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.
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.