Worse Than You Thought

The Post reports today that new studies show carbon emissions will have to be cut to zero in a matter of decades to fight a dangerous rise in global temperatures. The U.S. China generates more man-made CO2 emissions than any other country, and China the United States comes in at a close second.

Here’s what the post has to say about the feasibility of eliminating carbon emissions in the U.S.:

For now, at least, a goal of zero emissions appears well beyond the reach of politicians here and abroad. U.S. leaders are just beginning to grapple with setting any mandatory limit on greenhouse gases. The Senate is poised to vote in June on legislation that would reduce U.S. emissions by 70 percent by 2050; the two Democratic senators running for president, Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.), back an 80 percent cut. The Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), supports a 60 percent reduction by mid-century.

Update: Thanks to reader dave_schuler for pointing out that in fact China has beaten out the United States for the biggest-producer-of-CO2 prize!