UN: Concentrations of greenhouse gases hit record

[November 21, 2011]  GENEVA (AP) -- The U.N. weather agency says concentrations of global warming gases are at record levels from emissions that exceed scientists' worst-case scenarios.

The World Meteorological Organization says heat-trapping carbon dioxide concentrations in the air have reached 389 parts per million -- the highest such concentrations since the start of the industrial era in 1750.

WMO says that reflects a 20 percent increase in nitrous oxide, 39 percent rise in CO2 and 158 percent jump in methane since then.

Its report Monday cites fossil fuel-burning, loss of forests that absorb CO2 and use of fertilizer as main culprits.

The concentrations exceed the worst of seven emissions scenarios in 2001 from the U.N.'s expert climate panel.

[Associated Press]

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