The Telegraph: Risk of catastrophic climate change increases as ‘emissions gap’ widens

Click here to read this in full at The Telegraph : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/9693629/Risk-of-catastrophic-climate-change-increases-as-emissions-gap-widens.html

This year the emissions gap is greater than 2010 and 2011, despite growing concern around the world about the risks of global warming Photo: GETTY

Despite efforts over the last decade to try and reduce emissions, concentrations of warming gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are up 20 per cent since 2000.

Levels CO2 were at more than 390 parts per million (ppm) in 2011, compared to 280ppm before the start of the era of the Industrial Revolution in 1750, an increase of around 40 per cent.

If the increase continues at the current rate then the world is likely to be pumping out 58 gigatonnes (Gt) of greenhouse gases per year by 2020.

This is 14Gt short of the target scientists estimate the world needs to reach in order to keep temperature rise below 2C.

Click here to read this in full at The Telegraph : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/9693629/Risk-of-catastrophic-climate-change-increases-as-emissions-gap-widens.html