highthief

So, back in the 1990s, Canada, in recognition of the Kyoto Protocols, said we would reduce greenhouse emissions by, I think it was 6 or 9% by 2010.

Guess what? We're up 24%! Meanwhile, the US (who we slam at every opportunity for not being part of improving the environment) is only up 13% and Britain is DOWN more than 10%!

We talk a good talk, but when it comes to greenhouse emissions, we are shamed by other nations.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...tory/National/

Edited to insert link.

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Charlatan

Yep... We suck... or rather out smoke stacks blow. The list from the article (see below) is interesting. I wonder how many of those Eastern Bloc nations sitting at the bottom of the list are getting their negative numbers from simply modernizing their equipment? Lithuania's -66% is impressive but how bad were they to begin with?

This isn't to lessen the fact that Canada isn't achieving the goals rather it's interesting to see the econmoic and geographical divide on this list (England and Germany being the big exceptions to this divide).

By the way, how the hell did Monaco jump by 37%? They have no large industry to speak of and can't really expand any larger than they already are (i.e. you can't build suburbs in Monaco). Can everyone be using the helicopter shuttle from Nice Cote d'Azure or driving vastly inefficient cars?

Country Per cent
Spain +41.7
Monaco +37.8
Portugal +36.7
Greece +25.8
Ireland +25.6
Canada +24.2
Australia +23.3
New Zealand +22.5
Finland +21.5
Austria +16.5
United States +13.3
Japan +12.8
Italy +11.5
Norway +9.3
Denmark +6.8
Liechtenstein +5.3
Netherlands +1.5
Belgium +1.3
Switzerland -0.4
European Union -1.4
Slovenia -1.9
France -1.9
Sweden -2.3
Croatia -6.0
Iceland -8.2
Britain -13.0
Luxembourg -16.1
Germany -18.2
Czech Republic -24.2
Slovakia -28.3
Hungary -31.9
Poland -34.4
Russian Federation -38.5
Belarus -44.4
Romania -46.1
Ukraine -46.2
Bulgaria -50.0
Estonia -50.8
Latvia -58.5
Lithuania -66.2

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Leto

so what is the reason for this? Is it industry? I can't believe that it is all automobile emmissions. Heck, there's only 32 million of us, and only a portion of us drive. Is it coal fired energy? Can't be that, there's more in some US states than we can account for here. So..... is it that we need to burn energy in the winter to stay warm? then why is Russia so much below us????

Again. What is it?

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cyrnel

Does anyone know how the UN comes up with those figures? Do they include forest fires, volcanoes, etc?

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zz0011

Rats. I was hoping this was some kind of offer from some of the hot Canadian womens y'all have up north. I'm heart broken, just devestated...

...okay, I'm over it now. Thanks!

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Willravel

Meinwhile, big ups to Lithuania!!! I knew we could do it!!

Often increased polution is a sign of an improving econemy. So long as it eventually comes under control, I'd say this lemonaid isn't bad, so long as you don't mind the lemons.

Charlatan

I think it is a combination of things.

Our industry is booming.
Our housing starts are high which means more suburbs which means low density housing which means more cars per household and more energy required to light and heat.
There is coal fire, etc.


The percentages can be a bit confusing. If a nation was issuing 10 pounds and reduced their amount by 3 pounds to 7 pounds, they have made a 30% reduction. If another nation produces 1000 pounds and reduces 30% they have stopped producing 300 pounds of emmissions.

They both hit the list at -30% but which one is doing a better job of cutting emissions?

Not making excuses, just trying to point out that these lists can be a bit misleading...

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highthief

No, the Eastern Bloc simply has far, far less industry today than they did during Communist times. There is massive unemployment in many of those countries without state run industry. It's not impressive, given that.

I'm not sure about Germany - if it includes East Germany then their drop is simply due to eastern factories closing, too.

The UK is impressive given their own booming energy sector.

That is partially the reason for Canada's growth too - our primary and secondary industries have done well these last few years, especially in the energy sector. Not surprising to see the number jump, but I would have hoped we would have controlled it a little better (the emissions, that is).

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zz0011

Ahem...

"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum
A maxim often paraphrased as "Si vis pacem, para bellum." The eminently reasonable philosophy that ,"If you would have peace, prepare for war." The English version is often back-rendered as "Si vis pacem, para bellum." This sentiment is attributed to Flavius Vegetius Renatus, who wrote in the "De re militari" (390 B.C.E.): "Qui desiderat pacem, bellum praeparat; nemo provocare ne offendere audet quem intelliget superiorem esse pugnaturem". (Whosoever desires peace prepares for war; no one provokes, nor dares to offend, those who they know know to be superior in battle.)"

...very cool.

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highthief

It was that or a quote from "Conan the Barbarian"!

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zz0011

Well, as I said, "very cool"

Decisions, decisions, indeed!

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