No, I don’t think that’s such a stretch. Congress wouldn’t agree to jack, not even to the Obama Administration’s tame suggestion that we could have a non-binding agreement to cut down on the rate at which we continue increasing carbon emissions, so how could anyone figure the U.S. doesn’t rate as an emitter anymore?
I'm not saying that the US hasn't contributed and isn't still contributing to climate change + greenhouse gas emissions. Using the Global Carbon Atlas you linked, I go back 40 years to 1977. USA, Russia, and China are #1-3 with 4700 MtCO2, 2000 MtCO2, and 1300 MtCO2. Fast forward to 1987 and the picture looks similar. USA, Russia, and China are #1-3 with 4700 MtCO2, 2500 MtCO2, and 2200 MtCO2. In 1997, USA, China, and Russia are #1-3 with 5700 MtCO2, 3400 MtCO2 and 1500 MtCO2. In 2007, China, USA, and Russia are #1-3 with 7800, 6100, and 1700 MtCO2. In 2015 (there is no data for 2016 or 2017 yet), China, USA, and India are #1-3 with 10400, 5400, and 2300 MtCO2. Over the last 40 years, despite our population increasing by 50%, our emissions have largely stayed flat.
I don't want to say that we can't do more. I don't even want to say that we are making things better. However, as a whole, we are generally improving our behavior and the numbers you provided to me support that.
No, I don’t think that’s such a stretch. Congress wouldn’t agree to jack, not even to the Obama Administration’s tame suggestion that we could have a non-binding agreement to cut down on the rate at which we continue increasing carbon emissions, so how could anyone figure the U.S. doesn’t rate as an emitter anymore?
I'm not saying that the US hasn't contributed and isn't still contributing to climate change + greenhouse gas emissions. Using the Global Carbon Atlas you linked, I go back 40 years to 1977. USA, Russia, and China are #1-3 with 4700 MtCO2, 2000 MtCO2, and 1300 MtCO2. Fast forward to 1987 and the picture looks similar. USA, Russia, and China are #1-3 with 4700 MtCO2, 2500 MtCO2, and 2200 MtCO2. In 1997, USA, China, and Russia are #1-3 with 5700 MtCO2, 3400 MtCO2 and 1500 MtCO2. In 2007, China, USA, and Russia are #1-3 with 7800, 6100, and 1700 MtCO2. In 2015 (there is no data for 2016 or 2017 yet), China, USA, and India are #1-3 with 10400, 5400, and 2300 MtCO2. Over the last 40 years, despite our population increasing by 50%, our emissions have largely stayed flat.
I don't want to say that we can't do more. I don't even want to say that we are making things better. However, as a whole, we are generally improving our behavior and the numbers you provided to me support that.