Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
USA
USA is the key actor amongst developed countries. Thirty per cent of all anthropogen-
ic carbon dioxide was produced in the USA and currently they have one of the highest
per-capita emissions at 18 tonnes of carbon per year. Despite some of the best climate
science being produce in the USA, they have been only reluctantly involved in the
UNFCCC process. In fact they withdrew from the Kyoto process and then at Copenha-
gen by-passed the democratic process and instigated the non-binding Copenhagen Ac-
cord. The negotiations have not progressed as far as expected over the last 20 years
due to the reluctance of the USA to adopted binding targets, hence China, India, and
other rapidly developing countries also see no reason why they should limit their
emissions.
