A new Dutch analysis says that China contributed two-thirds of last year's global increase in carbon dioxide emissions. With a national increase of 8% in 2007, China was the only nation that saw a significant rise in emission levels.
A new Dutch analysis says that China contributed two-thirds of last year's global increase in carbon dioxide emissions. With a national increase of 8% in 2007, China was the only nation that saw a significant rise in emission levels. According to the agency that conducted the analysis:
PBL now estimates that China's CO2 emissions are about 14% higher than those from the USA, putting it at the top of the list of CO2 emitting countries with about a quarter share in global CO2 emissions (24%), followed by the USA (21%), the EU-15 (12%), India (8%) and the Russian Federation (6%). Together, these represent 71% of the total of global CO2 emissions.
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These conclusions lend credence to Roger Pielke Jr.'s warning that the world may be recarbonizing, and that climate policy must respond to this trend. If we don't find a way for China to fuel its development with clean energy, it's a trend we're going to see continuing in the future.
China is also a leader in photvoltaics and evolutionary nuclear designs. They are trying to increase their non-carbon energy.
Posted by: R Margolis at June 19, 2008 4:42 PM