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Romania. CO2 Emissions vs CO2 Certificates

Published 05th November 2009 - 2 comments - 2329 views -

Based on the quantities of CO2 emitted between 1990 and 2005, Romania is placed on the 24th position in Top 185.

The analysis, carried out by the World Resources Institute (WRI), a nonprofit environmental organization in the U.S., contradicts the arguments of the some European states that refuse to fund poor countries. Poland, for example, known as one of the loudest voice of the opposition is on the 11th position from 185 countries, with 21,000 tonnes of CO2 emitted between 1990 and 2005.

From the Eastern European area, only the Czech Republic (I know it's in Central Europe, but it's also considered Eastern European country, too) is situated above Romania, on the 18th position with 9,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia, although in top 50, are placed on lower positions at 34, 40 and 41 respectively.

After closing the large industrial companies, the level of emissions of many Eastern European states has fallen steadily since 1990. However, carbon dioxide does not dissolve naturally in the air. For this reason, all emissions issued before 1989 are still hanging there in the atmosphere.

In case you wonder, United States is leading the way with over 300,000 tonnes of CO2 emitted between 1990 and 2005, followed by China with 92,900 tonnes and Russia with 89,800 tonnes.

Interesting enough though, through the emission trading mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol for the period 2008 - 2012, Romania has the right to sell certificates equivalent to 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the 250 million tonnes allocated to our country as a result of making the commitment to reduce emissions by 8% by 2012 compared to 1989.

Not bad for a country listed quite at the top of the polluter's list.

*photo source: Green Report

Category: Climate Reporting, | Tags: romania, co2 emissions, co2 certificates,



Comments

Daniel Nylin Nilsson on 05th November 2009:

I actually think the Poles have a minor point. While it is very important that industries in Eastern Europe are reformed into polluting less, I think it would be fair if the Western part of the EU pays more to combat climate change. After all we got a lot more wealth out of our pollution, and this is what it is time to pay for. Also the western european tax payers are much more responsible for how our countries look like, as we were not dictatorships when the co2-emitting industry was built up.

On the other hand… I guess such a system would set the divivisons between eastern and western Europe in stone, which is something I don’t like…

Adela on 05th November 2009:

I totally agree with you on polls.
In fact I’ve stumbled upon other organizations that did their own analysis and results slightly differ. So it’s probably a question of characteristics they use in developing their data.

There is also the problem of developed countries that move their high pollutant factories in developing countries.

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