Greenhouse gases rise to record high in 2010: UN

The amount of global warming-causing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rose to a new high in 2010, and the rate of increase has accelerated, the UN weather agency said today.

Updated on: Nov 21, 2011, 16:33:16 IST

AFP | By HT Correspondent, Geneva

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The amount of global warming-causing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rose to a new high in 2010, and the rate of increase has accelerated, the UN weather agency said on Monday.

Levels of carbon dioxide -- a greenhouse gas and major contributor to climate change -- rose by 2.3 parts per million between 2009 and 2010, higher than the average for the past decade of 2.0 parts per million, a new report by the World Meteorological Organisation found.

"The atmospheric burden of greenhouse gases due to human activities has yet again reached record levels since pre-industrial time," said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.

Greenhouse gases trap radiation within the earth's atmosphere, causing it to warm.

Scientists attributed the rise in carbon dioxide, which contributes about 64% to climate warming, to fossil fuel burning, deforestation and changes in land-use.

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