An Associated Press analysis finds that most of the world's big industrialized nations aren't having an easy time reducing greenhouse gas emissions as part of their commitment to the Kyoto pact. Basically, says writer Karl Ritter, Europe is veering off course, Japan is way off the mark and Canada has thrown in the towel.
The struggles may give the U.S. and Australia some relief in the political arena as they chose not to join the pact. The United States, which is the world's largest contributor of greenhouse gases, said meeting the reduction goals would hurt the economy.
Supporters say the targets are reachable if nations just try harder. Recent numbers say 36 countries can meet a 5 percent target by 2012 (base year of 1990). But much of the number comes from shutting down old Russian factories.
Canada, which wanted to cut emissions by 6 percent, instead increased them by 29 percent. Japan is also trying for 6 percent but has found that it, too, is on the rise by 6 percent.
The European Union, a big supporter of the pact, says it can meet an 8 percent goal by 2012 with an emissions trading program and a couple of big "ifs." One report has Europe's emissions growing by less than one percent. Spain is a big offender but Britian and Sweden are on track to meet their targets. About one-fourth of the energy consumed in Sweden came from renewable sources.
[Source: AP via NWAnews.com]
The struggles may give the U.S. and Australia some relief in the political arena as they chose not to join the pact. The United States, which is the world's largest contributor of greenhouse gases, said meeting the reduction goals would hurt the economy.
Supporters say the targets are reachable if nations just try harder. Recent numbers say 36 countries can meet a 5 percent target by 2012 (base year of 1990). But much of the number comes from shutting down old Russian factories.
Canada, which wanted to cut emissions by 6 percent, instead increased them by 29 percent. Japan is also trying for 6 percent but has found that it, too, is on the rise by 6 percent.
The European Union, a big supporter of the pact, says it can meet an 8 percent goal by 2012 with an emissions trading program and a couple of big "ifs." One report has Europe's emissions growing by less than one percent. Spain is a big offender but Britian and Sweden are on track to meet their targets. About one-fourth of the energy consumed in Sweden came from renewable sources.
[Source: AP via NWAnews.com]
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