Greenhouse gases reach record levels: UN agency

RELATED NEWS Global CO2 emissions to drop 2.8% in 2009

Greenhouse gases at record

"In 2008 global concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are the main long-lived greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, reached the highest levels recorded since pre-industrial times," the WMO said.

The major focus at the Copenhagen summit, from December 7-18, is how targets for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, caused mainly by burning fossil fuels like oil and gas, can be agreed and put into a new international treaty.

Hopes of a legally binding agreement have slipped amid continuing disagreements between rich and poorer nations over how the burden should be shared.

Jarraud said the data showed "we are actually closer to the pessimistic scenario" for warming in the coming years.

"This reinforces the fact that action has to be taken as soon as possible," he said. "We are looking to Copenhagen to come up with a strong decision on greenhouse gases. The more we delay the decision, the bigger the impact will be."

The WMO coordinates the observation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere through a network of stations in more than 50 countries. It has been issuing its annual bulletin since 2005.

In 1997, the UN held an international conference on cutting greenhouse gas emissions in Kyoto, Japan, at which most developed nations - minus the United States - agreed to reduce their emissions by 2008-2012 to 5 percent below 1990 levels.

Jarraud said the fact that levels were still increasing steadily showed that the reductions agreed in the Kyoto Protocol were not sufficient.

"But without it (the Protocol), the situation today would have been far worse," he declared.