High CO2 emissions: Threat or scaremongering?

The US Energy Department has said the amount of carbon dixoide emissions has jumped to a new record level.

It has calculated that the world pumped about 512 million metric tonnes more carbon dioxide into the air in 2010 than it did in 2009. That is an increase of around six per cent.

Figures for last year show greenhouse gases are higher than the worst case scenario outlined by climate change experts just four years ago.

The new figures show pollution in the US and China amount for more tnan half of the increases. 

Do world leaders need to review their priorities to fight global warming? What can be done? With a pressing economic and financial crisis, will politicians risk losing their posts in order to save the future of their children and grandchildren? And is it a real threat or scaremongering?

Inside Story discusses with guests: Charlie Kronic, a member of the Greenpeace Energy and Climate Team; David Henderson, the former head of the Economics and Statistics Department at OECD and chairman of the Academic Advisory Council of the Global Warming Policy Foundation; and Fred Pearce, an environment consultant and leading contributor to New Scientist magazine.