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U.S. emissions growing at worrying pace |
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By 2020, the U.S. will emit almost 20% more greenhouse gases than it did in 2000, according to an internal draft to be sent to the United Nations. If not changed, this will increase the risk of droughts and scarce water supplies.
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2007-03-05
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In 2020, the United States will emit 9.2 billion tons of greenhouse gases (GHG) – nearly a one fifth increase from 7.7 billion tons in 2000. As the U.S. is already responsible for about 25% of the world's emissions of heat-trapping gases, this will further contribute to the disruption of ecosystems and will put at risk national water supplies.
This projection comes from a long-delayed internal report that was submitted by a government official to the Associated Press last Saturday. The "U.S. Climate Action Report", which is still being finalized, was due on 1 January, 2006. It is required under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change that asked for an inventory of GHG and a projection of environmental consequences that would result from the current administration's climate policy. The delay of more than one year is blamed on the extensive interagency review process the draft had to go through.
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Reactions
"We're on a path to exceeding levels of global warming that will cause catastrophic consequences, and we really need to be seriously reducing emissions, not just reducing the growth rate as the president is doing," said Michael MacCracken, chief scientist at the nonpartisan Climate Institute in Washington.
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"I think it is very likely that the main reason the report has been held up for more than a year beyond the deadline is because the administration is reluctant to make an honest statement about likely climate change impacts on this country," assumed Rick Piltz, director of the non-profit organisation Climate Science Watch.
Western governors to cap GHG emissions
The report arrives at a moment when policymakers are starting to address the issue of GHG emissions more seriously. Last week, the governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington agreed to introduce a joint market-based emissions trading programme within the next 18 months to reduce emissions from power plants and automobiles. As the Western states account for a significant part of the U.S. economy, the pact could result in nationwide legislation on GHG emissions.
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