So, China IS the top carbon emitter...?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070620/ts_nm/climate_china_dc

Trevor says ESTIMATES cannot be trusted....

.......but MODELS can?????

Answer 1

I saw that too. The ex-hippies who inspired the creation of the EPA and the first environmental regulations and legislation in the '70s only succeeded in running business out of the USA into countries like Mexico and China. In addition to taking American jobs with them, they also took the legal right to continue polluting as before.

Maybe they can persuade the Chicoms into signing the Kyoto Treaty. Hahahahahaha.

Answer 2

It's kind of stupid for anyone who is arguing here that China gets a break because it's per capita CO2 production is lower than the US or most other developed countries. If you have a computer and the energy to run it you consume more than the average Chinese citizen. If there is a problem, then there is NO DOUBT THAT YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!! So, at this point, you are childishly quibbling over who is less of a problem.

What the question asks is still valid if you believe that CO2 is driving this problem. The Earth has no idea whether it's receiving Chinese or Yankee CO2, the end result would be the same. If a bag of fast food trash comes flying out of a window, it doesn't matter if there is one person in the car or five, the end result is the same.

Is this just another example of alarmists showing their true colors by being more interested in playing the blame game than in solving the problem - a problem that no one outside of the alarmists are sure of?

Answer 3

Massive pollution:
When I first came to Beijing in 2003 the air was terrible, smoking cars were everywhere and I was clamoring for a breath of fresh air at times. Came back in 2004 and the air was remarkably cleaner and few smoking cars. The reason, China adopted Euro car emission standards and this year will adopt the strictest Euro standards. China still has a long way to go, but they are well aware of the problems and are making remarkable headway in fixing those problems, often going outside the country for advice and help. The environment is a hot topic in the news and teaching the children.

What I find amazing is the west demands that China instantly clean up its act while ignoring it was 40 years ago when we took our environment seriously and yet we are still the larges contributor to greenhouse gases in the world. China only started taking the environment seriously about 5 years ago and has really kicked it into high gear in the last 3.

The news in China is full of stories of pollution, their children are taught this in school and everyone it seems knows that China has big problems to deal with.

There is clearly so much misinformation about China that it is no wonder so many bash China from here to hell and back, and yet with a little research you'd figure out pretty quick what are being fed in the western press is often nowhere near being accurate.

There is a lot of information in many of my other China posts found through my profile.

Signed, an ex pat from the USA who lives in the central part of China.

Peace

Jim

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Answer 4

China MAY be the top carbon emitter - this has NOT been accurately established.

The Yahoo news article is based on two year old old figures released by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. The report is based on partial ESTIMATES, one from British Petroleum estimates the total fossil fuel usage and the other from the USGS estimates cement production. None of the other factors were taken into account.

There are no up to date figures from China so all we can do is to make estimates of their carbon emissions. They may have surpassed the US some time ago, they may still have a little way to go. One thing is for certain, if China continues as it is doing now, and there's no reason to suspect otherwise, then even if it's not yet the top contributor then it will be very soon.

A couple of points worth remembering - China's emissions have risen rapidly because their economy is booming in order to supply the western world with cheap consumer goods. In this respect we've effectively exported our own carbon emissions to China.

Secondly, China has a far greater population than any other country and when you look at carbon emissions per head of population (per capita) then China comes way down the list. It was in 99th place, it's probably now in about 85th place. One US citizen still produces more than 5 times the carbon emissions of one Chinese citizen.

Answer 5

I agree with trevor. I find it strange and horrifying Bush is complaining about China not doing enough to stem CO2 emmission. We are the top emiter and even if CHina overtook us, we emit more per person than China. Where do we get the attitude China should do more, when the US has done nothing. Beside, US has to pay for all the CO2 it pumped in the past as well.

Answer 6

And if you include exhaling (breathing) China would be by far the top emitter of CO2.

As for real pollution--the stuff that can directly kill you--China has been number one for a long time.

Answer 7

Chinese factories work to make merchandise for US and EU.
So in the end who is the reason for polution?
Who are u try to kid here? Think a little before drawing your concluzions.