Australia perform worst of democratic countries
2013
Australia was the 6th worst performing country in the world in ClimatePositions 2010 with a Climate Contribution of $4,387 per capita. In the latest calculation it had increased to $5,081. The total national Contribution (climate debt) is now 109 billion US$. Since no country in top 5 is Full Democracies, Australia is the worst performing democratic country. It can be assumed that the majority of the Australian voters are pleased with this destructive approach to the planet.
Brazil and the world’s rainforests
2013
Brazil was the 63rd worst performing country in ClimatePositions 2010 with a total Climate Contribution (climate debt) of 12.4 billion US$. In the latest calculation the debt has increased to 15.3 billion US$. Between 1990 and 2010 Brazil cut down the total forest cover (mainly rainforest) from 69.0% to 62.4%.
Obama hoping for change
2013
United States is not only notorious for illegal surveillance, waterboarding, illegal wars and imprisonments without trial – the country is also primarily responsible for climate change. While the oceans are rising Barak Obama is hoping for change (see the Sea Level rise in the diagram below).
54 countries with incomplete data
2013
199 countries are included in ClimatePositions (Excel) but 54 countries have incomplete data (0.5% of the Global Population). The front image shows the 20 largest CO2 Emitters (carbon dioxide) per capita in 2011 among the 54 countries. Without full data it is not possible to calculate the national Climate Contribution (climate debt). See the country list below with the missing data mentioned in brackets. Notes that the national Contributions can be estimated by using indicator assumptions – see an example with Bahrain in the bottom.
About calculation of national climate contributions
2013
The calculations in ClimatePositions are complex and yet the same for all countries. The progressive national indicator updates since 2000 ensure that the countries multifaceted performances are reflected directly in the Climate Contributions (climate debt). The front image shows the main calculation spreadsheet (Excel) in ClimatePositions. All updated indicator values are entered the spreadsheet and by copying a country from the country list (with all the numerical values) and insert in the country box (cell A30) – all calculations are done automatically and the national Contribution per capita appears (cell B20).
South Korea is going backwards in climate performance
2013
South Korea was the 15th worst performing country out of 145 in ClimatePositions 2010 with a Climate Contribution (climate debt) of $1,904 per capita. As shown in the front diagram the South Korean annual CO2 Emissions (carbon dioxide) have continued to increase in 2011 (12.5 tons per capita) and today the Contribution is $2,297 per capita. The updated calculations for all 145 countries are available in the submenu “Calculations (Excel)”.
About this website
2013
The resources behind climatepositions.com are independent of economic, political and national interests. The website’s aim is to identify national climate change positions worldwide and thus expose incompetence, hypocrisy and cynicism – and uplifting achievements.
European Union perform poorly
2013
The map (from Wikipedia) shows the very different countries in ‘European Union‘ (EU). As a whole EU perform poorly on the climate challenge and only Romania was Contribution Free in ClimatePositions 2010. Both Netherlands and Belgium are among the top 10 worst performing countries in the world. Se the EU rank at the end and the global ranking in the menu “Contributions/Per Capita US$ Rank”).
India keeps the balance between growth and CO2 emissions
2013
India is the 4th largest CO2 Emitter in the world (in 2006-2010) but Contribution Free due to a balanced increase in economic growth and CO2 Emissions per capita. The front diagram show India’s annual GDP(ppp-$) in comparison with China and the global average (the blue dots). Subject to modifications in the data source. Economic growths in these two countries are causing an increasing proportion of the global CO2 Emissions (28.3% in 2006-2010) and thus climate change.
63 countries are Contribution Free in ClimatePositions
2013
63 of 145 countries with full data are Contribution Free in ClimatePositions 2010. See the list below. The diagram above show these countries’ total share of the global: 1) Population (41.9%), 2) GDP(ppp-$) (10.4%), 3) CO2 Emission (8.4%) and 4) Contribution (0.0%). The total global Climate Contribution (climate debt) was 2,834 billion US$ in 2010 but the world’s most powerful leaders defend their national economic privileges with immature persistence!
Global warming: China in its own CO2 Emission league
2013
Global warming is caused mainly by human CO2 Emissions.The diagram above shows China’s annual CO2 Emissions (carbon dioxide) in tons per capita 2000-2011 (the black bars). The green bars show the Contribution Free Levels in ClimatePositions. The free level of CO2 Emissions is dependent on various indicators (see the menu “Calculations/Indicators”). China was the 57th worst performing country out of 145, in terms of Contribution (climate debt) per capita. The total national Contribution increased from 26 billion US$ in 2005 to 185 billion in 2010. This explosive negative development is outstanding in the world and China is now by far the largest CO2 Emitter.
Global Population 1960-2012
2013
The diagram shows the Global Population the last 52 years. In 1960 the Global Population was 3.02 billion and in 2012 it was 7.03 billion. The annually updated figure is included in the latest version of ClimatePositions with impact on the national Climate Contributions (climate debt).
Impressive performance by Costa Rica
2013
In 2010 ‘Costa Rica‘ was the only Contribution Free, full democratic country with a GDP(ppp-$) above the global average. The diagram above shows the national CO2 Emissions per capita (the black bars) and the Contribution Free Levels of CO2 Emissions (the green bars) in 2000-2011. Note that Costa Rica could have increased CO2 Emissions (carbon dioxide) from 1.2 ton CO2 per capita in 2000 to 1.9 tons in 2011 and still be Contribution free, due to other fine indicator values.
Global Sea Level 1993-2012
2013
The diagram shows the global Sea Level rise between 1993 and 2012. Annually the average increase was 3.2 mm (a total of 6.08 cm in 19 years). The increase between 1880 and 1993 is set to 14 cm (uncertain data). The annually updated Sea Level affects the national Climate Contributions in ClimatePositions.
Top 5 CO2 Emitters’ Climate Contributions (climate debt) over time
2013
The 5 largest CO2 Emitters in 2006-2010 were 1. China (23,2%), 2. United States (19,7%), 3. Russia (5,3%), 4. India (5,1%) and 5. Japan (4,0%). These 5 countries accounted for 57,3% of the global CO2 Emissions (carbon dioxide). The diagram above shows the Contributions (climate debt) per capita in 2000, 2005 and 2010 (the black line is the global average). India was Contribution Free. Note the logarithmic scale. On the list of the worst performing countries (climate debt per capita) the ranking in 2010 was as follows: United States (no. 7), Japan (no. 18), Russia (no. 31), China (no. 57) and India (Contribution Free). See the full country list in the menu Contributions/Per Capita US$ Rank.
Full Democracies means large Climate Contributions (climate debt)
2013
The diagram shows 23 Full Democracy countries’ total share of the global: 1) Population (13%), 2) GDP(ppp-$) (51%), 3) CO2 Emissions (39%) and 4) Contributions (debt) (74%). Only 1/8 of the people on the planet live in other words in Full Democracies and they are accountable for 3/4 of the global Contributions (climate debt) in ClimatePositions 2010. Also the ecological footprint (excluding CO2 Emissions) of a majority of these 23 countries is very large, with an average of 2.7 EPI. Obviously democracies in general are still flawed when it comes to planet responsibility and climate change response. Costa Rica is the only Contribution Free country on the Full Democracy list (more about Costa Rica soon).
GDP growth rate in Malaysia
2013
The GDP(ppp-$) growth rate in Malaysia is higher than the global average, as illustrated in the diagram 2000-2012. Subject to modifications in the data source. The blue dots shows the global GDP(ppp-$) in 2000, 2005 and 2010. The increase in Malaysia’s prosperity causes a corresponding, but delayed, increase in the Climate Contribution (climate debt) in ClimatePositions. In 2010 Malaysia was the 38th worst performing country.
CO2 Content in the atmosphere since 1960
2013
The diagram shows the concentration of CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere as parts per million (ppm) 1960-2012. In 1960 the figure was 317 ppm and in 2012 it was 394 ppm. The annually updated figure is included in the latest version of ClimatePositions with impact on the national Climate Contributions.
Rainforest in Ecuador and global funding
2013
Ecuador was the 68th worst performing country out of 145 in ClimatePositions 2010, but the Climate Contribution (debt) was entirely due to reductions in rainforest since 1990. The diagram shows the forest coverage in percent of the total area in 1990 (49.9%) and 2010 (35.6%). The total national Contribution (debt) was 626 million US$ in 2010.
Switzerland benefits from a top Environmental Performance
2013
Switzerland was the 32nd worst performing country in ClimatePositions 2010 (see the menu Contributions/Per Capita US$ Rank), but the Environmental Performance was the best of all surveyed countries. The diagram illustrates Switzerlands Environmental Performance 2004-2010, in comparison with the global average set at 100 (166 countries are included).