Comments on: India one of the least Carbon Intensive Countries in the World: McKinsey Reports http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/24/india-one-of-least-carbon-intensive-countries-in-the-world-mckinsey-reports/ News & commentary on sustainability, activism, urban planning, politics, and our world. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:54:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dr Vandana Prakash http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/24/india-one-of-least-carbon-intensive-countries-in-the-world-mckinsey-reports/comment-page-1/#comment-60657 Dr Vandana Prakash Wed, 27 May 2009 20:03:37 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3013#comment-60657 LB, Thanks for the CAIT database pointers. I will definitely take a look. The confusion seems to be stemming from the fact that both the terms use carbon intensity per capita and per capita of GDP product(carbon intensity of the economy). The report indeed mentions both these metrics. Potential bargaining chip for India is the carbon intensity of the GDP as it relates to India's position about poverty alleviation. We will get better clarity once the report is released and as the experts mentioned the report assumptions need to be verified still. In my opinion these metrics are good guidance but there are several other factors and considerations that need attention. Thanks, Vandana. LB,

Thanks for the CAIT database pointers. I will definitely take a look.

The confusion seems to be stemming from the fact that both the terms use carbon intensity per capita and per capita of GDP product(carbon intensity of the economy). The report indeed mentions both these metrics. Potential bargaining chip for India is the carbon intensity of the GDP as it relates to India’s position about poverty alleviation.

We will get better clarity once the report is released and as the experts mentioned the report assumptions need to be verified still.

In my opinion these metrics are good guidance but there are several other factors and considerations that need attention.

Thanks,
Vandana.

]]> By: LB http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/24/india-one-of-least-carbon-intensive-countries-in-the-world-mckinsey-reports/comment-page-1/#comment-60652 LB Wed, 27 May 2009 14:09:40 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3013#comment-60652 No offense to the Dr. Pradash but Reuben is completely correct in his criticism of the article. The numbers reported are for per capita emissions, not carbon intensity. P/C emissions are indeed much higher in developed world than in developing world in general, but there are exceptions, notably countries with high levels of deforestation. Carbon intensity in India and China is higher relative to US, but lower relative to Russia. CAIT database linked below is best source for such data. Emissions intensity 2005. http://cait.wri.org/cait.php?page=carbecon&mode=view Per capita and total emissions 2005. http://cait.wri.org/cait.php?page=yearly&mode=view&sort=val-desc&pHints=shut&url=form&year=2005&sector=natl&co2=1&ch4=1&n2o=1&pfc=1&hfc=1&sf6=1&update=Update No offense to the Dr. Pradash but Reuben is completely correct in his criticism of the article.

The numbers reported are for per capita emissions, not carbon intensity. P/C emissions are indeed much higher in developed world than in developing world in general, but there are exceptions, notably countries with high levels of deforestation.

Carbon intensity in India and China is higher relative to US, but lower relative to Russia.

CAIT database linked below is best source for such data.

Emissions intensity 2005.
http://cait.wri.org/cait.php?page=carbecon&mode=view

Per capita and total emissions 2005.
http://cait.wri.org/cait.php?page=yearly&mode=view&sort=val-desc&pHints=shut&url=form&year=2005&sector=natl&co2=1&ch4=1&n2o=1&pfc=1&hfc=1&sf6=1&update=Update

]]> By: Gil Friend http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/24/india-one-of-least-carbon-intensive-countries-in-the-world-mckinsey-reports/comment-page-1/#comment-60651 Gil Friend Mon, 25 May 2009 22:56:16 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3013#comment-60651 Also, while carbon intensity and productivity are important for guiding strategy at the national and enterprise level, all the climate cares about is total emissions -- so a low CO2/GDP intensity in a large population with a rapidly developing economy can make a large contribution to global warming. So China -- with 1/4 the intensity but 5x the population and, what, 4x the economic growth rate -- has already surpassed the US as the world's largest emitter. I agree that India's programs need to be wisely target, but like anyone else's, they need to focus on both targets -- both intensity and absolute emissions. Also, while carbon intensity and productivity are important for guiding strategy at the national and enterprise level, all the climate cares about is total emissions — so a low CO2/GDP intensity in a large population with a rapidly developing economy can make a large contribution to global warming. So China — with 1/4 the intensity but 5x the population and, what, 4x the economic growth rate — has already surpassed the US as the world’s largest emitter. I agree that India’s programs need to be wisely target, but like anyone else’s, they need to focus on both targets — both intensity and absolute emissions.

]]> By: russ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/24/india-one-of-least-carbon-intensive-countries-in-the-world-mckinsey-reports/comment-page-1/#comment-60656 russ Mon, 25 May 2009 16:35:07 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3013#comment-60656 In India industry is horribly dirty - lots of laws and little enforcement with even less effective enforcement! Carbon per capita would be low but carbon per GDP should not be unless agriculture skews the equation somehow. Possibly the lack of personal vehicles is involved? In India industry is horribly dirty – lots of laws and little enforcement with even less effective enforcement!

Carbon per capita would be low but carbon per GDP should not be unless agriculture skews the equation somehow. Possibly the lack of personal vehicles is involved?

]]> By: Dr Vandana Prakash http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/24/india-one-of-least-carbon-intensive-countries-in-the-world-mckinsey-reports/comment-page-1/#comment-60655 Dr Vandana Prakash Mon, 25 May 2009 16:12:12 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3013#comment-60655 Reuben, The numbers reported are the carbon intensity per GDP product. Energy Intensity x Carbon Intensity of Energy Supply = Carbon Intensity of the Economy, or as follows: (Energy/GDP) x (Carbon Emissions/Energy) = (Carbon Emissions/GDP) EIA has some data for 2002-2003 here: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/archive/gg04rpt/trends.html Thanks, Vandana. Reuben,

The numbers reported are the carbon intensity per GDP product.

Energy Intensity x Carbon Intensity of Energy Supply = Carbon Intensity of the Economy,

or as follows:

(Energy/GDP) x (Carbon Emissions/Energy) =
(Carbon Emissions/GDP)

EIA has some data for 2002-2003 here:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/archive/gg04rpt/trends.html

Thanks,
Vandana.

]]> By: Reuben http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/24/india-one-of-least-carbon-intensive-countries-in-the-world-mckinsey-reports/comment-page-1/#comment-60654 Reuben Mon, 25 May 2009 13:43:31 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3013#comment-60654 Actually this whole article is incorrect - the figures given are not carbon intensity per US$1000, but PER CAPITA CO2 emissions. Very, very different statistics. The carbon intensity of developing nations is typically much higher than developed nations. Actually this whole article is incorrect – the figures given are not carbon intensity per US$1000, but PER CAPITA CO2 emissions. Very, very different statistics. The carbon intensity of developing nations is typically much higher than developed nations.

]]> By: rahul http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/05/24/india-one-of-least-carbon-intensive-countries-in-the-world-mckinsey-reports/comment-page-1/#comment-60653 rahul Mon, 25 May 2009 04:09:42 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3013#comment-60653 I dont know anything about the "official" statistics etc on this but I live in a suburb of New Delhi (GUrgaon) and almost one of fournew infants born here is developing asthma. Almost all my acquaintances suffer from asthmatic or respiratory problems. I shudder to think of what coal miners, people living near nuclear facilities might be going thru. Is giving India a clean chit political? Tubercolosis is growing, dengue is rampant,malaria and Cholera strike heavy tolls each year and various types of cancers originate where?????Where do these official stats come from? I dont know anything about the “official” statistics etc on this but I live in a suburb of New Delhi (GUrgaon) and almost one of fournew infants born here is developing asthma. Almost all my acquaintances suffer from asthmatic or respiratory problems. I shudder to think of what coal miners, people living near nuclear facilities might be going thru. Is giving India a clean chit political? Tubercolosis is growing, dengue is rampant,malaria and Cholera strike heavy tolls each year and various types of cancers originate where?????Where do these official stats come from?

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