5, 20, 25
Climate fairness
The United States has 5% of the world’s population.
These 5% cause 20% of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
These 20% of emissions help the United States produce 25% of global economic output.
Pop quiz: Is the United States producing
(1) more than its fair share of emissions?
(2) less than its fair share of emissions?
(3) both (1) and (2)?
Bonus question: How do you settle that dispute logically? Or in other words: Is it any wonder that we haven’t been able to come up with an international agreement that includes 193 countries and assigns “fair” emissions reductions targets for each?
