Scientist: Global greenhouse gas emissions beyond 'worst-case' scenario

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Strong worldwide economic growth has accelerated the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere to a dangerous threshold scientists had not expected for another decade, according to a leading Australian climate change expert. Scientist Tim Flannery said a report by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change due to be released in November will contain new data showing that the level of climate-changing gases in the atmosphere has already reached critical levels. "What the report establishes is that the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is already above the threshold that can potentially cause dangerous climate change," Flannery, who claims to have seen the raw data that will be included in the report, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. late Monday. "What it says is that we already stand an unacceptable risk of dangerous climate change and that the need for action is ever more urgent," he added.