19 October 2016, 03:00 GMT
GENEVA (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the WMO published its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, which contains information about the issue of air pollution and the developments in the sphere.
"Globally averaged concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached the symbolic and significant milestone of 400 parts per million for the first time in 2015 and surged again to new records in 2016 on the back of the very powerful El Nino event," the press release accompanying the bulletin said.
WMO added that 2016 was expected to be the first year, when the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would remain above 400 parts per million during the whole year.
According to the press release, the increase in the concentration has been caused by the El Nino periodic climate change phenomenon, which resulted in droughts in tropical regions and reduced the capability of forests and ocean to absorb CO2.
