Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions among the worst

Canada has increased its carbon dioxide emissions by 20% between 1990 and 2000, making it one of the worst offenders in the world.
A report released by the United Nations Climate Change Convention found that greenhouse gas emissions in highly industrialized countries rose on average by 8 per cent during the period. The European Union’s total emissions decreased by 3.5%, with individual member states varying between decrease of 19% and an increase of 35%. The United States increased its emissions during the period by 14%. Japan’s emissions rose 11%, Australia’s rose 18%.
For the future, the report predicted that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the industrialized countries could grow by 17% between 2000 and 2010 despite measures currently in place to limit them. The “transition” countries of Central and Eastern Europe are also starting to increase their emissions according to the report.
Entitled, “Compilation and Synthesis of Third National Communications,” the report is being considered at a two-week meeting of the Climate Change Convention’s 190 member governments in Bonn, Germany. The convention’s executive director, Joke Waller Hunter, said the findings “clearly demonstrate that stronger and more creative policies will be needed for accelerating the spread of climate-friendly technologies …”