China Agrees to Start Cutting Carbon Emissions... By 2050
photo: Gabriel via flickr
For the first time China has stated a timeframe in which it will start cutting its carbon emissions, AFP reports -- by 2050 it will begin, according to its top climate change official, Su Wei:"China's emissions will not continue to rise beyond 2050," Su said.
Unchecked Per Capita Emissions Growth Not PossibleHowever, this was tempered somewhat by the encouraging acknowledgement that unchecked growth in per capita emissions is not possible without dire consequences:
China will not continue growing emissions without limit or insist that all nations must have the same per-capita emissions. If we did that this earth would be ruined.China's Per Capita Emissions Low, Though Nation's Are HighThough China's national emissions are the largest in the world -- comprising 21.5% of world emissions, behind the US's 20.2% -- on a per capita basis they are no where near the top, roughly 4 tons per person.
via: AFPGlobal Climate ChangeWest "Responsible" For Third of China's CO2 Emissions China, India to Rich Nations: $200 Billion to Fight Climate Change, PleaseNew York Times: China-US Climate Talks are New Cold War
