Per capita anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by country for the year 2000 including

land-use

Country

Percentage

of world

emissions: 2007*

Emissions

Change:

1990-2007

Announced

2020 Target

(relative to 1990 levels)

Announced

2050

Target

Developed countries

New Zealand

0.2% 22.1% A responsibility target for

greenhouse gas emissions

reductions of between 10% and

20% below 1990 levels by 2020, if

there is a comprehensive

global agreement

and other conditions

important to New Zealand are met.

Reduce emissions by

50% below 1990 levels.

Australia

1.4% 30.0% 4% reduction unilaterally; 14%

reduction conditional on

efforts by major

economies; about 24% reduction

conditional on adequate global

agreement.

Reduce emissions to

60% below 1990 levels.

Canada

1.9% 26.2% About a 3%

reduction.

A reduction

of about 50-

65% on 1990 levels.

EU-27

13.0% -9.3% 20% reduction unilaterally; 30%

reduction conditional on

other countries’ efforts.

Japan

3.5% 8.2% 8% reduction (domestic

reductions only).

Reduce emissions to

about 55% and 80%

below 1990 levels.

USA

18.3% 16.8% Return to 1990

levels (0%).

Reduce

emissions to about 80%

below 1990 levels.

Developing countries

China

20.3% 120.5% Countries have agreed to protect the climate system on the basis

of equity and according to their

differing responsibilities and capabilities. Developed countries

have agreed to take the lead. As developing countries’ emissions

and wealth grow, they will need to increasingly take in a share of

the global effort.

India

5.1% 79.9%

Brazil

2.7% 54.7%

Two Decades of Temperature Change in Antarctica

Posted November 21, 2007

sea-level changes measured by satellite.

Friday, November 20, 2009

The chances of a successful outcome at Copenhagen have faded dramatically over recent

weeks. The dreaded truth goes something like this: there are simply far too many people still

in denial despite the overwhelming scientific evidence. The blame for this sad state of affairs

is largely due to ignorance and lack of education. Until this sad state of affairs changes, little

will be done tangibly to avert a looming climate catastrophe.

The status quo democratic system in most OECD and developing countries (there are

exceptions) determines that political decisions are ultimately made by the voters. This means

that politicians by and large are limited in their ability to make ground breaking unpopular

decisions because opposition parties will jump at the opportunity to gain political ground.

Since the causes of climate change are so much in dispute; it is expedite for all political

parties (except the more credible) to take a low cost approach. (ie downplay, even deny and

take a ‘wait and see’ approach)

This approach may have worked up to now, but a crunch time is approaching. One day, the

rhetoric of political grandstanding must be converted into something more tangible. A

commitment is one thing; actually achieving this commitment is another thing entirely. This

was what Copenhagen was supposed to be about. The last thing we need right now is more

hot air.

How the world reduces man made greenhouse gases is a complex issue politically, but

scientifically and mathematically it is quite straightforward. The number one emitter of co2 is

energy. Of all the energy sources, burning coal is the largest contributor to manmade

greenhouse gases. Therefore it makes a lot of scientific and economic sense to target coal

first. (read Carbon sequestration)

Once this technology is perfected, then a dramatic move to electric powered vehicles can be

achieved by all world governments. In this way achieving 350ppm is possible by 2100.