Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) increased by 45 percent between 1990 and 2010, reaching an all-time high of 33 billion tonnes in 2010.

This CO2 increase took place despite emission reductions in countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol plus the non-ratifying United States during the same period.

Increased energy efficiency, nuclear energy and the growing contribution of renewable energy are not compensating for the globally increasing demand for power and transport, which is strongest in developing countries.

These findings were published on Wednesday in the report "Long-term trend in global CO2 emissions", prepared by the JRC's Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) and PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

The document is based on recent results from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) and latest statistics for energy use and other activities.

Kyoto countries to meet 2012 target

The Kyoto countries and the U.S. have emitted approximately 7.5 percent less CO2 in 2010 than in 1990.

They are collectively likely to meet the Kyoto target of a 5.2 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. Even though different countries show widely variable emission trends.

Throughout the Kyoto period, these countries have made efforts to change their energy sources mix. Between 1990 and 2010 they reduced their dependence on coal and oil and shifted towards natural gas, nuclear energy and renewable energy.

In addition they made progress in energy savings, with such measures as insulation of buildings, more energy-efficient end-use devices and higher fuel efficiencies.

Record increase between 2009-2010

Continued growth in the developing countries and emerging economies, and economic recovery by the industrialized countries are the main reasons for a record breaking 5.8 percent increase in global CO2 emissions between 2009 and 2010.

Most major economies contributed to this increase, including China, USA, India and EU-27. The CO2 emissions in the EU-27 remain lower in absolute terms than they were before the crisis - 4.0 billion tonnes in 2010 as compared to 4.2 billion tonnes in 2007.