Air monitoring shows alarming rise in CO2

Air monitoring by the International Energy Agency (IEA) has shown that carbon emissions from the power supply sector have risen by an alarming amount.

According to the IEA, carbon emissions reached record levels last year, despite predictions that the global economic downturn would hamper carbon output in the energy sector.

While China and India accounted for the majority of the rise, global emissions were five per cent higher than the previous record - which was set prior to the global recession back in 2008.

Faith Birol described the dramatic drop in air quality as "another wake-up call".

"Unless bold and decisive decisions are made very soon, it will be extremely challenging to succeed in achieving [the] global goal agreed in Cancun," she added.

At the end of last year, Xie Zhenhua, deputy director of China's National Development and Reform Commission, said that the country was striving to reach the goals set out at the Cancun climate change gathering - which urged nations to make between 13 and 16 per cent reductions in CO2 output.

Posted by Claire Manning