China sets new CO2 emissions record
This year China will overtake the USA as the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas that causes global warming and climate change.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has confirmed that China's economic growth, which stands at an unprecedented 11% annually, will help the country overtake the US as the main carbon polluter due to the explosive growth of coal fired power stations.
Less that three years ago the IEA forecast that China would reach this historic milestone by 2025. More recently it revised its view to 2010 before announcing that China in 2007 is expected to emit 6,020 million tonnes of CO2 compared to America's 5,910 million tonnes.
Despite overtaking the US, China's per capita emissions are relative small. The USA emit 20 tonnes per person per year compared to 'just' 3.2 tonnes per person in China and the world average of 3.7 tonnes.
The Chinese government is resistant to any reduction in economic growth. A Beijing spokesman said: "It is our turn to enjoy economic growth just as the West have done for decades."
26th April 2007
