World carbon emissions, by country: new data released
World carbon emissions, by country: new data released
The US is no longer number one emitter of carbon dioxide, having been overtaken by China in these latest figures. But when did it happen?
阅读中文 | Read this in Chinese
• Get the data
Click on image for big picture Image: World Resources Institute
• 15:45 update: Percapita data now added
Which country is number one in carbon emissions? Up until very recently, it was the US – now, it is indisputedly China, as shown by this data.
These are the latest figures – up to 2007 – from the respected US Energy Information Administration. This has (literally) every country in the world on it and its emissions going back to 1980 — plus we’ve put on some handy percentage change data and ranking information.
The curious thing is, we’ve been here before. Last year we reported that China had overtaken the US in 2006. But if you look at the figures below, the change now appears to have happened in 2007. What’s going on?
Europe lags behind with a sleight of hand on emission targets
Europe lags behind with a sleight of hand on emissions targets
Europe’s carbon reduction targets are not nearly as tough as they seem and will not provide the impetus for serious policy change or investment
-
- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 22 October 2009 12.48 BST
- Article history
Europe is a laggard when it comes to responding to the threat of climate change. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
The environment council meeting in Brussels yesterday agreed the targets that Europe will put forward in international negotiations in Copenhagen. In an effort to convey some kind of leadership they agreed to increase the long-term reduction target in 2050 – my, how brave – but failed to make any new offer in relation to the more important 2020 target.
Europe lags behind with a sleight of hand on emissions targets
Europe lags behind with a sleight of hand on emissions targets
Europe’s carbon reduction targets are not nearly as tough as they seem and will not provide the impetus for serious policy change or investment
-
- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 22 October 2009 12.48 BST
- Article history
Europe is a laggard when it comes to responding to the threat of climate change. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
The environment council meeting in Brussels yesterday agreed the targets that Europe will put forward in international negotiations in Copenhagen. In an effort to convey some kind of leadership they agreed to increase the long-term reduction target in 2050 – my, how brave – but failed to make any new offer in relation to the more important 2020 target.
Water crisis in west as Lachan River runs dry
Water crisis in west as Lachlan River runs dry
MARIAN WILKINSON AND BEN CUBBY
October 24, 2009
THOUSANDS of households in western NSW are facing an unprecedented water crisis and the State Government is stepping up plans to help truck water to several towns, while others will be restricted to using water only for critical human needs.
The Lachlan River is expected to cease flowing west of Condobolin within weeks after the decision was taken yesterday to at least halve water flows from the region’s biggest dam, Wyangala, on November 1.
Ravaged by drought, Madagascar feels the full effect of climate change
Ravaged by drought, Madagascar feels the full effect of climate change
A 10% increase in temperature and a 10% decrease in rainfall sees Indian Ocean island struggle to feed its children
- guardian.co.uk, Friday 23 October 2009 19.09 BST
- Article history
Remanonjona Feroce founded the village of Anjamahavelo – meaning At the Lucky Baobab – in Madagascar a generation ago. With memories of a flood still fresh, he chose a spot far from the nearest river. He cleared the wild forest and sacrificed a sheep in the hope that it would make the owls, lemurs and snakes go away.
“Animals can’t live together with little children and young girls,” explained Feroce, an 85-year-old great-grandfather. “They don’t want snakes to be here because they have bad spirits. They strangle children by curling around the neck. Owls are bad birds. If one hoots, it means somebody will die.”
US coal stands in the way of Copenhagen
US coal stands in way of Copenhagen
It’s not India and China that threaten the success of a new climate change treaty, but senators of coal-producing US states
-
- guardian.co.uk, Friday 23 October 2009 08.30 BST
- Article history
The UN climate change treaty, signed in 1992, committed the world to avoiding “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”. Yet, since that time, greenhouse gas emissions have continued to soar.
The US has proved to be the biggest laggard in the world, refusing to sign the 1997 Kyoto protocol or to adopt any effective domestic emissions controls. As we head into the global summit in Copenhagen in December to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto protocol, the US is once again the focus of concern. Even now, American politics remains strongly divided over climate change – though President Barack Obama has new opportunities to break the logjam.