Brighton and Hove is generating record levels of carbon dioxide - enough to fill 16 million double-decker buses a year.

Both residents and businesses are being blamed for the rising levels of the greenhouse gas in the city's air as they carelessly waste energy through their use of everything from household goods and comp-uters to cars and manufacturing equipment in factories.

The latest figures recording carbon emmisions have been released by Government-backed body The Carbon Trust and come less than a year after the city was named and shamed as one of the UK's most polluted places.

The Carbon Trust announced today that the city produced 289,636 tonnes of the greenhouse gas in a single year, a figure that is increasing all the time.

In June last year, The Argus reported how figures from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, which represents people with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, showed dangerously high levels of nitrogen oxide.

Back then, Brighton and Hove was listed as the ninth most polluted location outside London.

The latest figures of emissions data are based upon the tonnes of carbon emitted by human activity across various sectors per square kilometre.

They cover air pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide, which is the biggest man-made cause of global warming. The figures take into account the Department of Transport's traffic flow data on major roads, data on main fuel used for domestic heating by business information service Experian, figures from commerce and industry on factory manufacturing and office workers plus other commercial data.

It is the latest blow for environmentalists in Brighton and Hove which was also given 18 months from the end of 2005 to cut pollution and traffic fumes, including nitrogen oxide, when it was placed in an air quality management area by the Department of the Environment.

The move was taken after experts identified three pollution hotspots in the city - Lewes Road, Grand Parade and around Preston Circus.

Businesses and residents have been urged to act immediately to reduce the vast amounts of waste products they are lumbering on the world.

It is believed that carbon is one of the biggest causes of climate change, blamed for creating natural disasters such as flooding and hurricanes.

Climate change is particularly worrying for Sussex because it could cause the rising tides which are threatening to swamp swathes of the coastline.

Escalating production of carbon is thought to have contributed to unseasonal weather conditions. The Carbon Trust, set up by the Government to reduce climate change, releases a carbon map of UK towns and cities every year. The latest figures refer to 2003 and are worked out using data from sources including pollution monitoring, traffic flow, regional energy statistics and Ordance Surveys.

Last year, it said Brighton was producing 250,000 tonnes or 14 million bus loads of carbon annually, although more accurate recording of carbon levels has added to the increase.

Dr Garry Felgate, a director at the trust, said: "Carbon emissions are a cause of climate change. Brighton is emitting 290,000 tonnes. Climate change is the single biggest threat that we face."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "We are pleased to see that our performance rates well compared to other cities but recognise that there is much to be done."

She said officers met with representatives of the Carbon Trust yesterday because the authority hoped to be accepted on to the Carbon Trust's local authority carbon management programme.

She said: "This would involve a systematic and comprehensive method for measuring emissions, costing options and producing a plan for reducing emissions.

"In addition, we already have a draft Climate Change Action Plan with 100 actions included in it, which will soon be going out for consultation in the city."

To find out how to reduce carbon emissions call the Carbon Trust on 0800 085 2005 or visit www.thecarbontrust.org.uk.