From this we can easily plot a trajectory where China might, within a couple decades, overpass both the EU (earliest industrialized nations) and the US (largest economy) and become the largest CO2 emitter in the history of mankind.
IMO, no large historical polluter should get away scot free, but it’s certainly much worse to reach that point during the 21st century, when climate change is known and feared, and when clean energies are abundant.
Per Capita equivalent CO2 emissions is quite high, but measurably on the decline as a result of more efficiency (mentioned in the article)
deleted by creator
Sorry, I can’t leave your message uncorrected:
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co-emissions-per-capita?tab=chart&time=1966..latest
The USA is at 15t per Capita, on a steep decline, China is at 8t per Capita and growing fast. The EU is at 6.2t and equally on a steep decline.
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-of-cumulative-co2
From this we can easily plot a trajectory where China might, within a couple decades, overpass both the EU (earliest industrialized nations) and the US (largest economy) and become the largest CO2 emitter in the history of mankind.
IMO, no large historical polluter should get away scot free, but it’s certainly much worse to reach that point during the 21st century, when climate change is known and feared, and when clean energies are abundant.