Nope – It's Not Us

Everyone knows that "greenhouse gases" are part of the reason our world is warming up. All industrialized nations produce "greenhouse gases" (like carbon dioxide), but the biggest producer is the US. We can be quite proud of ourselves, Americans love to win – to be the best. Well, we even beat ourselves:

The United States emitted more greenhouse gases in 2004 than at any time in history, confirming its status as the world's biggest polluter. Latest figures on the US contribution to global warming show that its carbon emissions have risen sharply despite international concerns over climate change.

The figures, which were quietly released [by the EPA] on Easter Monday, reveal that net greenhouse gas emissions during 2004 increased by 1.7 per cent on the previous year, equivalent to a rise of 110 million tons of carbon dioxide. This is the biggest annual increase since 2000 and means that in 2004 - the latest year that full data is available - the US released the equivalent of nearly 6,300 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Fossil fuel combustion alone accounted for 94 per cent of the carbon dioxide emissions produced by the US during 2004, the figures show. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are now a third higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century, and probably higher than they have been for at least 10 million years.

For an alarming visual look at how we impact the world environment click here. The question that needs asking is: Knowing that the political class in this country is absent on this issue, will Americans continue to ignore it also – or will their voices rise in protest over the destruction of our children's futures?
Posted on The Human Stain