By Emil Salim, Indonesia
Tokyo, 15 February 2008
emilsalim2002@yahoo.com, esalim@rad.net.id

CO2 EMISSIONS 2004
(million metric tons)
Country Rank Emission 2004 Growth1994-2004:
US
1
5,912
13%
China
2
4,707
68%
Russia
3
1,685
0%
Japan
4
1,262
16%
India
5
1,113
53%
UK
8580
2%
Brazil
19337
26%
Indonesia 20
308
48%
Source: Bacon and Bhattacharya, Growth and CO2Emissions, Environment Dept. World Bank, 2007.

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

Russian Federation low growth is because of dismantlinginefficient polluted industries;
China’s rapid increase of CO2e (68%) will soon surpass US
and India with 53% CO2e growth rate will also reach the top
3 highest CO2e emissions countries within next few years;
Most developing countries, like Brazil, Indonesia and others,
will also rapidly increase total CO2e emissions;
These facts make developed countries push developing
countries to actively reduce CO2e emissions while ignoring
prevailing unequal level playing field between developed anddeveloping countries that has given rise to consensus of“common but differentiated responsibilities;”
Developed countries strive for growth model with low carbon
society first, but developing countries are struggling for
growth model with poverty eradication first;

EMISSIONS AND GDP PER CAPITA 2004
Country Emission ton/p. GDP $ PPP/person

USUK
Japan
RussiaChina
BrazilIndonesia
India

20.01
9.75
9.87
11.71
3.60
1.83
1.40
1.02

36,23429,40627,080
9,018
5,441
7,406
3,245
2,831

THE SEARCH FOR LOW POVERTY WITHLOW CARBON SOCIETY
1. On per capita basis, CO2e emissions are lower indeveloping countries and high CO2e emissions arecorrelated with high income level in developed
countries;
2. The globe suffers double inequality: developed
countries have high income per capita with highCO2e emission per capita, while developing
countries must reduce total CO2e emission first in
spite of enduring high poverty;
3. With conventional development, developing
countries will raise CO2e emissions level. They needsustainable development model focusing on poverty
eradication with co-benefit of reducing CO2eemissions with adaptation to climate change;

1. Develop climate change prone seeds and agriculture,especially for food security;
2. Transform sea water to fresh water and manage
coastal area against sea level rise;
3. Develop low carbon and renewable energy withappropriate grid system supporting clean industry
4. To shift transportation system and technology fromfocusing on “car” to “transport service” withincentives on public above private transport system;
5. Develop ecological friendly buildings and cities
architecture-cum-technology;
6. Build medical research and capacity to cope withclimate change affected new diseases;

1. Developing countries need “space for pollution”
to eradicate poverty. This can be avoided if theyobtain technology and capacity to reduce CO2;
2.Developed countries have the technology at aprice that pre-empt developing countries to use
their scarce fund for poverty eradication;
3.There is the need to promote transfer oftechnology, funding and capacity building toenable developing countries to reach for low
carbon and low poverty society;PARADIGMS SHIFT
1. Conventional development must shift towards
sustainable development with economic, social andenvironmental sustainability to reach for low carbon
and low poverty society;2. Market failures must be corrected throughintervention by governance comprising ofgovernment, business and civil society;3. Developed countries need to transfer funding
technology and capabilities to developing countries
to reach for a prosperous and just society in asustained healthy world;