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| No let up in greenhouse gas rise | No let up in greenhouse gas rise |
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| Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rose to yet another high in 2010, according to the UN's weather agency. | Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rose to yet another high in 2010, according to the UN's weather agency. |
| Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the major contributor to climate change - rose by 2.3 parts per million between 2009 and 2010. | Levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the major contributor to climate change - rose by 2.3 parts per million between 2009 and 2010. |
| That exceeds the average for the past decade of 2.0 parts per million, the World Meteorological Organization says. | That exceeds the average for the past decade of 2.0 parts per million, the World Meteorological Organization says. |
| The latest round of UN climate talks begin in South Africa in two weeks. | The latest round of UN climate talks begin in South Africa in two weeks. |
| "The atmospheric burden of greenhouse gases due to human activities has yet again reached record levels since pre-industrial time," said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. | "The atmospheric burden of greenhouse gases due to human activities has yet again reached record levels since pre-industrial time," said WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud. |
| Concentrations of CO2 reached 389 parts per million in 2010 - the highest such concentrations since the start of the industrial era in 1750. | |
| CO2 is the greenhouse gas of greatest concern to policy makers looking to stem human-induced climate change. | |
| The WMO said levels of methane - considered the second most important greenhouse gas - had risen after a period of relative stabilisation from 1999 to 2006. | |
| This could be due to the thawing of the Northern permafrost and increased emissions from tropical wetlands. | |
| Nitrous oxide, emitted into the atmosphere from natural and man-made sources, including biomass burning and fertiliser use, was 323.2 parts per billion in 2010 - 20%higher than in the pre-industrial era. |