Greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow in 2012

Greenhouse gas emissions are set for another rise in 2012. According to a Global Carbon Project, the greenhouse gas emissions will reach a record high of 35.6 billion tonnes at the end of 2012, accounting for a 2.6% increase when compared to previous year.

This is yet another clear indicator that world leaders are pretty much useless when it comes to climate change - namely plenty of false promises and very little real-time action.

The numbers for greenhouse gas emissions are 58% above 1990 levels, and world looks to be heading straight ahead to an environmental disaster of massive proportions, the one that will likely make life very difficult for our future generations.

Carbon emission continue to grow

China and India are currently two of the world's fastest growing economies. Their rapid economic growth has been sadly closely accompanied by the growth in greenhouse gas emissions, with the emissions  in China and India growing by 9.9 and 7.5% in 2011.

United States is still the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter per capita with 17.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). China, for instance, has 6,6 tonnes of CO2 per capita while India has only 1.8 toones of CO2 per capita.

The widespread development of low carbon technologies and improved energy efficiency are still far from reality, meaning that greenhouse gas emissions will likely continue to grow further in years to come.

The climate change talks in Doha will likely have a disappointing end like this was the case with previous climate change conferences. The world leaders do not listen to scientific community because of different interests between the developed and developing countries.

Without the unity in global politics world doesn't stand the chance against climate change. Hopefully, world leaders will realize this before it's too late. Though as some say world could already be too late to do something about it.

Deforestation doesn't always release all stored carbon from the trees

The scientists from the University of California have discovered that deforestation doesn't always release all stored carbon from the trees into the atmosphere. The major conclusion from their latest study was that the amount of carbon emissions released when a forest is cleared depends primarily on how the trees will be used and in which part of the world the trees are grown.

They say that if cleared trees are used to create solid wood products (lumber) then wood retains much of its carbon for decades. On the other hand if wood is used to produce biofuels or is turned into pulp for paper, almost all of its stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere.

All previous models started from the presumption that all stored carbon was released immediately so this study could provide new information when creating future climate models. It should give researchers a deeper understanding of the complex global impacts of deforestation on climate change.

Since the tropical forests of the Southern hemisphere are frequently cleared for biofuels and paper production they are also the ones responsible for the biggest amount of greenhouse gas emissions coming from the deforestation.

On the other hand, temperate forests in the United States, Canada and parts of Europe are cleared primarily for use in solid wood products which means that they store its carbon for decades.

This study is another proof that land use is one of the main driving factors of climate change.

UK on the right track with cutting greenhouse gas emissions?

UK is one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in EU but the good news is that the British greenhouse gas emissions continue to decline. The UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) reports that British CO2 emissions have fallen 23 percent since 1990s and by 7% in 2011.


The main reasons for this drop in 2011 are said to be the decrease in residential gas use and a more efficient electricity generation. 


Despite the fact that UK is today using more renewable energy than ever before, renewable energy is still not one of the main factors responsible for the decrease in emissions and UK still has plenty to do before being able to talk about the switch to clean energy economy.


The weather and the spike in global energy prices still play main role in determining the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions which means that cold winter or a drop in fuel prices will likely result in emissions rising again.

The UK's long term goal includes cutting emissions at least 80 percent below 1990 levels and in order to achive this goal UK will have to lot more than just rely on the global economic downturn to curb total industrial production.

A lot of it will depend whether UK will be able to become one of the clean energy leaders or not. The offshore wind energy sector is so far the only renewable energy sector that looks good in UK and there is lot of work ahead of British government  to make sure Britain remains on the clean energy track.

 

Tropical rainforests store more carbon than previously thought

Tropical rainforests are together with our oceans the largest carbon sinkers and their preservation is certainly one of the key factors that will decide the outcome of our battle against global warming and climate change.

The deforestation of tropical rainforests doesn't only mean less trees to store carbon but it also represents a major source of carbon emissions by releasing approximately 1.1 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year. In large part of the developing world, deforestation is the biggest source of harmful carbon emissions.

The good news comes from the study recently published in Nature Climate Change which concludes that tropical vegetation contains 21 percent more carbon than previously thought.

In this latest study the scientists have created a carbon density map for the tropics with a level of consistency and accuracy never seen before. Among other things they were able to discover that tropical forests in America store around 118 billion tons of carbon, an almost 20% more than shown by previous studies.

It is of vital importance to have the reliable estimates of carbon storage because they are critical to learn about the amount of total carbon released into the atmosphere by changes in land cover and land use.

Without major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions we can only hope that our forests and oceans will be able to expand their carbon storage ability because currently this looks like our only chance against the worst possible climate change scenario.

Greenhouse gases causing huge ocean acidification

The increased emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) are not only contributing to global temperature increase but also cause huge ocean acidification.

According to the latest study by the University of Hawaii man-made carbon emissions have been main factor behind the increased acidity in our oceans. In fact, man-made carbon emissions over the last 100 to 200 years have raised ocean acidity far beyond the range of natural variations.

Ocean acidification is enormous threat to marine life because it impairs the ability of marine organisms such as corals and mollusks to form their skeletons or shells, and these marine organisms play key role in enabling the proper functioning of marine food chain.

If ocean acidification continues world will soon experience huge biodiversity loss in our oceans and seas. This is because such rapid increase in acidity leaves very little time for marine species to adapt.

The natural rate of change in climate has always left enough time for many species to adapt but this is no case with man-made climate change. The researcher Tobias Friedrich at the the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii explained this by saying that "when Earth started to warm 17,000 years ago, terminating the last glacial period, atmospheric CO2 levels rose from 190 parts per million (ppm) to 280 ppm over 6,000 years. Marine ecosystems had ample time to adjust. Now, for a similar rise in CO2 concentration to the present level of 392 ppm, the adjustment time is reduced to only 100 – 200 years."

The only way to stop further ocean acidification is to drastically reduce the amount of carbon emissions on global level and this can be achieved only with very strict international climate deal. Judging by the latest climate change talks new climate deal is very low on political agenda of world leaders, well behind global financial woes that seem to be taking all the attention.

Greenhouse gases will postpone next ice age

The increased amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide is a main factor behind the ongoing climate change issue. According to a recent study published in a journal Nature Geoscience the increased amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will also postpone the coming of next ice age on Earth.

The scientists estimate that so far there have been at least five ice ages in Earth's past. Term ice age refers to a certain period characterized by a long-term reduction in the earth's surface and atmospheric temperature, which represents ideal conditions for the growth of ice sheets and glaciers.

Our planet is currently in so called interglacial period which started 10,000-15,000 years ago. The end of this period and new ice age are expected in around 1,500 years time, if atmospheric concentrations of main greenhouse gas – carbon dioxide (CO2), do not exceed 240 parts per million by volume (ppmv).

The current concentrations of CO2 are somewhere around 390 ppmv, and keeping that level of CO2 emissions or increasing it will postpone the coming of new ice age.

While the fact that the next ice age will be postponed looks like good news, everything else about climate change and global warming looks negative.

The scientists say we should limit the global temperature rise to within 2 degrees Celsius in order to avoid major climate change threats such as extreme weather events and sea level rise. However, world is doing very little to achieve this goal because fossil fuels are still being heavily used all across the globe, and there also seems to be no chance for any meaningful climate change agreement in near future.

Will EU be able to meet its climate targets?

EU's main climate goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020. After a 7% drop in greenhouse gas emissions in 2009 many thought that EU will achieve this goal with relative ease. But 2009 was anything but a representative year in terms of emission cuts because of global recession.

According to the latest data European greenhouse gas emissions rose by 2.4% in 2010 boosted by an economic recovery and the increased use of heating fuels due to a very cold winter.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) said that this increase in emissions in 2010 does not mean that EU is no longer at the right track to achieve its climate target. What this really means is that the existing measures are not enough and that some EU countries will have to put lot more efforts in order to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

For instance, EU countries like Austria, Italy and Luxembourg will fail to achieve their Kyoto targets which will have negative effect on collective EU climate target.

One thing is sure, namely that EU will need different policies that would ensure further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. These policies will have to put lot more emphasis to renewable energy, energy efficiency and pollution reduction.

Jacqueline McGlade, EEA executive director said that "we (EU) can reduce emissions further if we consider the climate impacts of various policies more systematically."

Some policies are more efficient than others, some give better short-term some better long-term results, some can be applied only in certain EU countries while others can be used everywhere. EU must be aware of all these details if it wants to successfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help tackle climate change on global level.

Soot emissions - Important factor in global warming

Soot emission (black carbon emission) refers to dust-like carbon particles resulting from the incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon and is one of the most important factors adding to a global warming and climate change.

American chemist Mark Z. Jacobson, Ph.D. believes that reducing soot emissions could significantly slow down melting of Arctic's sea ice.

He, in fact, believes that controlling soot and reducing soot emissions would reduce warming above parts of the Arctic Circle by almost 3 degrees Fahrenheit within the next 15 years. This scenario would be enough for Arctic to experience the temperatures of 100 years ago and erase all the warming that has happened since that time.

This is the quickest fix to Arctic's melting issue that could have an almost immediate effect. Soot emissions are the second most contributing factor to climate change behind carbon dioxide. Up to recently soot has been largely overlooked in climate models though soot emissions contribute to around 17 percent of global warming.

The major sources of soot emissions include exhaust from different diesel vehicles, agricultural machines, and also the wood/animal dung fires that hundreds of millions of people in developing countries use for cooking and heating.

Soot particles once released into atmosphere become suspended and absorb sunlight and then radiate that heat back into the air around it. Not only that, soot can also add to warming by absorbing the light reflected from Earth's surface.

Jacobson believes that implementing technologies for controlling soot emissions is lot easier compared to technologies that aim to reduce carbon emissions because the costs are much lower. For instance, diesel particulate filters, can remove soot from car and truck exhaust.

Not only that, soot doesn't stay for a very long time in atmosphere like carbon dioxide does. Soot disappears within a few weeks while carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for years.

Canada will fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

According to the Environment Canada, the country’s major environmental agency, Canada will fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve its 2020 targets because of emissions from tar sands.

The rapid development of tar sands in Canada which injects steam into thick oil deposits to produce oil will account for 62 million metric tons of CO2 emissions from 2005 to 2020, almost dwarfing 31 million metric tons in planned CO2 reductions as Canada’s power plants switch from burning coal to natural gas.

The recent study by Canada’s Pembina Institute estimates that by 2020 Alberta’s tar sands will account for 12 percent of Canada’s total CO2 emissions.

Tar sands will be the main reason why Canada will likely exceed its 2020 CO2 emissions reductions target by gigantic 178 million metric tons.

The Canadian fossil fuel industry, as expected, has denied these reports claiming they are far blown out of proportion because new technologies being employed in tar sands will help significantly reduce emissions in the upcoming years.

One thing is sure though, Canada has a very difficult task in reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in years to come.

Is it too late to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

The most obvious solution to tackle climate change is to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, most notably carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. But would this solution actually stop warming of our planet?

According to the researchers from the University of Washington even if greenhouse gas emissions were to be stopped right now, earth would still very likely continue the warming trend because of the excessive greenhouse gas emissions that have occurred up to now.

Greenhouse gases such as CO2 which are already emitted are likely to persist in the Earth's atmosphere for thousands of years so it is very possible that warming would still continue even if all greenhouse gas sources would be suddenly eliminated.

Kyle Armour, a UW doctoral student in physics explains this by connecting greenhouse gases with aerosols. According to Armour aerosols which tend to counteract the effect of greenhouse warming by reflecting sunlight back into space, would last only a matter of weeks once emissions stopped, while the greenhouse gases would continue on. However, Armour also notes that the overall effect of aerosols is still the largest uncertainty in climate research so this is really only a very likely possibility.

This research does not send the message that we should be indifferent to reducing the greenhouse gases because if we continue current trend of emissions things will likely become much worse in years to come.

Today's temperature is already about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit higher than it was 200 years ago. Many scientists agree that a threshold at which the climate change related damage begins to occur is if the average temperature on our planet would rise to 3.5 degrees F higher than before the Industrial Revolution.

Greenhouse gas emissions rising in Scotland

When talking about greenhouse gases that significantly contribute to climate change most people only refer to carbon dioxide (CO2) but there are plenty of other greenhouse gases, many of which are much more powerful than CO2. World’s most potent greenhouse gas is sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and scientists have calculated that this gas is around 24,000 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, a huge concern for a further strengthening of the climate change impact.

In the last ten years Scottish SF6 emissions have increased dramatically, and according to the latest UK government data Scotland’s production of SF6 has increased by two-thirds since 1995. In fact in 2008 alone SF6 contributed seven times more to warming effect than carbon dioxide, and this is the major reason for concern.

15,000 tonnes of SF6 that Scotland produced in 2008 equals to 360 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. SF6 can be found in many different industrial products such as semiconductors used in electricity.

SF6 is not the only powerful greenhouse gas that experienced massive increase in Scotland in the last few decades as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), have also experienced massive increases since 1995. Since the 1995 Scottish emissions of HFCs have increased by staggering 610%, and HFC's are 11,000 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Huge rise of HFC's emissions is not only trend in Scotland but also in Wales and Northern Ireland, only England showed decrease in HFC's emissions in the last couple of years.

It looks like Britain will not only have to focus on reducing the carbon emissions but also on reducing SF6 and HFC's levels as these greenhouse gases are much more harmful compared to CO2.

World needs drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions

Drastic greenhouse gas cuts are needed if we want to avoid the worst climate change scenario. Latest study carried out by the NCAR scientist Warren Washington showed that cutting greenhouse gases by 70 percent this century would spare the planet the most catastrophic effects of climate change. Sadly, it is highly unlikely that world will agree to such drastic greenhouse gas cuts in years to come.

According to this study if world would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 70 % warming in the Arctic would almost halved preventing the massive ice loss on Arctic sea ice, help preserve many endangered species like for instance polar bears. Warming trend is more than obvious, and things will only become worse if we fail to make serious greenhouse gas cuts as soon as possible.

Current warming trend must be stopped by all means because if emissions continue their current trend, temperatures would rise by 2.2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and we'll be heading to a real catastrophe. Current greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere are about 380 parts per million (ppm), which is almost 100 ppm more compared to pre-industrial period. Scientists have established the danger zone at 450 ppm, everything above means serious consequences.

This study also showed that if we could maintain carbon dioxide emissions at 450 ppm global temperatures would rise by 0.6 degrees Celsius (one degree Fahrenheit) by the end of the century, which is more than acceptable, especially if we look at the current warming trend. Holding carbon emissions at 450 ppm would also mean smaller sea level rise, and the climate system would stabilize by about 2100.

This study shows that there is a hope that world can actually avoid the worst possible scenario but this hope will turn into reality only if world can significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions in the next couple of decades. Can world achieve such drastic cuts in years to come? Current talks about new climate deal are really not giving us too much hope because world looks to be having tough time agreeing on cuts of 20%, and 70 % greenhouse gas cuts look from the current point of view to be somewhere between fairytale and science fiction.

If we stop emitting climate will soon return to normal?

World has very much become aware of the fact that we have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to fight against global warming. There are many people believing that once we reduce our current greenhouse gas emissions levels climate will very soon return to normal condition. Unfortunately for us, scientists are not that optimistic.

Latest study carried out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder Colorado has come up with rather unpleasant news about the damage that has been done to climate, and the time needed for recovery. Dr. Susan Solomon, lead author of this study believes that damage is too big, and that this damage is probably irreversible.

Climate will need many years to recover even if world slows greenhouse gas emissions

According to this study even if world manages to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions on global level, temperatures are still very likely to remain high this millennium, and it will take more than 1000 years to see significant climate changes. Climate change is slow process, and we'll have to wait for a "while longer" to see positive changes.

Although scientists believe that climate change is irreversible process that will happen even if we reduce greenhouse gas emissions we still have duty not to make things even worse than they are now. This is the reason why world has to react very quickly, and do necessary changes to reduce current greenhouse gas emission levels. We may not be able to fix this problem right away but we sure do not want to make it worse than it already is.

China's greenhouse emissions will continue to rise

China recently overtook United States by becoming world's largest CO2 emitter, and it looks like China's greenhouse gas emissions will rise in years to come since China's government announced that plans to increase its coal production by about 30 percent by 2015 to meet its rising energy needs. This will of course give even more negative impact to already worrying global warming as the cheapest but also the dirtiest fuel coal will remain China's dominant energy source in years to come. Coal counts for about 70 % of China's energy needs, and its burning is the most responsible for China's excessive CO2 emissions.

China's coal production will rise in years to come giving even more negative impact to global warming

China talks a lot about necessity of turning to renewable energy sector, and its efforts to develop different renewable energies, but these "efforts" are almost invisible in reality. As long coal and other fossil fuels remain dominant energy sources in big countries world will not make the difference, and climate change problem will become more and more serious. It looks like world will have tough time fighting against the dominant fossil fuels, especially now with low oil prices, and current financial crisis. Green future might not be as green as we hope it would be.

Mexico set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

High traffic with lots of vehicles and different factories have put Mexico to 14th place among world top greenhouse gas emitters. Mexican government seems determinant to significantly reduce its emissions by somewhere between 75 million and 110 million, which is about 15 % of its annual 650 millions tonnes a year of carbon dioxide.

Mexico has already set up some guidelines how to achieve this plan that include: conversion of traditional coal and fuel power plants into natural gas power plants, significant improvement in efficiency at the state-run oil company, and replacement of old diesel buses and trucks with cleaner vehicles.

This is so far only shot-term plan that should see first significant results in 2012 but Mexican government plans to act further and is set to unveil a detailed long-term plan for improvement energy efficiency in February; this efficient energy project should include expanded carbon trading programs that allow rich-nation polluters to fund emission reduction projects in developing countries.

Mexican government is already funding rural areas and has successful program to plant new trees to stop deforestation. Energy efficiency looks to be next step for Mexico. Hopefully a successful one.

Greenhouse gases - Highest ever in 2007

Despite Kyoto protocol and lots of talk about climate change greenhouse gas emissions increased to record levels in 2007. Latest report from World Meteorological Organization (WMO) showed that carbon dioxide levels increased 0.5 percent from 2006 to reach 383.1 parts per million in 2007. Carbon dioxide levels were not the only greenhouse gases that showed increase, nitrous oxide levels went up 0.25 percent, and methane increased by 0,34 percent.This increase in greenhouse gas levels has increased the overall warming effect by one percent.

IF this data is compared with the greenhouse gas levels from 1990s then we could see a resounding 24.2 percent increase since 1990. Greenhouse gas levels are already too high, but world still hasn't done nothing, we hear a lot of talk but we see very little or no action. Global energy policy still remains the same, especially with the current decline in oil prices, and as long as fossil fuels remain dominant greenhouse gas levels will continue to rise.

Obama promised some sort of "green revolution" with more emphasis on clean energy sector and renewables but this still remains to be seen, especially given the current financial crisis that looks to be pushing "green revolution" to some other better times. What world still fails to see is the fact that we can forget about better times if we continue with current levels of CO2 emissions. Impact of global warming is getting stronger by the day so waiting for better times could mean catastrophe in making. Hopefully world leaders will give climate change problem the highest priority. Financial crisis is the big problem but definitely not as big as global warming and climate change.

Greenhouse gas emissions up, especially in transition countries

UN's climate change agency has released new figures that showed how in period from 2000 to 2006 greenhouse gas emissions rose to 2,3 %, with biggest increases in former Soviet countries and Canada. Canada is particularly worrying because its greenhouse gas emissions rose incredible 21,3 % in period between 1990 and 2006. Eastern European countries also recorded significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions of 7,4 %. This of course is anything but a good sign in world's fight against climate change, and it clearly shows that current efforts are not enough and that world has to search for new solutions.

There hasn't been official report that would indicate condition in major emitting countries like China and USA, but many experts believe that emissions in these countries are constantly rising, especially in China because of its recent economic boom. The problem with greenhouse gas emission rise is especially connected with countries that are going through a phase of transition becoming stronger economically because these countries are then experiencing sudden energy demand that is mostly satisfied with dirty fossil fuels that produce CO2 and other greenhouse gases when burn. Renewables are very rarely decent alternative in transition countries because they haven't yet become dominant in the world's strongest economies, so we really can not expect their use in developing nations.

World has to act very quickly on this matter because so far we are slowly but surely losing fight against global warming and climate change. If we want to change the outcome of this fight whole world's needs some new "revolutionary" clean energy plan that would really make the difference. Of course everything has to be done on global level with the inclusion of all world's leading countries. And it has to be done as soon as possible because greenhouse gas emissions are constantly rising.

Cut greenhouse gases - How?

Cutting down emission of greenhouse gases (especially the most dominant CO2) is our only chance if we want to fight against global warming. The best solution for this problem would be complete turn to renewable energy sector but this is possible only in theory as the demand for energy grows by each new day, and so the only real solution would be conversion of CO2 emissions in some useful products.

And the turning point of this idea could well be newly developed method by scientist at Newcastle University that have developed a highly energy-efficient method of converting waste carbon dioxide (CO₂) into chemical compounds known as cyclic carbonates, which are widely used in the manufacture of products including solvents, paint-strippers, biodegradable packaging, as well as having applications in the chemical industry.

Scientists estimate potential of this technology to use of 48 million tonnes of waste CO₂ per year, and though this isn't that much on global scale it's very important first step in developing similar technologies that could use much larger quantities of waste CO2.

This is the first really successful technology for converting CO₂ emissions into a useful product, since all past technologies required very large energy input that they in fact generated more CO₂ than they could consume. However, Newcastle team used extremely active aluminum catalyst that managed to drive the reaction necessary to turn waste carbon dioxide into cyclic carbonates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, vastly reducing the energy input required for process.

With this new method there is also a new hope that we can really cut down our greenhouse gases emission, but scientific solutions won't be enough if fossil fuels remain dominant in next 50 years as they are now. This technology (and hopefully with time new improved similar technologies) will still lack global scale factor and will probably need lot of time before they can have serious impact against global warming and CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Therefore we need more energy from renewable energy sources. So far renewable energy sector is still negligible on global scale and "dirty" fossil fuels like coal and oil are still dominant fuels in global energy sector.

Combustion of these dirty fuels is the main reason why CO2 levels in atmosphere are constantly rising. Yes we definitely need science and such hopeful new technologies, but we need even more new energetic policy that will not only talk a lot about renewable energy sector, but also make some significant steps in this direction. How hard can that be?

Greenhouse gases - Increasing rapidly

As many of you know greenhouse gases emission is mostly responsible for global warming and it is crucial to cut down these emissions if we want to have decent chance in fight against global warming and climate change. And though there has been lot of talks, agreements and god knows what else, greenhouse gases levels are still increasing. Two key greenhouse gases responsible for global warming are carbon dioxide and methane, and according to the latest study carried out by the the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these two greenhouse gases had sharp growth last year (2007).

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the greenhouse gas that is mostly responsible for climate change effect (twice as much as methane) and last year alone it increased by 0.6 percent, or 19 billion tons, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels, and global concentration of carbon dioxide is now nearly 385 parts per million which is more than 100 ppm more than it were in pre-industrial period. Since 2000, annual increases of 2 ppm or more have been common, and just for comparison these levels were 1.5 ppm per year in the 1980s and less than 1 ppm per year during the 1960s.

International agreements to cut down carbon dioxide emissions like Kyoto protocol hadn't show success since USA and China failed to ratify this agreement, and these two countries convincingly lead the way in carbon dioxide emissions. There are only efforts of some European countries but they are too small to influence global levels of CO2 emission into the atmosphere.

Not only that carbon dioxide concentration increased, but what is even more worrying methane rose by 27 million tons after almost a decade(since 1998) with little or no increase. And though there's far less methane in atmosphere, methane is much more dangerous since it is 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. There's also great threat of vast amounts of methane that are stored in permafrost, or permanently frozen ground, and as the Arctic continues to warm and permafrost thaws, methane could seep into the atmosphere, causing even more emissions and even bigger temperature increase.

As these results show there is only talk about cutting down greenhouse gases emission and major emitters like China and USA haven't still showed positive moves that would imply significant change to current emission levels. Kyoto protocol was originally good idea, but by the current look of it only in theory, since countries that lead greenhouse gases emission failed to ratify it. What world needs is another, less flexible agreement with no options like "we'll certainly think about it and in few years we'll let you know" that enables big emitters to delay their ratifications to infinity. The world has come to point where word "later" isn't acceptable, there's only "now" and word "now" has to be basis of all agreements if we want to maintain our hope in positive outcome. We need this hope and need it now. Not later, but now.

Greenhouse gases levels increasing rapidly