"Levels of most greenhouse gases continue to increase," said the World Meteorological Organisation in a statement.

"In 2008, global concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are the main long-lived greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, have reached the highest levels recorded since pre-industrial times," it said.

WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud noted that data confirmed the "tendancy of exponential increase."

"It's not really good news: concentration of greenhouse gases continue to increase, actually even a bit faster," he said.

"This is reinforcing the fact that we are actually closer to the pessimistic scenario" forecasted by scientists of the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he said.

"Action must be taken as soon as possible," he stressed, ahead of a UN summit in Copenhagen next month aimed at securing a treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which aims at cutting carbon emissions.

The WMO said since 1750, atmospheric carbon dioxide -- the key driver of global warming -- has increased by 38 percent, contributing to 63.5 percent of the growth in atmospheric greenhouse effect.

In 2008, carbon dioxide levels reached 385.2 parts per million, up 2.0 ppm from a year earlier.

Methane levels stayed stable from 1999 to 2006, but showed a "significant increase" in 2007 and 2008.

Methane is over 20 times more efficient than carbon dioxide in trapping solar heat, and some 60 percent of methane arise from human influence on nature, such as rice and cattle farming, fossil fuel usage and landfills.

Meanwhile, the WMO noted that the levels of chlorofluorocarbons are decreasing as the ozone-depleting compounds are being phased out through an international treaty.

However, concentrations of substitute gases are "increasing rapidly," contributing to 8.9 percent of greenhouse effect between 2003 and 2008.

earlier related report
UN climate chief expects 'specific' deal but urges US action
Brussels (AFP) Nov 23, 2009 - The UN's top climate negotiator voiced optimism Monday that a deal can be salvaged next month at world talks on global warming, but said US President Barack Obama must first get on board.

"I think we will have a very specific agreement," UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said ahead of a meeting with EU environment ministers in Brussels.

He has already ruled out the possibility that a comprehensive climate treaty can be reached at the UN-sponsored talks that get underway in Copenhagen on December 7.

The deal he anticipates is likely to include "a list of rich country targets (and) clarity on what major developing countries like India and China are willing to do," he said.

De Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also said he expected to see "clarity on finances," with a list of pledged contributions for the poorest nations.

For these goals to be meaningful and attainable, however, the United States would have to bring something concrete to the table.

De Boer expressed confidence, saying: "My sense is Obama will be in a position to come to Copenhagen with a target and a financial contribution."

Last week US Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the senate would not enact fresh legislation on climate change until next spring.

"They are not going to finalise the legislation before Copenhagen, but they don't need to," said de Boer ahead of talks due to end on December 18.

The European Union and the United Nations both want a "complete deal" in Copenhagen which could be translated into a binding treaty in the first months of 2010, he said.

Soon after he made his comments a senior US official said Washington was prepared to put an emissions target on the table in Copenhagen.

"In the context of both developed and major developing countries putting forward meaningful proposals as part of a comprehensive agreement, countries will need to put their targets on the table," the official said.

He said that "over the next several days" the nature of the US target should "become more clear" as will a looming decision on whether Obama will attend the summit.

But the comments also came as the UN climate agency warned that greenhouse gas emissions have reached record levels.

De Boer's optimism was boosted by "the pledges many countries are making," as he cited Brazil, South Korea, Russia and, most recently, Japan for "very encouraging" announcements.

Germany's new environment minister Norbert Roettgen, attending the talks in Brussels, said no-one could expect a "legally constraining" deal in Copenhagen, but that "obstacles must fall" as a result of the talks.

French Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo said the Washington "problem" would mean "a flexibility on dates or figures." Other industrialised nations could perhaps make up the gap, he added.

De Boer said he hopes the European Union will clarify its position on funding ahead of the Copenhagen talks.

"We need to have a clear figure from Europe on the table," he stressed.

At a summit last month the 27 EU heads of state and government agreed on a negotiating position for Copenhagen, but failed to carve up figures for aid to the developing world to tackle climate change and deal with its consequences.

Many EU nations -- including France, Germany and Italy -- are unwilling to commit themselves before they see what the rest of the world will offer.

Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, called the extraordinary meeting with his European counterparts to discuss the bloc's strategy in the lead up to the talks.

"An ambitious bid by the US and also by China is absolutely crucial," he said.

The Copenhagen summiteers will be seeking to agree a climate change deal to succeed the Kyoto protocol, which the United States never ratified and which will run out by 2013.

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