International

Australia's goal is to cut its GHGs emissions by 5% from 2000 to 2020.  By and large, Australia met those targets, mostly by reducing deforestation and land clearing.  In November 2011, Australian lawmakers approved a carbon trading plan, where its top 500 polluters would pay a carbon tax starting in July 2012.  The Abbott government elected in September 2013 is repealing it.

Canada initially committed to cut its GHG emissions by 6% below 1990 levels, but backpedaled to 17% from 2005 levels by 2020, like the USA.  It has since cancelled its emissions commitments.  Canada’s emissions are 17% above 1990 levels, due largely to oil from Alberta's tar sands.  This more than cancels out the progress from shifting electric generation from coal to natural gas.

China pledged to reduce its carbon intensity 40-45% by 2020, but not its emissions.  It is the world's biggest consumer (and producer) of coal: #1 in CO2 emissions, still growing fast, and #2 in energy use.  China has become infamous for its heavily polluted air.  The most recent projections are for its CO2 emissions to peak about 2016 or 2020 instead of 2030.  However, China’s coal use in 2014 was lower than in 2013.  In November 2014, China pledged to cap its emissions by 2013, but also “as soon as possible."

     Still, by 2020 China plans to get 15% of its energy not from fossil fuels and 20% by 2030.  Its renewable portfolio standard dates to 2005.  Hydro plays the biggest role.  Nukes play a growing one, but less than wind.  China subsidizes its clean energy sector heavily, so green tech jobs can fuel future growth.  Chinese manufacturers have cut world PV cell prices dramatically.  China plans 50 GW of solar power by 2020.  China raised its target for wind power to 100 GW by 2020; it's ahead of schedule again.  It leads the world in wind and solar  power and plans to add 800-1,000 GW in renewable generation (20% of its total) by 2030.  [TOTAL US generation is 1,060 GW.]

     China began its pilot carbon trading programs for 7 cities & provinces with Shenzhen in July.  All 7 are in full swing, with varying exceptions and free allowances.  China plans a nationwide carbon price in 2016.

The European Union (EU), with 27 member states, pledged to cut emissions 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, including 8% by 2012. To do that, in 2005 the EU launched the world's biggest carbon trading market. Today, all members must participate; 3 outsiders do too.  Major EU factories and power plants get CO2 allowances for their emissions.  Ones that emit less CO2 than permitted can sell their excess to other firms.  The price depends heavily on the cap (see twin graphs above).  Many other nations oppose new EU plans that flights to & from Europe buy CO2 permits.

India agreed to reduce its carbon intensity 20% by 2015, but not its emissions, saying that would hurt efforts to bring millions of Indians out of poverty.  India is the world's #3 CO2 emitter.  It's active in the Clean Development Mechanism carbon offset plan.  It earns credits for  emission-reducing projects (half wind and biomass) and sells them to industrialized nations.  Its goal is 20 GW of solar by 2022.  In 2010, India began a carbon tax of $1.07 / ton on coal, to fund renewables.

Indonesia pledged emission cuts of 26% by 2020, from 2010 levels.  It has vast swaths of tropical forests, which suck up CO2.  But those forests are being logged at an alarming rate — releasing huge amounts of carbon into the air.  In May 2011, Indonesia agreed to implement a 2-year moratorium on new forest clearing, in exchange for $1 billion to support forest conservation.  Observers question Indonesia's commitment to stopping deforestation, since its economic boom is fueled by natural resource extraction.

Japan, the world's #5 CO2 emitter, once pledged to reduce its CO2 emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2020.  Tokyo lauched a cap-and-trade plan in 2010 for 1,300 big users - even large offices and schools.  But after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan shut down its nuclear power: 1/3 of its electricity.  Despite drastic energy cuts, its 2011 CO2 emissions rose sharply and could stay there.  So far, one reactor has been licensed to restart.  

#4 Russia pledged to cut its emissions by 15% from 1990 levels - when Soviet emissions from heavy (mostly miltary) industry were sky high.  After the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia's emissions did too, meeting its pledge.  Russia still depends on many heavy industries, with heavy pollution. Russia's leaders long questioned a human role in climate change, but reversed that in 2009, and in spades after its record heat, drought, forest fires, and wheat crop failure in 2010.

South Africa expects its emissions to peak between 2020 and 2025, then remain flat for a decade before dropping.  Its CO2 emissions top Africa's #2-5 emitters combined.  Coal generates 90% of its electricity.  It aims for renewables to provide 9% its energy by 2030.  Construction on the first 50 projects, mostly wind and sun, begins after mid-2012.  It plans to enlarge nuclear power's role, from 5% of its electricity. 

The USA pledged to reduce emissions 17% by 2020, contingent on Congress passing an aggressive cap-and-trade bill.  It did not, but US emissions fell anyway, 11% from their 2005 peak, to only 11% above 1990 levels.  In November 2014, the US President pledged 26-28% carbon emission cuts by 2025.  The 4 biggest factors are (1) a switch from coal to fracked natural gas; (2) higher oil and gasoline prices; (3) widespread energy efficiency, from federal appliance and lighting standards, to state-funded programs, to individual business and household decisions; and (4) wind energy replacing oil (and coal) to make electricity, with help from 29 state renewable portfolio standards.  Over the coming years, 2 other factors come into play: (5) new nationwide fuel-efficiency standards will almost double fuel efficiency for new cars and light trucks; and (6) new regulation of CO2 emissions from new power plants and then existing ones.