Global warming gas levels reach record high

World carbon dioxide pollution levels in the atmosphere are accelerating and reached a record high last year, the UN weather agency said yesterday.

The heat-trapping gas, pumped into the air by cars and smokestacks, reached 393.1 parts per million (ppm) last year, up 2.2ppm from the previous year, said the Geneva-based World Meteorological Organisation in its annual greenhouse gas inventory.

That is far beyond the 350 ppm that some scientists and environmental groups promote as the absolute upper limit for a safe level.