The Kyoto Protocol says China might me the biggest largest emitter of carbon dioxide in 07 Well are they?

Question

Look under the United States
Section
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol#Russia

Answer 1

Currently, and for the past 10-years, the United States has been the largest emitter of C02 into the earth's atmosphere. However, it is predicted that by the year 2009 China will far surpass the US.

The United States, especially California have set many goals and made plans as to how they will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It remains to be seen if they will be able to follow through since the the costs of a national cap-and-trade program are highly likely to exceed the benefits.

China and other countries are contributing to greenhouse gasses at an alarming rate of increase. At this time, we can see an emerging 'middle class' in China. More of their citizens are able to afford cars for the first time. The same is happening in India. Their populations alone make this a threat to the environment.

Although not at present, China will become the biggest emitter of C02 in the next few years. A billion Indians will not be far behind. These two countries alone may lurch ahead to hold first and second place in a race with no prize.

Answer 2

Not yet. A lot of Yahoo Answers users seem to have gotten this one wrong.

According to the Wikipedia article you cited the Chinese might overtake the United States as soon as LATE 2007. As of May 2007 we Americans retain the title of largest single CO2 emitter. Other sources indicate that the Chinese might overtake the US sometime in 2009.

Even once the Chinese over take Americans we will still be generating CO2 on a personal basis nearly 10 times greater than people living in China.

Answer 3

It seems Kyoto Protocol is outdated. CO2 emissions have increased considerably. Steps should be taken to replace Kyoto Protocol with something more suitable for the future. Regarding India's take, India must watch the reactions of other countries and then react. That's what I think.

Answer 4

The USA would like you to think that, the government would also like you to think that we wont join because china will not join in the kyoto protocol. president bush and his administration have been adamantly opposed to cap and trade pollution systems, regulating carbon dioxide and any other manditory measures to cut pollution, increase competitiveness and efficiency and spur new clean industry in america. america with a population of only 300 million pollutes and wastes more than a country like china who has three times the U.S. population of 1.2 billion people. it is alarming to discover we pollute more than a nation with three times more people. doesnt it make sense that shina should surpass the united states and become the largest polluter? this type of a story is all media hype. we shift the focus from america's inactivity and unresponsibility as a power house to evoke smart logical change and instead blame developing nations for inacting. when america was developing and slashing and burning ecosystems like it currently does to day, did anyone tell it that they had to cut pollution or find different energy sources? absolutely not. although times are different today and every country should be responsible, wealthy and technologically advanced america should be setting the example and drumming up support for international treaties regarding climate change and pollution

Answer 5

largest sole emitter yes

BUT they also have the largest population in the world as well

Now if you look at largest emitter of carbon emissions per person, its very very low down the list. China's energy, while it is industrial, it is very efficient compared to many developed countries like America, Australia and Canada.

Plus its a developing country, it doesn't have much money to throw around.

Answer 6

I heard they were the biggest emmiter of Methane due to the rice patties. The constant flooding of the fields causes a tremendous amount of Methane to be emitted each year, and I read the goverment is trying to teach farmers new ways to produce rice, but the poorer farmers are against it because it is expensive.
But the same is not true for carbon dioxide...
I found this on the following web site:
http://www.huliq.com/22759/co2-emissions-increasing-faster-than-expected

China’s emissions per person are still below the global average. "On average, each person in Australia and the US now emits more than five tonnes of carbon per year, while in China the figure is only one tonne per year. Since the start of the industrial revolution, the US and Europe account for more than 50 per cent of the total, accumulated global emissions over two centuries, while China accounts for less than eight per cent. The 50 least developed countries have together contributed less than 0.5 per cent of global cumulative emissions over 200 years."

Answer 7

China is in their industrial revolution right now. I think that they would be the highest emitter of CO2. They also use coal as their power source.

Answer 8

Nope.... USA holds the record... twice the emissions with only 1/4 of the population

Answer 9

Yes, watch An Inconvenient Truth and you see they tell they use coal mines and that the number of open pit mines is "enormous because it's so profitable".

Answer 10

This is something I researched a while ago and Engineer has given a spot on answer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions_per_capita