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Report: Door closing on easy climate solutions

A Volkswagon showroom uses unused roads as a temporary parking lot for new cars near a main energy plant in Beijing on July 12, 2013. With more than 13 million cars sold in China last year, motor vehicles and their emissions have emerged as the chief culprit for the air pollution in large cities. More Chinese cities may restrict car purchases in a bid to fight growing air pollution and traffic congestion in the world's biggest auto market. UPI/Stephen Shaver
A Volkswagon showroom uses unused roads as a temporary parking lot for new cars near a main energy plant in Beijing on July 12, 2013. With more than 13 million cars sold in China last year, motor vehicles and their emissions have emerged as the chief culprit for the air pollution in large cities. More Chinese cities may restrict car purchases in a bid to fight growing air pollution and traffic congestion in the world's biggest auto market. UPI/Stephen Shaver | License Photo

BRUSSELS, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A U.N. report on greenhouse gas emissions shows combating climate change requires an international effort, the European Union's climate commissioner said.

The U.N. Environment Program published a report Tuesday saying the door is closing on an easy way out of the climate crisis.

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"Even if nations meet their current climate pledges, greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 are likely to be 8 to 12 gigatons of CO2 equivalent above the level that would provide a likely chance of remaining on the least-cost pathway," the report said.

European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard said the report shows that developing countries account for about 60 percent of the global emissions. This means the fight against climate change needs to extend beyond industrialized nations.

''This is yet another call for climate action which shows the world is not getting its act together fast enough," she said in a statement Tuesday.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said near-term delays in addressing climate change will lead to long-term challenges ahead.

Total greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, the last year for which data are available, was 50.1 gigatons of CO2.

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