Below is an article from the Guardian detailing the International Energy Agency's unpublished findings that carbon emissions rose by a record amount last year. As a consequence, aims to prevent global temperatures from rising by 2 degrees Celsius are likely to be just "a nice Utopia", according to Fatih Birol, chief economist of the IEA. VOICE Ireland hopes that the Irish government will heed this warning, and take concrete action to cut carbon emissions.

Worst ever carbon emissions leave climate on the brink Exclusive: Record rise, despite recession, means 2C target almost out of reach

Fiona Harvey, Environment correspondent The Guardian, Sunday 29 May[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="260" caption="Economic recession has failed to curb rising emissions, undermining hope of keeping global warming to safe levels Photograph: Dave Reede/All Canada Photos/Corbis"]

[/caption]Greenhouse gas emissions increased by a record amount last year, to the highest carbon output in history, putting hopes of holding global warming to safe levels all but out of reach, according to unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency.The shock rise means the goal of preventing a temperature rise of more than 2 degrees Celsius – which scientists say is the threshold for potentially "dangerous climate change" – is likely to be just "a nice Utopia", according to Fatih Birol, chief economist of the IEA. It also shows the most serious global recession for 80 years has had only a minimal effect on emissions, contrary to some predictions. Read more.