The International Energy Agency said the world's energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose 1.4 percent in 2012 to 31.6 billion tons according to its annual World Energy Outlook report.
The report stated China saw the largest emissions growth last year, up 300 million tons, or 3.8 percent, from 2011. U.S. emissions dropped 200 million tons, or 3.8 percent by switching it's generation from coal to gas, while Europe's emissions declined by 50 million tons, or 1.4 percent, the IEA said.
At the rate emissions are growing, the world's climate is reportedly on track for a temperature increase of 6.5-9.5 F.
"Climate change has quite frankly slipped to the back burner of policy priorities," told IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven to the Associated Press. "But the problem is not going away - quite the opposite."
According to reports, scientists have predicted that the global temperature rise could have disastrous consequences such as extreme weather events, disruptions to agriculture and the spread of diseases. The IEA report stated that emissions could and need to be significantly reduced by 2020.
The world can reportedly decrease their fuel emission by improving everyday energy efficiency when using transportation, limiting the use of coal-fired power plants, etc.
"While delaying stronger climate action to 2020 would avoid $1.5 trillion in low-carbon investments over the next seven years, it would mean an additional $5 trillion in investment would be needed to get back on track," the IEA said in their report.
The IEA report stated the developing countries like China, India and Brazil account for 60 percent of global emissions from energy, up from 45 percent in 2000.
"This puts us on a difficult and dangerous trajectory," IEA chief economist Fatih Birol said in the report. "If we don't do anything between now and 2020, it will be very difficult because there will be a lot of carbon already in the atmosphere and the energy infrastructure will be locked in."
