China: number one climate polluter?

By our executive director John Sauven, for Comment is Free.

The news today that China is maybe the world's number one CO2 polluter should come as no surprise. But responsibility for China's soaring emissions lies not just in Beijing but also in Washington, Brussels and Tokyo. All we've done is export a great slice of the West's carbon footprint to China, and today we see the result. But let us not also forget that the average Chinese emits just 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per year, whereas Britons emit nearly 10 tonnes and North Americans 20 tonnes.