- In 2011, estimated global net GHG emissions were 33 percent higher than 1990 levels (an annual average increase of 1.4 percent or 591,240 Gg CO2-e units (gigagrams of equivalent carbon dioxide).
- Brazil, China, the 28 European Union member countries, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, and the United States of America produce 66 percent of the world’s net emissions.
- Between 1990 and 2011, New Zealand emitted an average of 0.1 percent of global net GHG emissions.
The 66 percent is significant, but, clearly there has been efforts to slow the growth, reverse the growth or eliminate the growth of greenhouse gases that still exist. However, it is not possible to ignore China's burgeoning quality of life for it's people which is accompanied by increased greenhouse gas production. China has to and is making efforts to combat it's levels of GHG.
What about the "Rest of the World." These are countries without the brain trust or fiscal resources to change their emissions alone. These countries have people that want to change their future and that of their children. These are the countries at the world summits that look to wealthier countries to help. The global community cannot continue to ignore the problems in these countries and offer assistance in eliminating these emissions.
Every country has a stake in this outcome. We all need to pull together to get it done.
