EnviroSpin Watch

Emission impossible - it's known as economic growth, folks.....

The Kyoto Protocol to date (key selected countries):

Australia: not ratified Kyoto;

Brazil: no Kyoto targets;

Canada: to date, emissions have risen by 20% on 1990-levels;

China: no Kyoto targets;

Denmark: currently a rise in CO₂ emissions of 6%, 27% off 2010 target;

Greece: projected to be emitting 38.6% more CO₂ on 1990-levels by 2010;

India: no Kyoto targets;

Ireland: projected to be emitting 29.4% more CO₂ on 1990-levels by 2010

Japan: CO₂ emissions have (eponymously) currently risen by between 8%-12.1% on 1990-levels;

New Zealand: emissions now expected to be some 30 million tonnes over Kyoto target;

Portugal: projected to be emitting 53.1% more CO₂ on 1990-levels by 2010;

Spain: projected to be emitting 48.3% more CO₂ on 1990-levels by 2010;

Switzerland: this week predicted that it will be short of its Kyoto target by at least 2.5 million tons;

US: not ratified Kyoto.....

..... And why should it? As I wrote yesterday in a tentative 'Letter to the Editor':

"Sir, Constant European chiding of the US for failing to reduce CO₂ emissions will cut no ice. Despite having signed up to the Kyoto Protocol, most European countries are embarrassingly far from attaining their own emission targets, often by more than 30%. The latest statistics are for Denmark, which, according to the EU Burden Sharing Agreement, is legally bound to reduce emissions by 21% but which has increased emissions by 6.2%. Why should America heed so hypocritical a Europe? Of course, there is another interpretation of such rises, namely that they are proxy measures of much-needed economic growth."

As one well-known environmental commentator put it (or words and sighs to this effect) on a 'Today' programme some time back: "But it won't happen will it. So why waste so much political energy on it?"

A warning the heavily over-extended Mr. Blair should heed.

Philip, off to the Great Wen to host a Summer Garden Party. Pimms all round. The first really warm day of summer. Short sleeves and poppy frocks abounding. Cooler again (of course) by the Monday wash - "So much dirty washing from that Mr. Kyoto, Prof. P." "Don't worry, Mr. Toad, you'll be out of gaol and driving that new SUV soon." "Poop! Poop!"