China finally sets some emissions targets...

BBC

Times

Well, it’s nice to see that China, fierce opponent of the Kyoto Protocol, has finally set some emissions reduction targets.

However, these targets do not go very far. China is measuring its emissions against GDP, and since China’s GDP is likely to continue rising faster than their emissions, it will be easy for them to meet this target while still emitting more carbon. A 40 to 45% reduction may sound like a lot, but it doesn’t mean they will emit less carbon, just that they will emit less per unit of GDP.
The USA is also going to announce it’s own cuts – 17% on 2005 levels by 2020. This sounds like a lot, but most other countries have already agreed to 20% reductions, and that is on 1990 levels. Because emissions in every country have risen significantly between 1990 and 2005, this means that a 2005 baseline is much higher and therefore much easier to achieve.

Still, it is nice to see the world’s top 2 polluters making some attempts to slow or stop their rate of pollution. Hopefully this means that their economies will grow in a more efficient way in the future. Also it means that other countries, businesses and individuals who continue to cite the fact that America and China continue to pollute as reasons not to act may change their attitudes.