Canada is among those countries most likely to run into difficulty implementing its commitments as in 2003 the country had increased its emissions by 24.2 percent from the base 1990 level, far from its 2012 target of a six percent reduction.

Japan, meanwhile, recorded a 12.8 percent increase over the 13 years to 2003 and is headed for an increase of 12 percent by 2010 instead of the intended six percent reduction.

And although the 15-member European Union, which ratified the treaty en bloc in 1997, achieved a reduction of 1.4 percent in emissions from 1990 to 2003 -- it is still a long way from the eight percent target in 2012 -- most of the 15 countries have seen emissions increasing.

Eleven have reported increases since 1990, with huge rises seen in Spain (41.7 percent), Portugal (36.7 percent), Greece (25.8 percent), Irelandpercent), Finland (21.5 percent) and Austria (16.5 percent).

Of the industrialised nations, only Britain seems to be having little trouble meeting its commitments, having even surpassed its target of 12.5 percent by cutting emmissions 13 percent.

Germany also reduced its emissions impressively, by 18.2 percent, but was short its target of 21 percent, while France (1.9 percent), Luxembourgpercent) and Sweden (2.3 percent) also cut emissions.

The report was published ahead of a UN conference, from November 28 to December 9 in Montreal, which is expected to draw more than 10,000 delegates to improve global efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions and fight global warming.

The United States and Australia, neither of whom have ratified the agreement, have recorded significant increases in emissions.

The US estimated a 32 percent increase by 2010 when it rejected the agreement in 2001, while under Kyoto it would have been committed to a reduction of seven percent over the same period. In 2003, it had already registered a rise of 13.3 percent and now accounts for 40 percent of all emissions from industrialised nations.

Australia, meanwhile, had increased emissions by 23.3 percent in 2003, well on its way to meeting its own estimate of a 29.3 percent increase in 2010, compared to a Kyoto allowance of increasing emissions by eight percent between 2008 and 2012.

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