GenevaSulphur hexafluoride warms 24,000 times more than CO2 over a century.
Grids use it as a spark suppressant, so its levels climb with electrification.
The World Meteorological Organization says CO2 hit a record 426.8 parts per million in 2025, 53% above pre-industrial levels.
COP31 opens in Turkey in November, and the UN says emissions are on track for 2.8°C of warming.
How each outlet framed it
drawn from 100+ reports worldwide
- New Scientist
- leads with the lesser-known warming gas alongside CO2, CH4 and N2O records, ahead of COP31 in Turkey
Sources: New Scientist