As greenhouse gas concentrations hit a new high in 2023, the earth will continue to warm for many years to come, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is increasing more quickly than at any other point in human history, increasing by almost 10% in just 20 years.

According to WMO’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, large vegetation fire CO2 emissions and a possible reduction in carbon absorption by forests combined with stubbornly high fossil fuel CO2 emissions from human and industrial activities to drive the increase.

Echoing the UN chief’s longstanding appeals, WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett told journalists that carbon dioxide (CO2) – one of the three main greenhouse gases, along with methane and nitrous oxide – is now accumulating in the atmosphere “faster than at any time experienced during human existence”. Because of the extremely long lifetime of CO2 in the atmosphere, “we are committed to rising temperatures for many, many years to come,” she added.

WMO’s 2024 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin offers a stark, scientific reminder that rising CO2 levels need to be slowed. In 2004, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 377.1 parts per million (ppm), while in 2023, this reached 420 ppm, according to WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch Network.

“This is an increase of 42.9 parts per million, or 11.4 per cent in just 20 years,” Ms Barrett explained.

“These are more than statistics,” the WMO deputy chief insisted. “Every part per million matters, every fraction of a degree of temperature increase matters; it matters in terms of the speed of glacier and ice retreat, the acceleration of sea level rise, ocean heat and acidification. It matters in terms of the number of people who will be exposed to extreme heat every year, the extinction of species, the impact on our ecosystems and economies.”

A winemaker in Italy died after trying to save his colleague who had passed out in a wine vat during the fermentation process, as per a report in the New York Post. The 46-year-old man, Marco Bettolini, drowned in the vat after he became dizzy from the poisonous gases. He eventually lost his balance due to the fumes and fell into the fermenting brew while saving 31-year-old Alberto Pin.

As per the outlet, Mr Pin entered the autoclave of the vat at the Ca’di Rajo winery in San Polo di Piave, in the city of Treviso, around 2pm on September 14 after realising the taps were not working properly. He inhaled some fumes and started feeling sick. Noticing the same, Mr Bettolini joined to help him, however, he inhaled some toxic fumes himself. He fell down a few feet and hit his head at the bottom, which still had a small amount of wine. The 46-year-old was rushed to a hospital and was in a “medically-induced coma after having his heart restarted”.

Neither of the two men were wearing breathing apparatuses or safety harnesses during the “huge tragedy”, according to CNN. Further, the fire brigade issued a statement and concluded that “the man in his forties was trying to save his colleague who had fainted from carbon dioxide fumes while carrying out maintenance work”.

“We are overwhelmed by pain, for us they are two brothers, two sons. My thoughts go to these two men, who grew up with us, and their families. We pray that the young man who was injured recovers as soon as possible” Simone Cecchetto, owner of Ca’ di Rajo winery, said in a statement to CNN.

The whole incident was recorded by CCTV installed at the building, however, the footage is yet to be released.

Mr Bettolini worked at the company since 2018 and was a winemaker and cellar manager there. As per his LinkedIn profile, he also worked as a consultant for various wine companies and also as an agronomist, specialising in soil management and crop production