China seen topping U.S. carbon emissions in 2007
Marco
China is on course to overtake the United States this year as the
world's biggest carbon emitter, estimates based on Chinese energy data
show, potentially pressuring Beijing to take more action on climate change.
China's emissions rose by some 10 percent in 2005, a senior U.S.
scientist estimated, while Beijing data shows fuel consumption rose more
than 9 percent in 2006, suggesting China would easily outstrip the U.S.
this year, long before forecasts.
Taking the top spot would focus pressure on China to do more to brake
emissions as part of world talks on extending the United Nations' Kyoto
Protocol on global warming beyond 2012.
Thirty five developed nations have agreed to cut emissions under Kyoto
and they want others -- especially the United States and China -- to do
more.