Scientists condemn US as emissions of greenhouse gases hit record level

[Briar]

Scientists condemn US as emissions of greenhouse gases hit record level

By Steve Connor, Science Editor

The United States emitted more greenhouse gases in 2004 than at any time in history, confirming its status as the world's biggest polluter. Latest figures on the US contribution to global warming show that its carbon emissions have risen sharply despite international concerns over climate change.

The figures, which were quietly released on Easter Monday, reveal that net greenhouse gas emissions during 2004 increased by 1.7 per cent on the previous year, equivalent to a rise of 110 million tons of carbon dioxide.

This is the biggest annual increase since 2000 and means that in 2004 - the latest year that full data is available - the US released the equivalent of nearly 6,300 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Scientists in Britain condemned the increase, saying that it showed how the US was failing to take a lead in the international attempt to curb greenhouse gas emissions despite being the worst offender.

...
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article358583.ece#Scene_1

(Not that Bliar has lived up to his rhetoric about reducing our emissions. If it is something he can really get behind, like opening the door for supercasions here or allowing creationist businessmen to set up schools, it happens. But not cuts in our carbon emissions.)