U.S. Falls To Number Two As Biggest World Polluter

U.S. Falls To Number Two As Biggest World Polluter
China’s rapidly expanding vehicle fleet, increasing manufacturing industry and rising energy demand has pushed the country to the top of the list of world’s biggest polluters, according to research conducted by the University of California. Researchers also claim previous emissions recordings were probably underestimated and that China could have overtaken the U.S. as early as 2006.

Details of the study are expected to be published in the Journal of Environment Economics and Management later this week. It concludes that China’s pollution levels will easily negate any emissions cuts made in the U.S. and Europe if no action is taken, reports the BBC.



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silver1silver1 - 4/16/2008 12:43:07 PM
-3 Boost
Thanks to all those U.S. jobs they move over to China & India, guess it wasn't such a bad ideal after all....j/k


EL34EL34 - 4/16/2008 1:16:12 PM
-1 Boost
It's the Democrats fault :-/


sholemonsholemon - 4/16/2008 12:58:17 PM
+7 Boost
I hate coming in second place.


gsh23gsh23 - 4/16/2008 1:10:24 PM
+6 Boost
well that sucks. the jet stream will be tossing their crap over to us.


EL34EL34 - 4/16/2008 1:15:11 PM
-1 Boost
China doesn't give a damn what the spew into the air.

They're the worlds biggest spewer :-(

If China doesn't fly right then we'll have all of our tinkertoys built in Mexico, thus ending the illegal immigration problemo.

Boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics :-)


_43LE_43LE - 4/16/2008 4:39:40 PM
+8 Boost
You're only saying that because you're anti Asian, we all know that!

Remember, the US never signed the Kyoto accord.


_43LE_43LE - 4/16/2008 4:44:38 PM
+8 Boost
If Columbus never made the wrong turn an never ended up in the new world, there would never have been the illegal immigration problem from Europe way back a few centuries ago and the deaths of millions of native Americans.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 4/16/2008 7:10:00 PM
+3 Boost
actually, this is the 1st time I'd ever agree with EL about boycotting olympics. my caption says why.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 4/16/2008 7:11:15 PM
+3 Boost
:sig: but I also support 43's statement as well.


Spoonie_GSpoonie_G - 4/16/2008 10:52:30 PM
+1 Boost
kraut_master2,

Your opinions about politics are about as dumb as your opinions about cars.


EL34EL34 - 4/17/2008 12:06:12 AM
-2 Boost
43, where did the native Indians come from, they came from China.

And when Columbus found this land there were no boundaries, Government or unified laws.

The Indians skinned animals and wore their hides to stay warm.

The Indians had no beach front homes in Newport Beach with Ferrari's and Bentley's in their driveways.


_43LE_43LE - 4/17/2008 10:56:14 AM
+8 Boost
They had a rich culture and were very happy and did not harm the environment. Enough said.


sfox9sfox9 - 4/16/2008 2:17:53 PM
+1 Boost
Here is an interesting site regarding this issue http://www.pbs.org/kcet/globalwatch/opinions_ep5.html


SteedPubSteedPub - 4/16/2008 2:33:02 PM
-2 Boost
GOOD. Now maybe the do-gooders of the world will go after the real polluters.


GTR35GTR35 - 4/16/2008 3:47:54 PM
+5 Boost
Actually, the US is still as polluted as when they were No 1; it's China who simply doesn't give a crap and expanded their pollution even greater. So no, it's still not GOOD for the US to be No 2 in this case.


abcdabcd - 4/16/2008 3:45:29 PM
+3 Boost
thanks to usa doesn`t signature kioto treaty china would say : why can`t we pollute when usa can .


cdokecdoke - 4/16/2008 6:32:04 PM
+2 Boost
The Kyoto protocol exempts China as a developing nation. Compliance with it is horrendous- you have to ask the question; "Should we sign something that is unrealistic in terms of its expectiations, or not sign it knowing that?" the U.S. chose the latter.


abcdabcd - 4/17/2008 9:37:58 AM
+1 Boost
cdoke , china isn`t completely exempt but they are treat "softly" . fact is that usa is only significant country in world that not ratify the kyoto protocol , everyone else accept "inconveniences" .


cdokecdoke - 4/18/2008 11:55:12 AM
+1 Boost
You will have to provide some additional information on that. All that I have ever read states that China is a non-Annex I country under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, meaning that it is not bound to any GHG emissions reduction targets set under the Kyoto Protocol.*

*EIA


cdokecdoke - 4/18/2008 11:59:54 AM
+1 Boost
In fact in broader terminology, that China and India have no obligation beyond monitoring and reporting emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.


no1listensanywayno1listensanyway - 4/16/2008 4:01:46 PM
+2 Boost
Good that will keep those damn Euros who have nothing else to do but protest and bitch about the US, off our backs for a few months


lexusis350lexusis350 - 4/16/2008 4:21:17 PM
+6 Boost
I don't believe it. India's got to be #2.


LexusKindaGuy12LexusKindaGuy12 - 4/16/2008 4:31:37 PM
+5 Boost
the US doesnt have as many factories but we have a unbelievable amount of cars.

China just has factory after factory. Its "easy" to make factories more efficient, but how are you gonna remove all the cars on the road? both countries need to do something quick


KZ258KZ258 - 4/16/2008 4:35:55 PM
+3 Boost
hey that looks like LA in that pic ;)


_43LE_43LE - 4/16/2008 4:37:19 PM
+7 Boost
I wonder what the rankings are in terms of per capita pollution levels?

Remember, China just passed the US, but they have 1.3 billion people compared to the 300 million in the US. If China just passed the US then, per person, the US pollutes about 4X as much!


RupertRupert - 4/16/2008 6:12:28 PM
+4 Boost
I was about to say the same thing. Emissions per person is far more insightful, and the US still leads there.


cdokecdoke - 4/18/2008 12:14:19 PM
+1 Boost
Well, if you assume that the emissions are a function of the economy, then there would be a better metric through which to analyze this- and that would be emissions per $1GDP. The assumption isn't necessarily a bad one as you can prove that energy intensity is directly related to GDP per capita, and it takes only one difficult step (the valuation of pollution) to determine the cursory optimum pollution level.

I will say that it is probably more relavant for China in a direct sense.


lexusrox123lexusrox123 - 4/16/2008 6:29:21 PM
+1 Boost
AL gore has his "work" cut out for him, doesnt he? ;) LOL


lexusis350lexusis350 - 4/16/2008 8:16:25 PM
+1 Boost
You also have to remember that the US is also a lot bigger than the average country and a lot more technological than most others.


EL34EL34 - 4/17/2008 12:00:16 AM
+1 Boost
In fact, China has banned all smoking in Beijing now and during the Olympics.

They've got to get that air cleaned by the time the athletes get there ;-)


BoredBored - 4/17/2008 12:07:08 AM
+1 Boost
the good news is that we will all be dead by the time this becomes terminal.
the bad news is that while we are all alive, it's unlikely we will ever make things right.


EL34EL34 - 4/17/2008 12:14:10 AM
+1 Boost
In California, all cars have smog devices that help clean the air.

Does your state have them?

The air in Los Angeles used to be awful and now it's minty fresh :-)

Of course the smog devices rob about 5 horses from the engine.


_43LE_43LE - 4/17/2008 1:31:14 PM
+1 Boost
How so?


M53RM53R - 4/17/2008 3:53:20 PM
+1 Boost
Well considering almost everything any of us has is made in China, I'm not surprised. You would be surprised to know that many huge companies have factories in China, and if we try to eliminate chinese stuff, we wont have anything left.


SteveSteve - 4/17/2008 6:51:59 PM
+1 Boost
C'mon America! Where's that competitive spirit? Are you gonna let the Chinese win? ;-)
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