China 'now top carbon polluter'

[Duppers]

Source: BBC News

By Roger Harrabin
BBC Environment analyst

China has already overtaken the US as the world's "biggest polluter", a report to be published next month says.

The research suggests the country's greenhouse gas emissions have been underestimated, and probably passed those of the US in 2006-2007. The University of California team will report their work in the Journal of Environment Economics and Management. They warn that unchecked future growth will dwarf any emissions cuts made by rich nations under the Kyoto Protocol.

...

Dr Auffhammer told BBC News that his projections had made an assumption that the Chinese government's recent aggressive energy efficiency programme would fail, as the previous one had failed badly.

...

"The only solution is for a massive transfer of technology and wealth from the West."

He acknowledged that this eventuality was unlikely.

Those scientists aspiring to stabilise global emissions growth before 2020 to prevent what they believe may be irreversible damage to the climate may be wondering how this can possibly be achieved.


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7347638.stm

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No surprise here. Woe be to this planet.

[Atman]

1. God, they're kicking our ass in EVERYTHING!

:)

.

[Robb]

10. LOL!

...Paging DUzy committee! :D

[SteinbachMB]

2. What?

"The only solution is for a massive transfer of technology and wealth from the West."

Dr. Auffhammer is a real genius with that statement. In other words, " let's give them the rope to hang us."

[hendo]

3. Come on people

Yes, we need to give them more technology so that they can create clean energy. Don't you realize that the reason they are reliant upon coal burning is cause its the best they have. Every country in the history of the world was a massive polluter when they went through industrialization.

[SteinbachMB]

4. Chinese are very bright

...if China allowed their people to be free and creative, they would have all they needed to solve their problems. But no, let's GIVE them everything.

[Duppers]

7. uh?

They have the freedom to be creative in their universities BUT they are still no up to par with US.

[Duppers]

8. you're right on

and this issue is much more important than competing economies.

We must think globally in order to save our own skins even if it require helping other countries with this most important problem. I question folks who cannot/do not see that fact.

[singilarpoint]

5. What they'll say.

The neonuts love this. They always want to point out the bad acts of others to justify their own bad acts. It just reflects their lack of leadership. Instead of coming up with new, and better ideas, they always just take the; "Hey everyone else is doing it approach." They are very lazy!!!!

[Duppers]

9. indeed

and they don't grasp the seriousness of the issue.

[paparush]

6. This will no doubt be seriously spun into some sort of Environmental Victory for the US.

Just like those positive consumer spending numbers for March.

What a fucking joke - The only two sectors that saw an increase were GAS and FOOD! Why? BECAUSE THEY COST MORE.

I mean shit, if we bought a million units of food in February at $1.00 per unit, and we bought a million units in March at $2.00, we didn't really buy more (we still only bought a million units), we just spent more. That isn't growth. (not really)

ACK!

[fujiyama]

11. This isn't good news for anyone

While ultimately this effects the Chinese more than anyone else, global warming, carbon emissions, and air pollution is a planetary issue. During rapid expansion, they will continue to consume even more resources. It is inevitable. In a way, we could say they haven't even started. If we contribute this much with 300 million people or so, just imagine what China will do with a more industrialized economy? Also, while I think more are getting environmentally conscious in China, there are many with their heads up their asses. Many are in denial and think pollution is a "western concept". With little environmental regulation, they are causing themselves harm in ways they don't see, though it does lead to short term economic growth.

The major world governments have to start coming together on joint research on alternative energies. What's going on just isn't sustainable.