Planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from oil, gas and coal rose to a new record high this year, according to preliminary research recently that found no sign the world was moving away from fossil fuels.
Nations gathering in Azerbaijan for crunch UN climate talks have pledged to "transition away" from fossil fuels and aim to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial times.
Global CO2 pollution needs to be reduced dramatically this decade to reach this target, but the new findings from an international network of scientists at the Global Carbon Project showed that oil, gas and coal emissions continue to rise.
The research found that to keep the 1.5C target in sight, the world would now need to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by the late 2030s -- far earlier than most countries currently plan.
While scientists said renewable power and electric vehicles are helping to displace some fossil fuels, growth in emissions from gas and oil pushed global fossil fuel emissions higher this year.
Glen Peters, research director at the Center for International Climate Research in Oslo, said the world was "frustratingly close" to a peak in its fossil fuel emissions.
"Renewables are growing strongly, electric vehicles are growing strongly, but still it's just not enough," he told reporters, adding that any peak in emissions would only be ascertained after several years of data.
