How long does it take for carbon dioxide CO2 in the atmosphere to disperse? About 50\% of a CO2 increase will be removed from the atmosphere within 30 years, and a further 30\% will be removed within a few centuries. The remaining 20\% may stay in the atmosphere for many thousands of years. From U.S Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports: Atmospheric lifetime: 50-200 years. How long does it take for CO2