Climate change commitments of different countries

The US has said it will not sign up to a climate change deal unless developing nations also cut pollution. But what have rich and poor nations signed up to so far?

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent | Telegraph.co.uk | 07 Nov 2009

The European Union has said it will slash emissions by 20 pe rcent by 2020 compared with the 1990 level Photo: AFP

Pledges by rich countries on 2020 levels

UN: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says the rich world should cut emissions by 25 to 40 per cent by 2020 on 1990 levels to keep temperature rise below 2C (3.6F).

EU: 20 per cent by 2020 on 1990 levels, rising to 30 per cent if other countries also agree to take action.

US: Legislation is currently going through the Senate that would commit the US to cuts of up to 20 per cent on 2005 levels by 2020. This equates to around six per cent on 1990 levels. But the US insists its target is in fact stronger than the EU target, because the EU has already made most of its cuts and only needs to cut carbon by a further 12 per cent on 2005 levels.

UK: Britain will cut emissions by 34 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020, rising to 42 per cent if there is a deal in Copenhagen.

Japan: Since a new Government came into force Japan has been committed to cutting emissions by 25 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020.

Russia: 10 to 15 per cent by 2020 on 1990 levels. However environmentalists say this equates to an increase of around 2 per cent on 2005 levels. There are also concerns that Russia could carry forward huge amount of unused cuts due to the collapse of the Soviet Union from earlier commitments.

Canada: The Government has targets of 20 per cent by 2020 on 2006 levels. But it is estimated this will only equate to six per cent on 1990 levels.

Australia: The Government has committed Australia to cuts of between 5 to 15 per cent by 2020 from 2000 levels.

Pledges by poor nations

UN: The least developed nations, that need to develop in the next ten years to fight poverty, do not have to do anything. But other developing nations like China and India must take action against “business as usual”.

China: The Chinese have committed to a 20 per cent cut in “energy intensity” from 2006 to 2010 and by a “notable margin” by 2020. China will nearly double the proportion of renewables in its overall energy mix - from 8 per cent in 2006 to 15 per cent in 2020.

India: The Government also insist they will also make cuts against “business as usual” by investing massively in renewables like solar.

Indonesia: One of the few developing countries to sign up to targets has committed to cutting emissions by 26 per cent on “business as usual” levels by 2020.

Brazil: Committed to “drastically reducing” deforestation, its principle source of carbon emissions.

Mexico: By 2012, Mexico will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 8 per cent or 50 million tonnes per year.

The Maldives: The small island in the Indian Ocean is committed to going carbon neutral in the next ten years. Other small island states in danger of sea level rises are also planning to cut emissions.

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