The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached an all-time high in 2012, and the levels are rising at an elevated speed.
Researchers said climate change resulting from the rapidly increasing greenhouse gas concentration will "shape the future of our planet for hundreds and thousands of years," a World Meteorological Organization news release reported.
The Organization's annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin shows the radiative forcing (warming effect) on Earth increased by 32 percent between the years of 1990 and 2012.
Researchers believe this is because man-made greenhouse gases are trapping heat in our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide from mainly fossil fuel sources is thought to be responsible for 80 percent of this increase.
Since 1750 the average concentration of atmospheric methane has increased by a staggering 160 percent, CO2 has levels have gone up by 41 percent and nitrous oxide by 20.
"The observations from WMO's extensive Global Atmosphere Watch network highlight yet again how heat-trapping gases from human activities have upset the natural balance of our atmosphere and are a major contribution to climate change," WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud, said. "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its recent 5th Assessment Report stressed that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years."
The temperature changes are causing sea levels to rise, giant ice sheets to melt, and extreme weather to devastate mankind.
"According to the IPCC, if we continue with 'business as usual,' global average temperatures may be 4.6 degrees higher by the end of the century than pre-industrial levels - and even higher in some parts of the world. This would have devastating consequences," Jarraud said.
"Limiting climate change will require large and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. We need to act now, otherwise we will jeopardize the future of our children, grandchildren and many future generations. Time is not on our side," he said.
