Where countries stand on Copenhagen
7/12/2009 BBC The Copenhagen conference intended to agree a new international framework for controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is about to begin.The final round of preparatory talks in Barcelona has revealed deep divisions between some of the key participants. Use this table to study their positions.
Special report: Copenhagen summit 2009
CountryWhat’s on the tableClimate facts (2007)
Public opinion
China
“Developed countries should support developing countries in
tackling climate change.” President Hu Jintao, 22/9/09 Set a
“binding goal” to cut CO2 per unit of 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 GHG producer (20.7% of global emissions,
8,106mt of CO2 equivalent)
Emissions per head: 30th in the world (6t of CO2 equivalent)
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
How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family?
Very/Somewhat serious
Not very/Not at all serious
United States
“We understand the gravity of the climate threat. We are
determined to act. And we will meet our responsibility to
future generations.” Barack Obama, US president, 22/9/09
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, 6,087mt of CO2 equivalent)
Emissions per head: Fifth in the world (20t of CO2
equivalent)
GDP (2008): $14.2tn
Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 441t
Kyoto: Signed, but never ratified
How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family?
Very/Somewhat serious
Not very/Not at all serious
EU
“We are going to over-achieve our Kyoto targets.” Stavros
Dimas, EU environment commissioner, 27/10/09
The EU is a grouping of 27 European statesAspires 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, 4,641mt CO2 equivalent)
Emissions per head: 17th in the world (9t of CO2 equivalent)
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
How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family?
Very/Somewhat serious
Not very/Not at all serious
(Results represent the median of 23 out of the 27 EU states
polled by Gallup)
India
“The most vulnerable country in the world to climate change is
India.” Jairam Ramesh, India’s environment minister, 3/12/09
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, 1,963mt of CO2 equivalent)
Emissions per head: 66th in the world (2t of CO2 equivalent)
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
How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family?
Very/Somewhat serious
Not very/Not at all serious
Japan
“We think developing countries are also required to make an
effort to reduce greenhouse gases.” Yukio Hatoyama Japan’s
prime minister, 7/9/09 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, 1,293mt of CO2 equivalent)
Emissions per head: 15th in the world (10t of CO2
equivalent)
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
How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family?
Very/Somewhat serious
Not very/Not at all serious
African union
“We are prepared to walk out of any negotiations that threaten
to be another rape of the continent.” Meles Zenawi of
Ethiopia, 3/9/09
The African Union is a grouping of 52 African statesLike
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 AU accounts for 8.1% of global emissions (3,164mt of CO2
equivalent)
Emissions per head: 4t of CO2 equivalent
GDP (2008): $34bn
Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 1,361t
Kyoto: African nations signed as developing countries so are
not obliged to cut emissions
How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family?
Sample state, Kenya:
Very/Somewhat serious
Not very/Not at all serious
Gulf states
“We are among the most economically vulnerable countries.”
Mohammad S. Al Sabban, Saudi Arabia’s lead negotiator 8/10/09
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAEOpec 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 (894mt of
CO2 equivalent)
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
How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family?
Sample state, Saudi Arabia:
Very/Somewhat serious
Not very/Not at all serious
Small islands
“The days of little money in the face of big problems are
over.” Dessima Williams, head of the Alliance of Small Island
States (Aosis), 9/10/09
Aosis is a bloc of 42 island and coastal states mostly in the
Pacific and Caribbean 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 (246mt of CO2 equivalent)
Emissions per head: 4t of CO2 equivalent
GDP (2008): $46bn
Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 551t
Kyoto: Aosis members signed as developing countries so are
not obliged to cut emissions
How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family?
Sample state, Dominican Republic:
Very/Somewhat serious
Not very/Not at all serious
SOURCES: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the World
Bank. Gallup poll data taken in 2008. Between 528 and 2,493 people
interviewed in each country, either by phone or face-to-face (the
question was put to people who said they knew something about
climate change). The margin of error ranges from +/-3.5 to +/-5.3%.
For the full graphics Go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8345343.stm