Carbon dioxide levels set to reach new high

Global emissions of carbon dioxide are set to rise again this year to reach a new record high, scientists said.

Despite urgent warnings over the need to curb greenhouse gases to avoid “dangerous” climate change, emissions are estimated to be rising by 2.5% this year, to a record 40bn tonnes.

Experts said at current rates the “quota” for the total amount of carbon dioxide that can be released into the atmosphere without pushing the world beyond 2C of warming could be used up within 30 years.