Environmentalists say Brazil greenhouse gas emissions rise 8 percent

A Brazilian network of environmental groups says emission levels of greenhouse gases in Latin America's biggest country were almost 8 percent higher in 2013 than one year earlier.

The Observatorio do Clima, or Climate Observatory, is comprised of more than 30 non-governmental organizations focused on climate change.

In a report released Wednesday it says greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 1.57 billion metric tons in 2013 compared to 1.45 billion metric tons in 2012.

The increase represents a reversal in the trend that started in 2005 when emissions of greenhouse gases dropped year-by-year as deforestation levels fell, the report said.

The report says soil use changes in 2013 accounted for 16.48 percent of the emissions while emissions from the energy sector accounted for 7.8 percent.