Total emissions by 40 industrialised countries reached 18.2 billion tonnes in 2005, up from 18.1 billion in 2004, Reuters reported the UN Climate Change Secretariat as saying.
They were just 2.8% below the record of 18.7 billion in 1990, the report added.
The 2005 rise confirms an upwards trend in recent years, despite efforts at cuts by many governments.
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