The total carbon emissions in the world reached 10 billion tonnes for the first time, said a report jointly released by Chinese and British research institutions on Monday.

Smoke billowing?out of chimneys [File photo]

The report, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, was released by the London-based Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research and the Shanghai-based Fudan University.

Carbon dioxide emissions caused by fossil fuel burning last year increased by 49 percent compared with that of 20 years ago, said the report.

According to the report, the carbon emissions amount is close to a level that will increase the global annual mean temperature by two degrees Celsius.

Experts said it is vital to properly ascertain the real contributors of carbon emissions from the perspective of international trade.

Trevor Davies, a professor with the Fudan-Tyndall Center, said Western countries were converting their carbon dioxide emissions to the shares of so-called "emerging economies" through international trade.

Zhao Bin, a researcher with the center said "joint research was carried out with British researchers, an indication that Chinese scientists have started to become involved in the principle research of world carbon emissions."

The Fudan-Tyndall Center was co-established in May by Fudan University, the University of East Anglia and seven other institutions, aiming for joint research for global climate change.