Greenhouse gas emissions reach record levels in 2009: WMO

Greenhouse gas emissions reached record levels in 2009, the UN’s weather agency said Wednesday, warning that global warming could set off even greater methane emissions from the Arctic.

“Greenhouse gas concentrations have reached record levels despite the economic slowdown. They would have been even higher without the international action taken to reduce them,” said Michel Jarraud, secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization.

“In addition, potential methane release from northern permafrost, and wetlands, under future climate change is of great concern and is becoming a focus of intensive research and observations.”