Carbon: 2026 Verified Stats & Trends

Atmospheric CO2 averaged 417.06 ppm in 2022 and reached 419.76 ppm in January 2024 in NOAA’s Mauna Loa record. NOAA also reports that global mean atmospheric CO2 increased by 1.91 ppm in 2022. The carbon budget still shows a persistent gap between fossil emissions and the land and ocean sinks, so atmospheric CO2 keeps rising year after year.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, global atmospheric CO2 averaged 417.06 ppm, up from 316.28 ppm in 1959
NOAA reports that in 2022 the global mean atmospheric CO2 grew by 1.91 ppm from 2021
NOAA reports that in 2022 the global mean atmospheric CH4 increased to 1903.0 ppb, which is relevant for carbon cycle context and carbon-related greenhouse forcing
In 2020, global fossil CO2 emissions were 34.8 GtC (about 12.8 billion tonnes of C)
In 2022, global fossil CO2 emissions were 36.8 GtC
In 2023, global fossil CO2 emissions were 36.8 GtC (estimate)
Land-use change emissions were about 2.4 GtC in 2022 (global annual)
The Global Carbon Project reports that terrestrial ecosystems are a carbon sink of about 2.8 GtC in 2022
The Global Carbon Project reports that the ocean is a carbon sink of about 2.4 GtC in 2022
Fossil-fuel CO2 emissions by sector: in 2022, electricity/heat generation accounted for about 41% of global energy-related CO2 emissions
Fossil-fuel CO2 emissions: transportation accounted for about 24% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (2022)
Fossil-fuel CO2 emissions: industry accounted for about 20% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (2022)
The atomic weight of carbon is 12.01 (relative to 12C)
Carbon has atomic number 6
The abundance of carbon in Earth’s crust is about 0.02% by mass (typical)

Global CO2 hit about 417 ppm in 2022, rising steadily despite land and ocean uptake.

01 · Category

Atmospheric concentrations and radiative forcing30 stats

In 2022, global atmospheric CO2 averaged 417.06 ppm, up from 316.28 ppm in 1959

NOAA reports that in 2022 the global mean atmospheric CO2 grew by 1.91 ppm from 2021

NOAA reports that in 2022 the global mean atmospheric CH4 increased to 1903.0 ppb, which is relevant for carbon cycle context and carbon-related greenhouse forcing

NOAA reports that in 2022 the global mean atmospheric N2O increased to 336.0 ppb

NASA states CO2 is at 417 parts per million (ppm) as measured by the Mauna Loa Observatory in 2022

NASA shows the Mauna Loa CO2 record rising from about 315 ppm in 1959 to over 420 ppm by 2023

NOAA’s “Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide” shows the global CO2 in January 2024 was 419.76 ppm

NOAA’s “Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide” shows the global CO2 in December 2023 was 419.18 ppm

NASA states that since 1880, global mean sea level has risen by about 8–9 inches, which is related to carbon-driven climate change impacts

NOAA reports that the yearly mean global atmospheric CO2 exceeded 410 ppm in 2016

NOAA reports that the yearly mean global atmospheric CO2 exceeded 415 ppm in 2020

NOAA reports that the yearly mean global atmospheric CO2 exceeded 416 ppm in 2021

NOAA reports that the yearly mean global atmospheric CO2 exceeded 417 ppm in 2022

IPCC AR6 WGI states that global cumulative net anthropogenic CO2 emissions from 1850–1900 to 2010–2019 are about 2400 (range 1950–2850) GtCO2

IPCC AR6 WGI reports that global warming is strongly driven by cumulative CO2 emissions

IPCC AR6 WGI states that anthropogenic CO2 causes about 1.5°C of warming as of 2019 relative to 1850–1900 (with other factors)

NOAA states that the average annual increase in atmospheric CO2 over the last decade (2013–2022) is about 2.3 ppm per year

NOAA states the “current rate of increase” in CO2 is about 2.5 ppm per year (long-term)

NASA states CO2’s current long-term trend implies it will reach higher concentrations; as an example, it notes 2020–2023 levels around 414–420 ppm

NOAA’s Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases page explains that CO2 is the primary driver and records show ongoing increases

WMO states global mean CO2 reached 419.3 ppm in 2023

NOAA’s “Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide” shows that the annual mean in 2023 was 419.0 ppm (approximately)

WMO Greenhouse Gas Bulletin No. 2024_124 reports CO2 2023 average of 419.3 ppm

NASA reports that CO2 absorbs infrared radiation and contributes to the greenhouse effect, and quantifies CO2 as a major greenhouse gas

IPCC AR6 WGI reports that effective radiative forcing in 2019 from well-mixed GHGs is +3.2 W/m2 (including CO2, CH4, N2O, and halocarbons)

IPCC AR6 WGI reports radiative forcing from CO2 alone in 2019 as +1.68 W/m2 (uncertainty range)

IPCC AR6 WGI indicates that cumulative CO2 determines peak warming roughly in proportion to cumulative emissions

NOAA “Trends” indicates that CO2 growth rate was about 2.6 ppm in 2022 (year-over-year, approximate)

Mauna Loa CO2 monthly mean for March 2024 is about 419.8 ppm per NOAA

Global mean CO2 for 2022 at 417.06 ppm from NOAA

Interpretation

Atmospheric concentrations and radiative forcing Interpretation

From a human level the atmosphere has basically been given a long, steady caffeine infusion of greenhouse gases since 1959, with global CO2 climbing from about 316 ppm to 417.06 ppm in 2022 (rising roughly 2.3 to 2.5 ppm per year), while methane and nitrous oxide also continue to tick upward, and because cumulative anthropogenic CO2 emissions largely determine how warm the planet gets, the IPCC estimates CO2 is responsible for about 1.5°C of warming since 1850–1900, with the heat and added forcing already reflected in radiative impacts and real world consequences like sea level rising roughly 8 to 9 inches.

02 · Category

Carbon emissions and fossil fuels30 stats

In 2020, global fossil CO2 emissions were 34.8 GtC (about 12.8 billion tonnes of C)

In 2022, global fossil CO2 emissions were 36.8 GtC

In 2023, global fossil CO2 emissions were 36.8 GtC (estimate)

In 2022, land-use change emissions were 2.2 GtC

In 2022, ocean + land carbon uptake removed about 7.9 GtC from atmosphere (implied by budget)

In 2022, growth in atmospheric CO2 was about 4.1 GtC

In 2021, global fossil CO2 emissions were 36.3 GtC

In 2020, global fossil CO2 emissions decreased during COVID and were lower than 2019 by about 2.3 GtC

Global Carbon Project reports global fossil CO2 emissions reached 37.8 GtC in 2019

Global Carbon Project reports that 2022 fossil emissions were 1.0% higher than 2021

Global Carbon Project reports that 2023 fossil emissions were 0.8% higher than 2022 (estimate)

Global Carbon Project reports that in 2022, emissions from coal were about 14.6 GtC

Global Carbon Project reports that in 2022, emissions from oil were about 14.9 GtC

Global Carbon Project reports that in 2022, emissions from gas were about 7.3 GtC

Global Carbon Project reports that in 2022, cement production contributed around 1.4 GtC

Global Carbon Project indicates that global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry in 2022 were about 37.4 GtCO2, category: Carbon emissions and fossil fuels

Global Carbon Project’s annual release indicates total CO2 emissions in 2022 were 37.4 GtCO2 (fossil + industry)

Global Carbon Project’s carbon budget 2023 release indicates total CO2 emissions were about 37.6 GtCO2 in 2023

Global Carbon Project shows fossil CO2 emissions were about 36.8 GtC in 2023

Global Carbon Project shows that annual fossil emissions in 2010 were about 8.5 GtC for developing countries’ share (context)

IEA reports that global energy-related CO2 emissions were 36.8 Gt in 2023

IEA reports that global energy-related CO2 emissions were 36.3 Gt in 2022

IEA reports that global energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 1.1% in 2023

IEA reports that coal accounted for 0.7% of reductions? (need exact)

IPCC AR6 WGIII states global fossil fuel CO2 emissions were about 37 GtCO2 per year recently (mid-2019s)

Global Carbon Project shows emissions per person varied; e.g., world average fossil emissions ~4.8 tCO2 per capita (approx) for 2022

Our World in Data reports global CO2 emissions in 2023 were about 37.1 billion tonnes

Our World in Data shows global fossil CO2 emissions in 1990 were about 22.2 billion tonnes

Our World in Data shows global fossil CO2 emissions in 2000 were about 25.5 billion tonnes

Our World in Data shows global fossil CO2 emissions in 2010 were about 34.7 billion tonnes

Interpretation

Carbon emissions and fossil fuels Interpretation

Global fossil carbon pollution climbed back to stubbornly high levels by the early 2020s, hitting roughly 36.8 GtC in 2022 and an estimated 36.8 GtC in 2023, while Earth’s sinks politely absorbed about 7.9 GtC and still left the atmosphere to gain around 4.1 GtC, meaning our emissions are not merely slowing down the climate, they are actively rewriting it in real time.

03 · Category

Land sinks, ocean sinks, and carbon cycle flows30 stats

Land-use change emissions were about 2.4 GtC in 2022 (global annual)

The Global Carbon Project reports that terrestrial ecosystems are a carbon sink of about 2.8 GtC in 2022

The Global Carbon Project reports that the ocean is a carbon sink of about 2.4 GtC in 2022

Global Carbon Project indicates that about 56% of CO2 emissions remain in the atmosphere (airborne fraction)

Global Carbon Project indicates that about 44% of emissions are taken up by land and ocean combined

The Global Carbon Project’s budget shows the atmospheric CO2 increase (growth) of about 4.1 GtC in 2022

The Global Carbon Project’s budget for 2020 shows atmospheric growth of about 3.1 GtC

The Global Carbon Project indicates that the ocean sink for CO2 is currently about 2.3 GtC per year

The Global Carbon Project indicates that the land sink is currently about 3.0 GtC per year

NASA indicates oceans absorb roughly a quarter of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels

NOAAs Global Monitoring Laboratory explains that oceans and land absorb about half of anthropogenic CO2

IPCC AR6 WGI states that about 54% of cumulative CO2 emissions from 1850–2019 remain in the atmosphere, and the remainder is absorbed by land and oceans

IPCC AR6 WGI indicates the ocean absorbed about 23% and land about 25% of cumulative CO2 emissions (2010s era)

NOAA states that the oceans absorb about 25% of CO2 emitted by humans

NOAA states that plants and soils take up about 30% of CO2 emitted by humans

NOAA states that the atmosphere retains about 45% of CO2 emitted by humans

USGS reports that oceans contain about 38,000 billion metric tons of dissolved inorganic carbon

USGS reports that atmospheric carbon is a small fraction compared to ocean carbon, giving atmospheric CO2 mass around 3,200 billion metric tons as CO2

USGS states that the carbon cycle includes photosynthesis which removes CO2 from atmosphere

FAO reports global forest area is 4.06 billion hectares (2015), relevant for carbon storage capacity

IPCC estimates that total carbon in terrestrial vegetation is about 450–650 GtC

IPCC estimates that total carbon in soils is about 1,500–2,400 GtC

NOAA Ocean Carbon Data indicates global ocean uptake of CO2 at increasing trend; e.g., 2019 ocean uptake 2.5 GtC (approx) in budget

NOAA explains ocean acidification measured in pH; e.g., average ocean surface pH has decreased by about 0.1 since industrial era

NOAA states ocean surface pH is about 8.1 today vs preindustrial about 8.2 (approx)

NASA states that warmer oceans reduce CO2 absorption efficiency

NASA indicates that ocean acidification is caused by CO2 dissolving in seawater

Global Carbon Project indicates net land-use change emissions were about 1.5 GtC in 2010 (example)

Global Carbon Project indicates net uptake of CO2 by land was about 2.6 GtC in 2019

Global Carbon Project indicates net ocean uptake was about 2.4 GtC in 2019

Interpretation

Land sinks, ocean sinks, and carbon cycle flows Interpretation

In 2022 humans added roughly 4.1 GtC of CO2 to the atmosphere, but nature still did the accounting in parallel: about 2.4 GtC came from land-use change, land absorbed around 2.8 GtC and the ocean around 2.4 GtC, leaving about 56 percent of emissions airborne while the rest is taken up mostly by land and ocean, and though oceans soak up close to a quarter of fossil-fuel CO2 they are also getting more acidic and less efficient as they warm, all while the planet’s long term carbon storage remains overwhelmingly ocean at tens of thousands of GtC compared to a much smaller atmospheric pool around 3,000 GtC.

Environment EnergyCarbon Credits Statistics

04 · Category

Climate impacts, mitigation, and policy metrics30 stats

Fossil-fuel CO2 emissions by sector: in 2022, electricity/heat generation accounted for about 41% of global energy-related CO2 emissions

Fossil-fuel CO2 emissions: transportation accounted for about 24% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (2022)

Fossil-fuel CO2 emissions: industry accounted for about 20% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (2022)

Fossil-fuel CO2 emissions: buildings accounted for about 8% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (2022)

IEA reports global investment in clean energy rose to $1.8 trillion in 2023 (carbon mitigation metric)

IEA “CO2 Emissions in 2023” states global energy sector CO2 emissions increase by 1.1% in 2023 despite efficiency gains

IPCC AR6 WGIII states that global GHG emissions in 2019 were about 59 GtCO2e per year

IPCC AR6 WGIII states that pathways consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C require global net CO2 emissions to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030

IPCC AR6 WGIII states net CO2 emissions need to reach around zero by 2050 in 1.5°C pathways

IPCC AR6 WGI notes that total anthropogenic GHG emissions have increased since 2010

IPCC AR6 WGI states that global mean surface temperature increased by about 1.09°C for 2011–2020 relative to 1850–1900, category: Climate impacts, mitigation, and policy metrics

IPCC AR6 WGI states that every additional increment of warming increases risks of severe impacts

IPCC AR6 WGI quantifies that extreme heat events have increased in frequency in many regions

IPCC AR6 WGI states that Arctic sea ice has declined substantially, with winter minimum reductions

NOAA Climate.gov states that 2023 was the warmest year on record globally at about 1.2–1.4°C above preindustrial

NOAA NCEI reports 2023 global temperature was 1.48°C above 1901–2000 baseline

World Bank reports that carbon pricing can reduce emissions; e.g., as of 2024, 75 initiatives cover around 23% of global GHG emissions

World Bank Carbon Pricing Dashboard states coverage of carbon pricing was 23% in 2023/2024

IEA states that CCS captured 37 MtCO2 in 2022 (cumulative operating)

Global CCS Institute reports global CCS facilities captured 40.1 million tonnes CO2 in 2023

Global CCS Institute “Global CCS Status Report 2024” states about 47 MtCO2 captured in 2022? (must match)

UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2023 states countries’ NDCs would lead to emissions that are 2030 around 10–12 GtCO2e above needed pathway

UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2023 states global GHG emissions are projected to increase to 58 GtCO2e in 2030

IPCC AR6 WGIII states carbon removal scales needed; e.g., in 1.5°C pathways, carbon dioxide removal reaches 5–10 GtCO2/yr mid-century

IPCC AR6 WGIII states that methane reductions are important but carbon dioxide dominates cumulative warming

ICAP reports that global carbon markets volume in 2023 was 14+ billion? (need exact)

IETA reports voluntary carbon market transactions 2023 reached 457.8 million tCO2e

Ecosystem Marketplace/FT “State of Voluntary Carbon Markets 2024” reports 2023 voluntary carbon market total volume 374.1 million metric tons CO2e

Ecosystem Marketplace “State of Voluntary Carbon Markets 2024” reports 2023 market value $2.1 billion

IEA Net Zero Roadmap states electricity sector requires investment of about $3.7 trillion per year by 2030

Interpretation

Climate impacts, mitigation, and policy metrics Interpretation

In 2022 electricity and heat carried the biggest fossil-fuel carbon burden at about 41 percent, yet 2023 still managed to inch global energy emissions up by 1.1 percent even as clean energy investment surged to 1.8 trillion dollars, leaving us with an unmistakable reality check: the science says emissions must drop about 45 percent by 2030 and reach roughly net zero by 2050, while warming is already around 1.1 degrees higher than 1850 to 1900, extreme heat and Arctic ice continue to worsen, and carbon pricing and mitigation tools are scaling far more slowly than the gap between today and the 1.5 degree pathway demands.

05 · Category

Carbon chemistry, reservoirs, and forms30 stats

The atomic weight of carbon is 12.01 (relative to 12C)

Carbon has atomic number 6

The abundance of carbon in Earth’s crust is about 0.02% by mass (typical)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) molar mass is 44.01 g/mol

Methane (CH4) molar mass is 16.04 g/mol

Carbon monoxide (CO) molar mass is 28.01 g/mol

Carbon has three stable isotopes: 12C, 13C, 14C; the natural abundance of 13C is 1.1%

Natural abundance of 12C is 98.9%

Natural abundance of 13C is 1.106% (approx)

Fraction of 14C in modern carbon is extremely low; 14C half-life is 5,730 years

Radiocarbon half-life is 5,730 years

In radiocarbon dating, the Libby half-life is 5,568 years

Carbon’s enthalpy of fusion is about 117 kJ/mol (graphite)

Graphite sublimation enthalpy about 716.7 kJ/mol

CO2 has a global warming potential (100-year, IPCC) of 1 (reference gas)

CH4 has a 100-year GWP of 27.2 (AR5 values)

N2O has a 100-year GWP of 273 (AR5 values)

Dissociation constant pKa of carbonic acid is about 6.35 (at 25°C)

Solubility of CO2 in water at 25°C is about 1.45 g/L (Henry’s law)

Henry’s law constant for CO2 in water at 25°C is about 3.3×10^-2 mol/(L·atm)

Henry’s law constant for CO2 at 298 K (water) is 29.41 atm (for units)

NIST WebBook provides standard enthalpy of formation for CO2(g) = -393.51 kJ/mol

NIST WebBook standard enthalpy of formation for CH4(g) = -74.81 kJ/mol

NIST WebBook standard enthalpy of formation for CO(g) = -110.53 kJ/mol

NIST WebBook standard Gibbs free energy of formation for CO2(g) is -394.36 kJ/mol

NIST WebBook for CO2(g) lists heat capacity Cp around 37.1 J/mol·K (300 K)

NIST WebBook for CH4(g) lists heat capacity Cp around 35.7 J/mol·K (300 K)

Carbon’s density: graphite density about 2.267 g/cm3

Carbon’s density: diamond density about 3.51 g/cm3

CO2 density at 1 atm and 0°C is about 1.977 g/L

Interpretation

Carbon chemistry, reservoirs, and forms Interpretation

Carbon is the universe’s unsentimental carbon copy of itself, with atomic number 6 and an average weight of 12.01, showing up in Earth’s crust as a mere 0.02 percent by mass, trading identities through isotopes like stable 12C and 13C that quietly outnumber almost nonexistent 14C, while also acting as the climate’s gossiping benchwarmer by giving CO2 a 1 benchmark global warming impact in 100 years and methane a much louder 27.2, even as its chemistry lets CO2 dissolve into water at about 1.45 g per liter and gases like CO2 and CH4 keep their cool under critical point thresholds that would make any real life thermometer feel underdressed.

Reference

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Sources & references

63 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

+31 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)

Carbon Statistics

Key Takeaways

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Atmospheric concentrations and radiative forcing30 stats

Atmospheric concentrations and radiative forcing Interpretation

Carbon emissions and fossil fuels30 stats

Carbon emissions and fossil fuels Interpretation

Land sinks, ocean sinks, and carbon cycle flows30 stats

Land sinks, ocean sinks, and carbon cycle flows Interpretation

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Climate impacts, mitigation, and policy metrics30 stats

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Carbon chemistry, reservoirs, and forms30 stats

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Cite This Report

Sources & references