Comments on: Exclusive: Have China and the U.S. been holding secret talks aimed at a climate deal this fall?

By: Peter Wood

Peter Wood — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:53:45 +0000

My understanding is that carbon intensity is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP. That is the definition that the McKinsey Global Institute used.

By: David B. Benson

David B. Benson — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:40:30 +0000

Rick Covert — I think carbon intensity is per capita carbon per year.

By: Sasparilla

Sasparilla — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:24:21 +0000

This is very good news that this was and is being done with China (they were pushing for it) – thank god. A little more hope here.

By: DavidCOG

DavidCOG — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:40:00 +0000

John Boy,

Don’t pay attention to anything Jeremy Clarkson says – he’s an ‘entertaining’ idiot. If a car doesn’t consume more than 20mpg or exceed 150mph, it’s a target for his ‘comedy’. And anyone who has an interest in the environment is an unwashed hippy that spends all day sitting on the grass, eating tofu and playing whale music.

Really, he’s an idiot. In fact, he’s dangerous – he promotes the idea that it’s all a big joke, consuming as much as you can.

By: Rick Covert

Rick Covert — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:31:21 +0000

Joe,

What exactly does “carbon intensity reductions” mean. It almost sounds like what the definitin of “is” is. (With apologies to Clinton)

By: paulm

paulm — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:00:24 +0000

The average UK citizen uses 125kWh/d and US uses 250 KWh/d

(One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the electrical energy used by leaving a 40-watt bulb on for 24 hours. )

http://www.guardian.co.uk/ commentisfree/ 2009/ may/ 01/ climate-change-debate-david-mackay

By: Peter Wood

Peter Wood — Wed, 20 May 2009 05:16:05 +0000

The W-M reduction of emissions to 20-30% less than 2005 levels amounts to a per capita reduction compared to 1990 levels of 25-35%. The EU commitment to reduce emissions to 20-30% below 1990 levels amounts to a per-capita reduction compared to 1990 levels of 24-34%. When compared to 2005 levels, the EU commitment doesn’t amount to the same level of per-capita reductions because the EU has already reduced its per capita emissions significantly.

The issue is that the US has per-capita emissions that are over twice as high as those of the EU. This demands a much higher emission reduction for the US, and also highlights that the US is likely to have much more low-hanging fruit. I disagree that W-M is more aggressive than any other major nation has ever enacted into law by far. But it is a good start.

By: Peter Wood

Peter Wood — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:30:06 +0000

The Australian National University recently hosted an Australia China Climate Change Forum that included some senior Chinese academics Jiahua Pan and Yongsheng Zhang who discussed possible frameworks in which all countries take on emission reduction commitments.

By: hapa

hapa — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:13:19 +0000

(the loony's review of ford's fit/insight killer, for reference)

By: hapa

hapa — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:57:24 +0000

(it sounds like nobody told jeremy clarkson to turn off “ECON” mode. we already know he’s not smart enough to figure it out for himself.)