What are global carbon emissions right now?

Global anthropogenic CO2 emissions are approximately 41.6 billion tonnes per year (2024 data from the Global Carbon Project). This equates to roughly 1,319 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere every second. Energy and transport account for the largest share, followed by industry and land-use change.

What is the Keeling Curve?

The Keeling Curve is the continuous record of atmospheric CO2 concentration measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii by NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It shows CO2 rising from 280 ppm in pre-industrial times to 428.9 ppm in 2026, a level not seen in at least 800,000 years.

How much carbon does nature remove each year?

Nature removes approximately 23 billion tonnes of CO2 per year through ocean uptake (~10 Gt/yr) and land/vegetation sinks (~13 Gt/yr), according to the Global Carbon Project 2024. However, human emissions (~41.6 Gt/yr) significantly exceed this natural removal, leaving an emissions gap of roughly 18.6 billion tonnes that accumulates in the atmosphere.

What is the carbon emissions gap?

The emissions gap is the difference between total human CO2 emissions and the amount nature can absorb. Currently approximately 18.6 billion tonnes of CO2 per year remain in the atmosphere, raising temperatures. Closing this gap requires both dramatically cutting emissions and scaling up carbon removal (natural and engineered).

How much has global temperature risen due to carbon emissions?

Global average surface temperature has risen approximately 1.3°C above the pre-industrial baseline (1850–1900), according to IPCC AR6. At current trajectories, 1.5°C could be reached between 2027 and 2032, with 2.0°C possible in the 2040s without significant emissions reductions and carbon removal.

What is carbon removal and how does it work?

Carbon removal (also called carbon dioxide removal or CDR) refers to processes that capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store it durably. Natural pathways include forests, wetlands, and ocean phytoplankton. Engineered pathways include biochar (100+ year permanence), direct air capture, and enhanced weathering. Tao Climate certifies and sells verified carbon removal credits to individuals and businesses at €100 per tonne.

Earth Day Reality Check

April 22, 2026

Global Carbon Intelligence

🛰️ Carbon removal verified by satellite. Data powered by NOAA, Global Carbon Project, and IPCC. Visualised by Tao Climate.

Total anthropogenic CO2: ~41.6 billion tonnes per year. Nature removes ~23 billion.

An ~18.6 Gt gap - but it's closable. Data from the Global Carbon Project (2024), NOAA, and IPCC.

CO2 Emitted Today

tonnes (estimated)

Mt = Megatonnes = 1,000,000 t CO2

Atmospheric CO2

parts per million

Net Emissions Gap

GtCO2 / year

Warming Since 1850

degrees celsius

While you've been on this page

tonnes CO2 emitted globally

~1,319 t/sec · 41.6 Gt/yr total anthropogenic CO2 (GCP 2024)

Starting from 0 when you arrived

Net Gap Today

tonnes unremoved

Emissions minus
nature's absorption

Nature's CO2 Removal Today

tonnes

~729 t/sec · 23 Gt/year

Global Emission Hotspots

Top emitting countries - hover markers for details

Global Carbon Project 2024 2024 data

Global avg. ~4.7 t CO₂ per person/yr

Top CO2 Emitters

Annual fossil fuel & industry CO2, 2024 GCP estimates. Dot size reflects emission volume. Hover markers for total + per-capita CO2 data.

Closing the Gap: A Solvable Problem

Observed 2020-2024 data (GCP) + illustrative scenario: projected path if carbon removal scales aggressively

Global Carbon Project 2024 IPCC AR6

The Emissions Gap - Today

GCP 2024 See methodology ↓

41.6

GtCO2/yr (total anthropogenic)

Fossil fuels & industry: ~37.4 Gt
Land use change: ~4.2 Gt
Source: Global Carbon Project 2024

→

18.6

Gt Gap

23.0

GtCO2 removed by nature

Land biosphere: ~11.7 Gt (±1 Gt)
Ocean absorption: ~10.5 Gt (±0.5 Gt)
GCP decade average, 2014-2023

⚠

Every year, ~18.6 billion tonnes of CO2 accumulates in the atmosphere - the gap between total anthropogenic emissions (~41.6 Gt) and natural sinks (~23 Gt). At current rates, the 1.5°C remaining carbon budget is likely exhausted around the end of this decade - most recent estimates place this between 2027 and 2032 depending on probability threshold and budget methodology (IPCC AR6; Forster et al., Nature Climate Change 2023). Human carbon removal technologies currently capture less than 0.01 GtCO2/year - we need to scale by 1,000x.

Tao Climate Solutions

The data above is drawn from public scientific sources. The section below describes Tao Climate's commercial removal products.

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The ~18.6 Gt gap you see above is real - but it's closable. Tao Climate builds scalable carbon removal for aviation, big tech, and manufacturing. Hemp-based biochar, nature-based solutions, and verified removals that actually move the needle.

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Atmospheric CO2 Since the Industrial Revolution

NOAA / Scripps (Mauna Loa)

Monthly CO2 Readings -

2026

NOAA GML Updated Apr 2026

📈

2026 CO2 continues rising. Seasonal variation in Northern Hemisphere vegetation activity and fossil fuel demand typically drives elevated readings in late winter and spring. The full-year trajectory projects 2026 above 428 ppm - which would be a new annual record. Published monthly data from NOAA GML is available through February 2026; subsequent values are provisional NOAA weekly estimates.

Where Do Emissions Come From?

IPCC AR6 2023

By Sector

By Source Type

✈️

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Every tonne of CO2 removed is a step toward a liveable planet for every species.

The gap is real.
But hope is realer.

Tao Climate builds scalable carbon removal for aviation, big tech, and every industry ready to close the gap - starting with hemp-based biochar and nature-based solutions. Every tonne of CO2 removed is a step toward a liveable planet.

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📐 How We Calculate This - Methodology & Assumptions

Total Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions (~41.6 Gt/yr)

Source: Global Carbon Project 2024
Components: Fossil fuels & industry (~37.4 Gt) + land use change (~4.2 Gt)
Type: Observed + estimated (land use change carries higher uncertainty)
Uncertainty: ±2 Gt (land use change ±0.7 Gt; fossil ±0.4 Gt; GCP 2024)
Coverage: Calendar year 2023 actuals; 2024 preliminary

Natural Sinks (~23 Gt/yr)

Source: Global Carbon Project (GCP 2024 budget)
Land biosphere: ~11.7 Gt/yr ± ~1 Gt (decade average 2014-2023)
Ocean: ~10.5 Gt/yr ± ~0.5 Gt (decade average 2014-2023)
Type: Decade averages; individual years vary significantly
Note: Annual values fluctuate with ENSO and land cover change

Atmospheric CO2 Concentration (ppm)

Source: NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory, Mauna Loa Observatory
Published monthly mean: Latest available is February 2026
Provisional data: March 2026 onwards - NOAA weekly averages, subject to revision
Historical data: Scripps Institution of Oceanography ice core records back to ~1760
Type: Observed (monthly) / provisional (weekly)

Live Counters & Time-Based Estimates

CO2 emitted today: Derived from GCP 2024 total anthropogenic CO2 (fossil + land use change = 41.6 Gt/yr ÷ 365.25 ÷ 86400 = ~1,319 t/sec). Consistent with the headline figure and Net Gap counter.
Net gap counter: Based on total anthropogenic minus total natural sinks (~41.6 - 23.0 = ~18.6 Gt/yr)
Type: Estimated; not observed real-time data

Warming (+1.3°C Since Pre-Industrial)

Source: IPCC AR6 Working Group I (2021)
Baseline: 1850-1900 pre-industrial average
Type: Observed (multi-dataset ensemble average)

Closing-the-Gap Chart (Projection)

Actuals (2020-2024): GCP 2024 fossil CO2 data
Projections (2025-2035): Illustrative scenario only - assumes declining fossil emissions and scaling removal in line with aggressive IPCC mitigation pathways. Not a forecast.
Type: Scenario-based projection; actual outcomes will differ

1.5°C Carbon Budget

Source: IPCC AR6 (2021), updated by Forster et al. Nature Climate Change 2023
Remaining budget (50% probability): ~250-300 GtCO2 as of 2024
At current gross emission rates: ~41.6 Gt/yr total anthropogenic implies exhaustion within 6–7 years from 2024 (central estimate: 2030–2031). Range of 2027–2032 in the warning above reflects variation across probability thresholds (50%–67%), updated budget methodologies, and sink projection uncertainty. Carbon budgets are depleted by gross emissions; natural sink uptake is already factored into the IPCC budget calculation methodology.
Type: Probabilistic estimate; depends on budget methodology and baseline

Questions about data sources? hello@taoclimate.com - We welcome scrutiny.

Total anthropogenic CO2: ~41.6 billion tonnes per year. Nature removes ~23 billion.

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Corporate Sustainability Reporting Dashboard

The gap is real.
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