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)