Dan Farber, LEGAL PLANET
With Saudia Arabia’s pledge last week to cut emission, all of the world’s major economies are now on board. In a nutshell, here is what they are promising.
Except as noted, the target dates are all 2030. A number of countries have subsidiary promises in terms of percentage of renewable energy or of bigger cuts premised on international aid, which aren’t included here.
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Australia. 26-28% (2005 baseline)
Canada. 30% (2005 baseline).
European Union. 40% (1990 baseline).
Japan. 26% (2013 baseline).
United States. 26-28% (2025 target, 2005 baseline).
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BRIC COUNTRIES
Brazil. 37% (2005 baseline, 2025 target).
China. Peak emissions circa 2030.
India. 33% cut in carbon intensity(2005 baseline).
Russia. 25-30% (1990 baseline)
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OTHERS
Argentina. 15% below business as usual (BAU).
Saudi Arabia. 130 million ton cut in annual emissions.
Indonesia. 29% (BAU baseline).
Mexico. 25% (BAU baseline).
South Africa. Peak emissions by 2025, followed by a plateau and then decline.
South Korea. 37% (BAU baseline).
Turkey. 21% (BAU baseline).
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You’ll notice that the EU is promising the most, both in absolute numbers 40% and in the lowest baseline (1990). Other developed countries are pledging smaller percentages and using a higher 2005 emission level as the baseline. Among the non-developed countries, Brazil’s pledge is notable because it is promising absolute cuts in emissions, not just reductions below business as usual or setting a future peak level. But the fact that other major non-developed countries have made pledges is a huge advance over the Kyoto Protocol, which did not require much of anything from them.