"GENEVA - Greenhouse gas concentrations hit a new record in 2020, the U.N. weather agency said on Monday, warning that the world was "way off track" for capping rising temperatures.

A World Meteorological Organization report showed that carbon dioxide levels surged to 413.2 parts per million in 2020, rising more than the average rate over the last decade despite a temporary emissions dip during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said that the current rate of increase in heat-trapping gases would result in temperature rises "far in excess" of the 2015 Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average this century.

'We are way off track. We need to revisit our industrial, energy and transport systems and whole way of life,' he said, calling for a 'dramatic increase' in commitments at the COP26 conference beginning Oct. 31."

Emma Farge reports for Reuters October 25, 2021. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Poorest Countries To Gain From New Climate Funding Plan To Break Cop26 Impasse" (Guardian) [3]

"Rich Nations Hatch Plan For $100 Billion Climate Aid" (Bloomberg) [4]

"Bangladesh To Share ‘Climate Prosperity Plan’ at COP26 " (AP) [5]

"Australia Gives In-Principle Support For Net Zero By 2050" (AP) [6]

"Japan PM Kishida Making Arrangements To Attend COP26 Climate Summit -Yomiuri" (Reuters) [7]

"Top Oil Exporter Saudi Arabia Targets Net Zero Emissions By 2060" (Reuters) [8]

"China Says It Must Consider Food And Energy Security When Curbing Emissions" (Reuters) [9]