In order to give some of the data behind my understanding, I'd like to compare the partial numbers from 2006 with 2000 for selected countries. I have numbers for the US and China, and will assume the EU and Japan increased their greenhouse gasses at approximately the same rate as 2000-2005 between 2005 and 2006. (Even 50% errors in these estimates are in the noise).
Given that, we see that China has increased greenhouse gas production by greater than a factor of 2 between 2000 and 2006. Europe increased it's use by 5%, the US by 2%. 2007 looks as though they continued build coal plants at a record rate, and 2008 will be cut only by the need to have manageable pollution in Bejing during the Olympics. China has the coal reserves to keep up this rate of increase, and it's at the heart of their ecconomic expansion. At this rate, by 2015, they'll have about twice the output of Europe and the US combined. That's why getting the cost of green technology down is critical. We in the west can all think green and cut emissions 20%, but the rate at which greenhouse gasses are put in the atmosphere will still show rapid acceleration if China doesn't decide to change its policies. And, for this to happen, it has to be in China's best interest....there can't be a cheaper out than going to green power. Dan M. -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
