China's Greenhouse Emissions Predicted To Top U.S. This Year

Back in November a report came out stating that China was destined to surpass the U.S. in greenhouse gas emissions by 2009, which at that time was thought to be a decade ahead of the previous predictions in 2004. But now, Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency's chief economist is saying China will surpass the U.S. in greenhouse emissions before the end of this year. As quoted by the New Scientist, "The major issue for me is the long-term prospect. By 2030, emissions from China will be growing twice as fast as emissions from all of the OECD countries combined."

These prediction changes are said to be as a result of China's tremendous economic growth, which in the past few years has outdone even the Chinese government's expectations.