Britons named world's biggest emitters

ZenGum · 10-12-2007, 01:02 AM

Given the thread title, I thought this was going to be about national flatulence rates. All that beer and egg-and-chips...

Seriously, your title is misleading. Britons are the biggest per capita source of emissions from air travel.
The biggest per capita source of emissions in total remains the USA.

Still, it's an interesting point. With the huge distances in travelling within the USA, I'd have thought they would fly much more. I guess the sucky weather in Britain makes them all want to escape to Spain whenever possible, and who can blame them?
I'm all for high speed trains, MUCH lower emissions. Planes are still faster while in motion, but all the sodding about you have to do to get on a plane adds a lot to the total travel time, so for short and mid-length journeys, trains can be quicker door-to-door.

TheMercenary · 10-12-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Given the thread title, I thought this was going to be about national flatulence rates. All that beer and egg-and-chips...

Seriously, your title is misleading. Britons are the biggest per capita source of emissions from air travel.
The biggest per capita source of emissions in total remains the USA.

Still, it's an interesting point. With the huge distances in travelling within the USA, I'd have thought they would fly much more. I guess the sucky weather in Britain makes them all want to escape to Spain whenever possible, and who can blame them?
I'm all for high speed trains, MUCH lower emissions. Planes are still faster while in motion, but all the sodding about you have to do to get on a plane adds a lot to the total travel time, so for short and mid-length journeys, trains can be quicker door-to-door.

China and India will beat us out as the biggest emitters within the next three years.

(edited)

ZenGum · 10-12-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

China and India will beat us out as the biggest emitters within the next three years.

(edited)

Biggest in total, true (and China may well be there already). But per capita, you guys still kick arse.
I wonder how it works out per unit of GDP? Whose economy is the most efficient at creating wealth with the lowest emissions. I'd tip Japan. Industry here is mostly high-tech, and public transport is fantastic.
Anyone got any -gasp- facts?

EDIT *follows links in Mercenary's post* Good graphs, Merc. I'll look for per capita and per GDP breakdowns.

TheMercenary · 10-12-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Biggest in total, true (and China may well be there already). But per capita, you guys still kick arse.
I wonder how it works out per unit of GDP? Whose economy is the most efficient at creating wealth with the lowers emissions. I'd tip Japan. Industry here is mostly high-tech, and public transport is fantastic.
Anyone got any -gasp- facts?

There might be some here: http://rainforests.mongabay.com/09-carbon_emissions.htm

I have not looked.

ZenGum · 10-13-2007, 05:53 AM

Thanks Merc, couldn't find the breakdowns I wanted there but some interesting (and generally depressing) stuff. Especially that renewables have lost market share in the US since 2002

This bodes ill.

http://www.mongabay.com/images/2006/..._1996-2004.jpg
http://www.mongabay.com/images/2006/...y_con_2005.jpg

ZenGum · 10-13-2007, 05:57 AM

But back to the main issue here ... who does fart the most?

Chinese, with all that cabbage?
British, with their beer and egg-and-chips?
Americans, because everything is usually their fault? (joking, UG!)
Russians ... Borscht ....
Anyone?

10-12-2007, 01:02 AM	#1
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Given the thread title, I thought this was going to be about national flatulence rates. All that beer and egg-and-chips... Seriously, your title is misleading. Britons are the biggest per capita source of emissions from air travel. The biggest per capita source of emissions in total remains the USA. Still, it's an interesting point. With the huge distances in travelling within the USA, I'd have thought they would fly much more. I guess the sucky weather in Britain makes them all want to escape to Spain whenever possible, and who can blame them? I'm all for high speed trains, MUCH lower emissions. Planes are still faster while in motion, but all the sodding about you have to do to get on a plane adds a lot to the total travel time, so for short and mid-length journeys, trains can be quicker door-to-door.

10-13-2007, 05:53 AM	#5
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Thanks Merc, couldn't find the breakdowns I wanted there but some interesting (and generally depressing) stuff. Especially that renewables have lost market share in the US since 2002 This bodes ill. http://www.mongabay.com/images/2006/..._1996-2004.jpg http://www.mongabay.com/images/2006/...y_con_2005.jpg

10-13-2007, 05:57 AM	#6
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	But back to the main issue here ... who does fart the most? Chinese, with all that cabbage? British, with their beer and egg-and-chips? Americans, because everything is usually their fault? (joking, UG!) Russians ... Borscht .... Anyone?

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