisis from escalating further.
Health impacts of rising CO₂ include increased heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and droughts, all of which worsen food and water insecurity.
These conditions are already affecting vulnerable regions like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Elevated CO₂ also aggravates respiratory issues and can impair cognitive health.
On the environmental side, ocean acidification caused by CO₂ continues to harm marine ecosystems and threaten food chains.
Scientists stress that the planet is headed toward greater instability unless global leaders commit to rapid emission cuts and clean energy transitions.
As the world looks ahead to the COP30 climate summit, this record-breaking data stands as a stark reminder that immediate, unified global action is critical to protect both public health and planetary balance.
