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The record increase adds to concerns that nature may become less able to absorb planet-warming gases in the long term.
The Arctic tundra is being turned into a source of CO2 entirely, thanks to warming and frequent fires, according to the US science group NOAA.
The Amazon rainforest’s ability to absorb CO2 has also been hit by drought, wildfires and deliberate deforestation.
“It’s an open question, but it’s something we have to look at very carefully,” Prof Betts told the BBC.
The Met Office predicts the increase in CO2 concentrations in 2025 will be less extreme than in 2024, but remains significantly off-track to meet the 1.5C target.
La Niña conditions – where surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are cooler than normal – have replaced El Niño, allowing nature to absorb more CO2.
“While there may be a temporary break with cooler temperatures, warming will continue because CO2 is still in the atmosphere,” Prof Betts said.
