CO2 emissions accelerating, scientists warn


Atmospheric scientists have warned that carbon dioxide emissions are increasing more rapidly, despite international efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels.
They have found the amount of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere has doubled in the past 20 years.
CSIRO scientists have found global carbon dioxide emissions reached almost eight billion tonnes last year.
New data from the Cape Grim air pollution monitoring station in north-west Tasmania shows carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 2.5 per cent each year for the past five years.
Atmospheric scientist Paul Fraser says the increase in carbon dioxide comes mostly from developing countries and temperatures will continue to rise.
"Over the last 20 or so years the rate of increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has almost doubled," he said.
"It started off 20 odd years ago at one part per million per year and it's now up to two.
"Once we start reducing emissions, just what level of greenhouse gases the atmosphere will stabilise at is difficult to say.
"But I'm afraid it will be relatively high, which means something like a two degree warming over the next 100 years."
In other developments:
Federal Environment Minister Senator Ian Campbell says a proposed amendment to federal environment laws to reflect a New South Wales Environment Court ruling is not a solution to climate change. (Full Story)