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UN says greenhouse gases reach record high in 2008

Posted on November 23, 2009 at 11:31 AM

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GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. weather agency says greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere hit record highs last year. And, the World Meteorological Organization also says carbon dioxide levels rose slightly faster than over the last decade.

The report comes as the European Union is urging the U.S. and China to set targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions at a climate conference next month. The EU says delays by those countries are hindering global efforts to curb climate change.

The gases -- carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane -- are believed to be responsible for global warming. Carbon dioxide -- or CO2 -- is the main greenhouse gas.

An international climate change panel says if nothing is done to stop the emissions, global temperatures could rise by up to 11 degrees this century -- triggering droughts, floods and other disasters.

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