Alert over record carbon emissions

The 28-country International Energy Agency said China saw the largest emissions growth, but its increase was among the lowest in a decade after investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Global climate talks are aimed at keeping the temperature rise below 2C compared to pre-industrial levels.

Existing technology that would have no net economic cost – such as better insulation, limiting coal use, and reducing methane emissions – could bring the world much closer to the path it needs to be on by 2020 to keep temperature rises to 2C, the IEA said.

Its said that with negotiations on a new global climate deal not due to be completed until 2015 rapid action now by national governments could buy precious time.