Where countries stand on Copenhagen

There are just over four weeks to go before the Copenhagen conference intended to agree a new international framework for controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The final round of preparatory talks in Barcelona has revealed deep divisions between some of the key participants. Use this table to study their positions.

BBC Special report: Copenhagen summit 2009

Country What's on the table Climate facts (2007) Public opinion China "Developed countries should support developed countries in tackling climate change." President Hu Jintao, 22/9/09 Wants rich countries to reduce emissions to 40% below 1990 level by 2020 Says they should pay 1% of their GDP per year to help other countries adapt Promises to emit "notably" less CO2 per unit of GDP by 2020 Wants West to provide low-carbon technology May be ready to name a date when China's emissions will peak The world's biggest GHG producer (20.7% of global emissions, 8,106mt of CO2 equivalent) Emissions per head: 30th in the world (6t of CO2 equivalent) GDP (2008): $4.3tn Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 1,152t Kyoto: Signed as a developing country so not obliged to cut emissions How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family? Very/Somewhat serious Not very/Not at all serious United States "We understand the gravity of the climate threat. We are determined to act. And we will meet our responsibility to future generations." Barack Obama, US president, 22/9/09 Resisting demands to pledge quantified emissions cuts Against Kyoto-style treaty imposing international legal obligations Insists China, India, South Africa and Brazil must commit to slow growth of emissions Climate bill - which would bring cuts of 4% from 1990 levels by 2020 - is bogged down in Senate The world's second-biggest GHG producer (15.5% of global emissions, 6,087mt of CO2 equivalent) Emissions per head: Fifth in the world (20t of CO2 equivalent) GDP (2008): $14.2tn Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 441t Kyoto: Signed, but never ratified How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family? Very/Somewhat serious Not very/Not at all serious EU "We are going to over-achieve our Kyoto targets." Stavros Dimas, EU environment commissioner, 27/10/09 The EU is a grouping of 27 European states Aspires to play "leading role" at Copenhagen Will cut emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, or 30% if other big emitters take tough action Wants rich nations to make 80-95% cut by 2050 Wants poorer nations to slow emissions growth Says they face costs of $150bn per year by 2020, of which EU will pay $7bn-22bn from public finances The world's third-biggest GHG producer (11.8% of global emissions, 4,641mt CO2 equivalent) Emissions per head: 17th in the world (9t of CO2 equivalent) GDP (2008): $18.3tn Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 315t Kyoto: Signed - has to get average emissions for 2008-2012 8% below 1990 level How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family? Very/Somewhat serious Not very/Not at all serious (Results represent the median of 23 out of the 27 EU states polled by Gallup) India "Internationally legally binding [greenhouse gas] reduction targets are for developed countries and developed countries alone." Jairam Ramesh, India's environment minister, 21/10/09 Agrees to limit growth of GHG emissions but will not commit to binding targets Says rich countries are to blame for climate change and points to big gap in per capita emissions Wants deep cuts in rich country emissions, firm funding pledges and technology transfer Keen on preserving Kyoto-style legal obligations for developing countries The world's sixth-biggest GHG producer (5% of global emissions, 1,963mt of CO2 equivalent) Emissions per head: 66th in the world (2t of CO2 equivalent) GDP (2008): $1.2tn Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 655t Kyoto: Signed as a developing country, so not obliged to cut emissions How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family? Very/Somewhat serious Not very/Not at all serious Japan "We think developing countries are also required to make an effort to reduce greenhouse gases." Yukio Hatoyama Japan's prime minister, 7/9/09 Will cut emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, if other countries show similar ambition This amounts to a cut of 30% in 10 years, and is opposed by industry "Hatoyama initiative" will increase financial and technical assistance to developing countries Backs proposals in which each country would set its own commitments The world's seventh-biggest GHG producer (3.3% of global emissions, 1,293mt of CO2 equivalent) Emissions per head: 15th in the world (10t of CO2 equivalent) GDP (2008): $4.9tn Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 301t Kyoto: Signed - has to get average emissions for 2008-2012 6% below 1990 level How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family? Very/Somewhat serious Not very/Not at all serious African union "We are prepared to walk out of any negotiations that threaten to be another rape of the continent." Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, 3/9/09 The African Union is a grouping of 52 African states Like China, wants rich countries legally bound to cut emissions to 40% below 1990 level by 2020 Describes 20 to 30% cuts as "unacceptable" Wants rich countries to pay 0.5% of GDP to help developing countries tackle climate change Wants $67bn per year for adaptation in Africa Threatening to walk out if demands are not met The AU accounts for 8.1% of global emissions (3,164mt of CO2 equivalent) Emissions per head: 4t of CO2 equivalent GDP (2008): $34bn Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 1,361t Kyoto: African nations signed as developing countries so are not obliged to cut emissions How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family? Sample state, Kenya: Very/Somewhat serious Not very/Not at all serious Gulf states "We are among the most economically vulnerable countries." Mohammad S. Al Sabban, Saudi Arabia's lead negotiator 8/10/09 Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE Opec and Saudi Arabia seeking financial aid for oil-producers if new agreement requires cuts of fossil fuels Keen on a deal that would advance use of carbon capture and storage In 2007 Opec members pledged $750m to fund climate change research Qatar and Abu Dhabi investing heavily in clean energy technology Gulf states account for 2.3% of global emissions (894mt of CO2 equivalent) Emissions per head: 25t of CO2 equivalent GDP (2008): $468bn Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 875t Kyoto: Gulf States signed as developing countries so are not obliged to cut emissions How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family? Sample state, Saudi Arabia: Very/Somewhat serious Not very/Not at all serious Small islands "The days of little money in the face of big problems are over." Dessima Williams, head of the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis), 9/10/09 Aosis is a bloc of 42 island and coastal states mostly in the Pacific and Caribbean Regard rising sea level as threat to their existence Seek to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above preindustrial levels Want concentration of CO2 in atmosphere lowered from 380 to 350 parts per million Want global emissions to peak by 2015 and fall 85% below 1990 level by 2050 Want at least 1% of rich country GDP spent on "climate-inflicted damage" The small island states account for 0.6% of global GHG emissions (246mt of CO2 equivalent) Emissions per head: 4t of CO2 equivalent GDP (2008): $46bn Amount of GHG emitted per $1m of GDP: 551t Kyoto: Aosis members signed as developing countries so are not obliged to cut emissions How serious a threat is global warming to you and your family? Sample state, Dominican Republic: Very/Somewhat serious Not very/Not at all serious SOURCES: Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the World Bank. Gallup poll data taken in 2008. Between 528 and 2,493 people interviewed in each country, either by phone or face-to-face (the question was put to people who said they knew something about climate change). The margin of error ranges from +/-3.5 to +/-5.3%. Article Source