The current convention on climate change summit being held in Copenhagen, seen as the most important step in history towards combating global warming, it aims to draw up a treaty to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
CHINA
Aims
- Set a "binding goal" to cut Carbon Dioxide (CO2) per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2020
- Wants rich countries to reduce emissions to 40% below 1990 level by 2020
- Says they should pay 1% of their GDP per year to help other countries adapt
- Wants West to provide low-carbon technology
- The world's biggest Green House Gas (GHS) producer (20.7% of global emissions)
- Emissions per head: 30th in the world
- GDP (2008): $4.3tn
- Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 1,152t
- Kyoto: Signed as a developing country so not obliged to cut emissions
USA
Aims
- Will cut emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 pending congressional approval - this is close to 4% below 1990 levels
- Against Kyoto-style treaty imposing international legal obligations
- Insists China, India, South Africa and Brazil must commit to slow growth of emissions
- Climate bill is currently bogged down in Senate
- The world's second-biggest GHG producer (15.5% of global emissions)
- Emissions per head: Fifth in the world
- GDP (2008): $14.2tn
- Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 441t
- Kyoto: Signed, but never ratified
EU
Aims
- Aspires to play "leading role" at Copenhagen
- Will cut emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, or 30% if other big emitters take tough action
- Wants rich nations to make 80-95% cut by 2050
- Wants poorer nations to slow emissions growth
- Says they face costs of $150bn per year by 2020, of which EU will pay $7bn-22bn from public finances
- The world's third-biggest GHG producer (11.8% of global emissions)
- Emissions per head: 17th in the world
- GDP (2008): $18.3tn
- Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 315t
- Kyoto: Signed - has to get average emissions for 2008-2012 8% below 1990 level
INDIA
Aims
- Will cut CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 20-25% from 2005 levels by 2020
- Rejects legally binding target, but wants rich countries legally bound
- Says rich countries are to blame for climate change and points to big gap in per capita emissions
- Wants 40% cut in rich country emissions by 2020
- Opposes goal of halving world emissions by 2050
- The world's sixth-biggest GHG producer (5% of global emissions)
- Emissions per head: 66th in the world
- GDP (2008): $1.2tn
- Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 655t
- Kyoto: Signed as a developing country, so not obliged to cut emissions
JAPAN
Aims
- Will cut emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, if other countries show similar ambition
- This amounts to a cut of 30% in 10 years, and is opposed by industry
- "Hatoyama initiative" will increase financial and technical assistance to developing countries
- Backs proposals in which each country would set its own commitments
- The world's seventh-biggest GHG producer (3.3% of global emissions)
- Emissions per head: 15th in the world
- GDP (2008): $4.9tn
- Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 301t
- Kyoto: Signed - has to get average emissions for 2008-2012 6% below 1990 level
AFRICAN UNION
Aims
- Like China, wants rich countries legally bound to cut emissions to 40% below 1990 level by 2020
- Describes 20 to 30% cuts as "unacceptable"
- Wants rich countries to pay 0.5% of GDP to help developing countries tackle climate change
- Wants $67bn per year for adaptation in Africa
- Threatening to walk out if demands are not met
- The African Union accounts for 8.1% of global emissions
- GDP (2008): $34bn
- Kyoto: African nations signed as developing countries so are not obliged to cut emissions
GULF STATES
Aims
- Opec and Saudi Arabia seeking financial aid for oil-producers if new agreement requires cuts of fossil fuels
- Keen on a deal that would advance use of carbon capture and storage
- In 2007 Opec members pledged $750m to fund climate change research
- Qatar and Abu Dhabi investing heavily in clean energy technology
- Gulf states account for 2.3% of global emissions
- Emissions per head: 25t of CO2 equivalent
- GDP (2008): $468bn
- Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 875t
- Kyoto: Gulf States signed as developing countries so are not obliged to cut emissions
SMALL ISLANDS
Aims
- Regard rising sea level as threat to their existence
- Seek to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels
- Want concentration of CO2 in atmosphere lowered from 380 to 350 parts per million
- Want global emissions to peak by 2015 and fall 85% below 1990 level by 2050
- Want at least 1% of rich country GDP spent on "climate-inflicted damage"
- The small island states account for 0.6% of global GHG emissions
- Emissions per head: 4t of CO2 equivalent
- GDP (2008): $46bn
- Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 551t
- Kyoto: Alliance of Small Island States members signed as developing countries so are not obliged to cut emissions
First Zero Carbon Supermarket Opened
In other news Tesco have opened their first zero carbon supermarket in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, in the UK, and have created 190 new jobs.
Tesco aim to be a carbon zero business by 2050. The store uses a generator, which is powered by renewable sources (biofuels), for the heating, and rainwater for flushing toilets, the car wash and cleaning the petrol station forecourt.
The petrol station even has special lights that dim and suddenly alight once a vehicle approaches the petrol pumps.
The supermarket has been designed to be energy efficient, and has been constructed from sustainable timber, with skylights to allow natural light in, but not heat.
Vents control a natural airflow to reduce energy requirements.
(Sources: International Supermarket News, BBC, CNN, UN, Flickr)
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