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WWF has released its G8 climate report cards (PDF) in the run-up to the G8 summit in Japan, and mom and dad will not be happy when they see the U.S. score. The United States is at the bottom of the class, followed by Canada and Russia, each of which seemed to have copied off of the U.S.'s paper. Here is a summary of the teacher's comments on the U.S. grades:
The United States score the worst of all G8 countries,being the largest emitter with the highest per capita emissions and an increasing trend in total emissions. At the same time the US have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. While substantial activities emerge at the state level, little substantive federal measures are in place to curb emissions in the short term.
Germany, France and the U.K. finished at the top of this class, but even they got a warning from the teacher that their grades could start slipping if they're not careful. Italy and Japan round out the middle of the bell curve.
Unfortunately, the class was graded on a curve, so even though Germany, France and the U.K. have high marks in emissions per GDP, they're failing in transport and struggling in past emissions trends (1990-2006) and Kyoto targets.
The U.S. is failing every subject except emissions per GDP, and even that's not a good grade. Canada, on the other hand, is failing all but CO2 per KWh of electricity, though that grade is actually pretty good.
Hopefully, the G8 summit will function as a study group, and the class can get together to try and improve their grades. If they fail, I'm afraid repeating will not be an option.
(Image from kolnkgin.com)
Comments
Global Warming is the most serious threat to the human race that we have ever faced. According to some scientists the tipping point for Global Warming is 2016. By this time all countries must be Near-Zero CO2 emitting countries. What do the politicians suggest we do about it? Cut CO2 emissions in just half by 2050, missing the target by 50% and by 34 years! They would be pathetic if they were not dangerous.
I have a Near-Zero CO2 Plan that I am sure that you would like to look at. This plan is doable and fundable. I believe it is our only chance to turn things round by 2016.
Near-Zero CO2 Plan
All our power requirements are for lighting, heating, transport, and energy for such things as industry on down to exercise machines.
The lighting can be zero rated by building Buxton Geothermal Power Stations (BGTGs) which use the heat of the earth at depth by drilling ten kilometre deep holes. (It would cost �1 billion to convert the Power Stations of the UK to this clean form of energy.)
The heating can be near-zero rated by installing Starlite coatings, which can prevent heat leaks at 1300 degrees C from a blow torch, on the walls and ceilings of all premises.
By having electrical heating from BGTGs we cut heating emissions to zero.
Transport can be made near-zero in terms of carbon emissions by ensuring that all vehicles use BGTG electricity.
The only difficulty we have in aeroplanes and shipping. However, their carbon footprints can be at least halved by having their fuels mixed permanently with water using an ultrasonic dibber. Finally, the power needed for energy can be made entirely of BGTG electricity.
New ways of making industry work using electricity instead of the gas that they presently use will be needed, but these are not insurmountable problems given that the Governments of the world have until 2016 to achieve the target.
�The Ecologist� magazine estimates the true cost of mental illness to the UK is �100 billion per year. When all patients suffering from mental illness are passed on to their trained local practice nurse for a thirty second cure using the Kadir-Buxton Method then we have immediate and massive savings.(The alternative of expensive drugs which, in trials, have less success than no treatment at all, should be made a thing of the past). The money saved by the UK would clean up CO2 emissions using the above plan. It is also easy to adapt it to any other country.
Posted by: Andy Kadir-Buxton at July 8, 2008 10:59 AM