China Takes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lead

From The Age (Australia):

CHINA has surged past the United States to become the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, beating even the most pessimistic predictions that it would take at least another year to outstrip the US.

The findings, by a Dutch environmental agency that advises the Netherlands Government, sharply raises the stakes as world leaders try to reach a climate accord — to include China and the US — to succeed the 1997 Kyoto protocol when it expires in 2012.

Australia, which is hosting the next APEC summit, has been lobbying the US and China to strike a regional deal on climate change in Sydney in September. But in its first action plan on climate change, released this month, China committed itself to improving energy efficiency but rejected mandatory emission cuts, as the US is demanding, dealing such hopes a blow.

Comments

John Fitzpatrick said…

The United States, on a per person basis, emits four times as much carbon as China. See the numbers here

June 20, 2007 at 5:43 PM

Anonymous said…

So, by that measure, all we have to do is start popping out more kids so our per capita carbon output drops below that of China? Probably total carbon emissions is more important on a global basis than per capita measures.

June 21, 2007 at 7:39 AM

Anonymous said…

The US per capita emissions may be 4 times China but the US per capita GPA is 6 times China. China's rapidly growing economy combined with the a relatively high carbon emission rate per unit of economic activity should raise a concern among those who worry about CO2. Also, the "carbon efficiency" of the US and other developed countries is increasing while China's does not seem to be.

June 21, 2007 at 8:53 AM

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