Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions increased 23 percent between 1990 and 2005, according to a report released today by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.

The report says over the past several decades, the concentration of greenhouse gases has been rising at an unprecedented rate.

The likely effects of climate change place Hawaii's ecosystem and economy in a precarious position.

Vehicles were the most significant source of emissions growth in the Islands over the 15-year span, with an increase of 53 percent.

The largest source of emissions in the state was from electrical power production, which was pumping 8.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in the air in 2005.