What is the current CO2 level today?
Atmospheric CO2 is currently 426.25 ppm, significantly above the pre-industrial level of about 280 ppm.
Key Facts
- Current level: 426.25 ppm
- Pre-industrial level: about 280 ppm
- Trend: rising by roughly 2-3 ppm per year
Graph
Explanation
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in Earth's atmosphere. The Mauna Loa record is one of the clearest long-running measurements of atmospheric CO2. Before large-scale fossil fuel use, CO2 was about 280 ppm. Today's level is much higher because human activities add CO2 faster than natural sinks can remove it. This rise strengthens the greenhouse effect and is a central driver of modern global warming.