ABC-style carbon dioxide

This has to be some kind of joke, right? China, which depends on coal for something like 70% of it’s entire energy requirements, and which is building a new coal fired power station every two weeks, has apparently  stated that it will cut its emissions by 40% on 2005 levels by 2020:

“This is a voluntary action taken by the Chinese government based on its own national conditions and is a major contribution to the global effort in tackling climate change,” the statement said.

It added that China faced “enormous pressure and special difficulty in controlling greenhouse gas emissions”.

The announcement marks the first time China has put specific numbers on a September pledge by President Hu Jintao to cut carbon intensity by a “notable margin”.

So what is “carbon intensity”? And here is the get out clause:

Carbon intensity refers to emissions per unit of economic activity. Emissions would continue to grow under China’s plan as economic growth is expected to continue. Beijing is not offering an absolute cut in carbon dioxide production.

So it’s nothing like a 40% cut in emissions. It’s a 40% cut in emissions tied into economic growth, which isn’t a cut at all. The ABC fails to mention that in it’s headline, of course.

Read it here.