Representatives of nearly 200 nations will gather in Copenhagen for an international conference on global warming. As big greenhouse gas emitters, the United States and China are expected to be pivotal to the outcome. Many other countries fall into the formal and informal clusters described here.
China: The world's largest population and the largest emissions of greenhouse gases could be viewed as one of two 800- pound gorillas in the room, with the United States (21% of emissions & 6% of G.D.P).China has refused to accept firm limits on its emissions but has instead proposed a "carbon intensity" target, reducing its emissions per dollar of economic output by 40 to 45% by 2020.
United States of America: The United States ranks among the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide per capital of any large country (20% of emissions, 30% of G.D.P, 5% of people).With the Senate unable to pass climate legislation, the Obama administration will be limited in what it can offer.
European Union: European nations have led the push for firm emission limits, with some on track to meet their Kyoto goals. They will push for new, more stringent emission limits for industrialized countries so that the market in emission credits does not collapse (15% of emissions, 25% of G.D.P, 8% of people).
(Source: nytimes.com)
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