Carbon dioxide levels are now 50% higher than during the pre-industrial era

A dried up bed of the Yamuna river in New Delhi, India, during a brutal May heatwave. Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP

The level of carbon dioxide in the world’s atmosphere is now more than 50% higher than during the pre-industrial era, further pushing the planet into conditions not experienced for millions of years, well before the emergence of humans, US government data shows.

The latest measurements showing the relentless upward march of CO₂ follows scientists’ new warning that the world may still barrel into disastrous climate change even if planet-heating emissions are drastically cut, which governments are still failing to achieve.