Average Chinese person's carbon footprint now equals European's

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/18/china-average-europe-carbon-footprint

The average Chinese person's carbon footprint is now almost on a par with the average European's, figures released on Wednesday reveal.

China became the largest national emitter of CO2 in 2006, though its emissions per person have always been lower than those in developed countries such as Europe.

But today's report, which only covers emissions from energy, by the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and the European commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) show that per capita emissions in China increased by 9% in 2011 to reach 7.2 tonnes per person, only a fraction lower than the EU average of 7.5 tonnes.

The figure for the US is still much higher – at 17.3 tonnes – though total Chinese CO2 emissions are now around 80% higher than those of America. This widening gap reflects a 9% increase in total emissions in China in 2011, driven mainly by rising coal use, compared with a 2% decline in the US.

[phantom power]

1. OK then

[JDPriestly]

2. Our biggest problem is the lack of rail transportation across the US, and in particular, lack of

good public transportation in some of our cities. (Primarily Los Angeles)

[XemaSab]

3. LA has better public transportation than you would think

I lived there without a car.

Living in Sacramento without a car would be tough because the grocery stores aren't centrally located.

Living in Redding without a car? Fugheddaboudit. (Case in point: before the pedestrian bridge was built, going to the mall a mile away from my house would have involved no fewer than three different busses, about an hour of transit time, and almost a half-mile of walking in the other direction.)

[JDPriestly]

6. Depends on what part of LA you live.

I could survive in my neighborhood without a car, but it would be hard.

But, we were traveling on Sunset the other day. It took forever just to "drive" (actually creep, we would have moved faster on foot), a block. But since we live a long way from Sunset and it was late in the evening, we had little choice but to drive. I just stay out of other parts of the city as much as I can.

[JDPriestly]

7. In certain areas. I can move around the East side and through downtown up to a certain point on

Wilshire and in South LA and up into Hollywood.

But to get to West LA -- Santa Monica or Century City or the beach north of the airport, I would have to ride by bush or car -- and bus is just as slow as a car and not as comfortable.

We have the Gold Line that goes from East LA to Sierra Madre now. It's great. Clean. Well traveled. But very limited in reach.

We just do not go to the Westside unless we have to.

[GliderGuider]

4. That is so cool. They're making real progress!

It's fascinating to watch the Industrial Club of Terra gain a new member. I hope their society continues to expand for centuries...

[pscot]

5. Their carbon is now doubling

every 11 years. We're accelerating. Wheee!