G-8 Climate Scorecard Puts U.S. In Last Place

BERLIN — The U.S. has done the least among the world's eight largest economies to address global warming, a study released Thursday found.

The G-8 Climate Scorecards 2008, released Thursday ahead of next week's gathering of the Group of Eight on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, also found that none of the eight countries are making improvements large enough to prevent temperature increases that scientists think would cause catastrophic climate changes.

The gathering includes the heads of states of the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia.

Regine Guenther, director of the World Wildlife Fund Climate Change Program in Germany, told reporters in the German capital that G-8 leaders should commit to reducing emissions in their countries 40 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

"If we don't achieve that, the world's climate will change in ways that we can't even imagine today," Guenther said.

The scorecard ranked Britain as the developed nation that has done the most to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and reach targets set by the Kyoto Protocol. France and Germany are close behind. Germany was praised for its investment in renewable energy.

"But all three countries are at best half as far along the road as they should be," a statement announcing the study said.

The scorecard was compiled by Ecofys, a Dutch consulting company, and commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund and insurer Allianz SE.

Joachim Faber, an Allianz board member who helped compile the scorecards, said a global emissions trading market is important to fighting climate change, and that the EU should lead its development.

"The EU-specific trading system we have at the moment must serve as model system for one that we can found outside the EU, for the world economy," he said.

The study criticized low energy efficiency in the U.S., but said there was hope in legislation under consideration by Congress and initiatives led by non-governmental groups.

The study also analyzed _ but did not rank _ five of the world's fastest growing economies: Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. "These countries cannot be measured with the same ruler as industrialized countries," the statement said.

Comments

[Raymondf]

Drill everywhere. including Anwr. Human lives are more important than a caribu, or reindeer, besides they have drilling technics now that does not affect wildlife well being or life.

[Counterglow]

Your writing skills would embarrass a 10-year-old, but they're more than adequate to express your thoughts.

[nirek]

I just listened to Palast and he makes some really good points. Google Greg Palast and you will be surprised.

[springsm]

This would be science...little squinty eyes doesn't believe in science. He also doesn't believe in this country, how could he believe in the global essence. UNLESS it is raping and razing a country for oil.That we are last in the G-8 group should not be a surprise, we are about last in everything that takes diplomatic, articulate, intelligent skills. Sadly said.

[Woggles]

Read "Cool It" by Bjorn Lomborg.

enough said.

[Nochnoi]

We never do anything unless it is in our best interest.... the rest of the world already knows this.........

[Raymondf]

What a joke. Talk about scare tactics

[TexasDem0]

The best joke on this post is the people who believe Republican political hacks over scientists and don’t even understand why it’s funny.

[neverbeenfooled]

The ghost of Christmas future needs to pay the Chimperor a nocturnal visit to clue him in as to what his legacy will look like.

[nirek]

Thanks bush and cheney

[FilthyPerson]

The Climate Scorecard?
THE CLIMATE SCORECARD?

One more reason we shouldn't care what they think.
They sure aren't interested in our welfare.
Besides, the AGW scam has only maybe 5 years of life left in it.
The claims turn out to be lies and the predictions never happen.

[brizzle]

Speaking as someone who lives on the beach in California, I can tell you from first-hand experience that the tide levels are rising.

This is no scam.

[gerrylong]

I rode in a 1916 Detroit Electric Car. Lots of batteries, but it went 35 miles per hour and went 35 miles until it had to be recharged. That was 92 years ago. It was as quiet as a humming bird.

It is criminal that we do not have an electric car which goes 500 miles without a recharge, and/or a solar powered battery today.

[Raymondf]

What about the tide levels in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska are they also rising. If it is the South Pole melting are tides rising in South America, and Mexico. People get real.

[Peddler]

The tide levels have always risen........what are you smoking........I will have one.

[tbrnotb]

And who decides what "our welfare" is? You? Another self-appointed authority on climate!

[rhall]

The Model T was invented 100 years ago. You would think that in 100 years, with technology the way it is we could make a car that doesn't run on gas. You would think we could create buses that don't hurt the environment by spewing black plumes of smoke through already smogged out cities. We could create buildings that don't need tons of electricity to power them. The US has many smart people with great ideas why aren't there people in the government willing to make this stuff happen. And if there are why aren't they!?

[robotfog]

lack of true leadership.

[brizzle]

The US government has been giving hand-outs to the American Auto industry for decades. When the government changed the gas mileage standards in the 80s, these companies were allowed to skirt the laws by creating SUVs...an entirely new class of car that doesn't have to comply to any standards (because of its weight differential and the way the laws are written).

And what did our government do? Nothing.

The government is lobbied by the Automakers. Candidates all over the US are lobbied by Automakers. To be in government is to support big business.

In America, what matters most of all is money...not safety, not freedom, not the environment. But money. When you base all your decisions on money, you get black plumes and smogged out cities.

The government doesn't care about you...big business doesn't care about you. Only money matters.

[gerrylong]

I rode in a 1916 Detroit Electric Car. Lots of batteries, but it went 35 miles per hour and went 35 miles until it had to be recharged. That was 92 years ago. It was as quiet as a humming bird.

It is criminal that we do not have an electric car which goes 500 miles without a recharge, and/or a solar powered battery today.

[Peddler]

If you haven't determine it by now, our Government doesn't run this country......the Corporate Giants do...and their is no signfiicant profits in [anything] that is efficient.

[Raymondf]

Very well said. That's exactly the reason I have said it will not make a difference who we elect as President.

[nhunter]

Last among the G8? That's a "dog bites man" story.

I wonder how we do compared to every other nation on earth?

[brizzle]

Well, I bet the Ivory Coast doesn't spew black plumes and smog out their cities like we do here in the USA...so it's really a question of how much we're contributing to their lower standard of living when our pollution cycles around the world and lands on their patch of soil.

To say we're not one of the biggest polluters in the world is a lie. To ignore this fact is criminal.

[matilda2]

I think the operative word being "industrialized" We should be at the top of the list not the bottom.

Have you noticed how fast people are switching to fuel efficient cars now that gas prices are soaring. I'm sure that there would be a massive push to increase energy efficiency in other areas if electricity from nuclear, coal, gas, etc also started screaming up.

We've been energy pigs and need to get smacked in the pocket book to make us change our excessive ways.

[Toonadude]

Same as Georgie's rank in his graduating class at Yale.
What a coincidence !

[gerrylong]

And same as John McCain (McBush's) standing in his class at Annapolis -- what a coincidence.

[HumeSkeptic]

That's easy to fix. Just read the list upside down. Hey! We're # 1 again. U.S.A! U.S.A!

.

[AuntSally]

That's the spirit!

We're not the worst at protecting the environment;
We're the BEST at destroying it!

[harriscrl3]

Good America deserves everything it gets. They elected this FOOL. The first time he stole it but the second tiem they voted for him.

Carol