Just to provide some data for Troy Hodges' letter yesterday headlined 'Kyoto 'smell' blows in two directions', regarding his question: who is the largest polluter in the world?
According to the World Research Institute, the United States pumped out 30.3 per cent of total global carbon emissions between 1900 and 1999, followed by Europe with 22.1 per cent, Russia (8.9 per cent), Germany (7.3 per cent) and China (seven per cent). In 1999, emissions per capita in the US were 5.6 tonnes of carbon, with Europe at 2.4 tonnes and China 0.5 tonnes.
I am not saying China should not do something, but with a long history of carbon emissions, the US certainly has to implement reforms to match their 'contribution'.
HO WAI-CHI
Executive Director, Greenpeace China