Climate change: how they compare
Updated on 13 March 2007
The UK claims to be leading the developed world on climate change. But how do the records of our competitors compare?
A study published in November 2006 by Climate Action Network-Europe ranked 56 countries according to a range of indicators for fighting climate change.
Among the major industrial producers, Britain ranked second, Germany ranked fifth and France twelfth. Japan came in at number 26, followed by Russia at 42, the United States at 53 and China at 54.
So what exactly are other industrial nations doing - or not doing - to fight climate change?
Germany
- Generated 11.8 per cent of its electricity through renewable energy sources in 2006 - its target of 12.5 per cent by 2010 will be exceeded as early as 2007
- Set an example through its Federal Administration Office by committing to procuring wood and wood products only from verifiably legal and sustainable forest management
- Will use its presidency of the EU Council to build on the EU's reputation as a leader on climate change - it was the biggest supporter of the 2001 Kyoto agreement
France
- Recently held a national 'lights out' campaign, dimming the lights of Paris for five minutes, in a bid to raise awareness of global warming
- In 2005 incorporated environmental protection into its Constitution - giving France the legal means to address environmental challenges
- Focused its 2004 Climate Plan on energy efficiency in everyday life and industry - aiming to save 54 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2010
- Became the first country to frame a national policy for the long-term management of radioactive material and waste in 2006
Japan
- Japan ratified the Kyoto protocol on climate change in 2002 - it had previously said it would not do so unless the US also committed
- Aimed to reduce emissions for 2005 by 6% from 1990 levels, but in 2002 its total greenhouse gas emissions had risen 11 per cent
- Hopes to make inroads in the field of innovative technology: Japanese companies are competing to capture the market for new, clean technology
United States
- Higher carbon emissions overall and per head than any other country in the world
- Pulled out of the Kyoto agreement in 2001 - it argued that targets set for it as the world's biggest pollutant did not reflect its status as the world's biggest producer of wealth
- Bush backs voluntary improvements in energy efficiency and the development of 'clean' technologies rather than imposed targets
China
- The second biggest carbon emitter - but it is classed as a developing country and therefore not yet obliged by Kyoto to reduce emissions
- Although the average Chinese citizen consumes just 15% of the energy used by the average US citizen, the country's coal production and oil consumption are extremely high
- China ratified the Kyoto protocol in 2002, and in 2004 announced it aimed to generate 10 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2010
Russia
- The Kyoto protocol had to be ratified by countries emitting at least 55 per cent of the world's carbon emissions - Russia enabled this condition to be met when it ratified it in 2004
- The shrinking of Russia's economy since 1990 means its emissions are well below the level allowed by Kyoto
- Says it will use the money it gains through emissions trading (selling its unused emissions entitlement) for energy efficiency projects
