According to Compilation and Synthesis of Third National Communications, although these developed countries as a whole could cut gas emissions during the 1990s by 3 percent, that was only because of a 37 percent drop in the emissions by the transition countries, which were facing economic crisis at the time. The greenhouse gas emissions in highly industrialized countries rose by 8 percent during the same period.

Because the Central and Eastern European transition countries are starting to recover from the decline of the 1990s, a developed country emissions increase of 10 percent is likely between 2000 and 2010. The report also projects a possible 17 percent increase in emissions by highly industrialized countries during the same period.

"These findings clearly demonstrate that stronger and more creative policies will be needed for accelerating the spread of climate-friendly technologies and persuading businesses, local governments and citizens to cut their greenhouse gas emissions," convention Executive Secretary Joke Waller Hunter said.

Although the report stresses national governments' importance in creating strategies to address greenhouse gas emissions, it acknowledges that local and regional governments are becoming more involved, with the collaboration of other groups (U.N. release, June 2).