France Cuts GHG Emissions 1.8% Below 1990 Levels - AFP

[hatrack]

France has so far trimmed emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases by 1.8 percent compared with 1990, the benchmark year in the UN's Kyoto Protocol, Ecology Minister Nelly Olin said on Thursday. Under Kyoto, France pledged not to increase its 1990 emissions by 2012.

Separately, it has committed itself to a cut of 75 percent by 2050, amounting to an annualised reduction of three percent.

The figures given by Olin correspond to the end of 2005, the first year in which a 2004 "Climate Plan" to lower carbon pollution was fully implemented. "Without the plan, France would be on course for an increase of more than six percent" or even 10 percent by 2010, Olin said.

Olin said the transport sector and the construction sector had to do more to reduce their pollution. Transport accounts for 27 percent of the country's total greenhouse gases and its emissions have risen by nearly a quarter since 1990.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/2006/070111144952.qr0erc4w.html

[GOTV]

1. But but but, don't repubs claim that cutting GHGs would cause serious economic harm?...

... yes, that was sarcasm.

[phantom power]

2. Are there any other nations that have met these goals?

I find it interesting that France happens to be that country which obtains 70% of it's electricity from nuclear reactors.

[NNadir]

3. It is wholly illustrative that the article avoids mentioning your tiny factoid.

France has phased out coal.

[hatrack]

4. Odd, huh?

:eyes:

[NNadir]

5. I'm sure they merely overlooked that fact.

You can't always report all the details.

In any case, one needs to be clear that France has not in any way eliminated climate change inducing gases.

In many ways France is the best in the West when it comes to energy, but meeting one's Kyoto committments is hardly enough. The physics of climate change calls not for "progress" but for the elimination of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere.

[Dead_Parrot]

6. At least they're heading in the right direction

It's also worth bearing in mind the population is 9.2% higher than it was in 1990, which makes the per capita reduction a bit bigger - just over 10%.

Pity about the other 90%. :(

[Dead_Parrot]

7. There's per capita per year data here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions

Might be worth flicking through...

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Actually, it's at ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions_per_capita

But thanks for the link you gave, it's for total per country. And I just have to ask:

WTF IS GOING ON in the U.S. Virgin Islands ???

[Dead_Parrot]

9. Ahem. thanks

:dunce:

The VI figure is probably from tourism - the total will include emissions from 2 million visitors, but divided amoung ~100,000 locals for the per capita - that's bound to screw the statistic.

[progressoid]

10. What they don't mention is how.....Nuclear.