China Emissions Underestimated, Top US

April 15, 2008

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A report to be published next month in the Journal of Environment Economics and Management by researchers from the University of California, suggests China’s greenhouse gas emissions have been underestimated, and probably passed those of the U.S. in 2006-2007, the BBC reports.

This isn’t the first report to find that China’s CO2 emissions have surpassed those of the U.S. A report released in June by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency estimated that surging power demand from China’s rapidly expanding economy caused carbon dioxide emissions to rise nine percent in 2006. That increase, coupled with a slight decline in the U.S., meant that China’s emissions for the year surpassed those of the U.S. by eight percent.

The new report warns that if China doesn’t change its energy policies, its increases in greenhouse gases will be several times larger than the cuts in emissions being made by rich nations under the Kyoto Protocol.

But the report, which shows that China’s per capita emissions remain low, may be good for China’s negotiating position, according to the BBC.

The Chinese – and the UN – insist that rich countries with high per capita levels of pollution must cut emissions first, and help poorer countries to invest in clean technology.

America’s per capita emissions are five to six times higher than China’s, even though China has become the top manufacturing economy.

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Reader Comments

This information is not surprising. I believe we’ve underestimated China in a lot of areas. The are on the top of the worst lists for many things: human rights, pollution, and now CO2 emissions. I’m sure there are many more. Hopefully, they will come to terms with the fact that they either need to change their ways or they’ll poison themselves out of a population crisis.

Cindy Szponder | April 15th, 2008

They’re doing exactly what we (the U.S.) would do in their position. There is 1 proven path to economic growth and financial progress, and that’s the one they’re taking. They are aware of the environmental consequences and are taking several meaningful steps to address them, including those outlined in this article. http://www.ecounit.com/blog/?p=30
Of course they must do more. We all must. But expecting them to shut down their factories with no obvious alternative growth path today is unrealistic. The differential in per capita emissions is a good lens through which to assess the “fairness” of the demands we make on China in the short-term.

Kent Ragen | April 16th, 2008