China Surpasses U.S. as World’s Leading CO2 Emitter, Will Media Notice?

Well, sports fans, it happened before most analysts and scientists have been predicting: China has officially surpassed the United States in CO2 emissions.

This, of course, was always a matter of when rather than if, but still raises a question as to when and if America’s media will share the news.

Regardless of the answer, England’s Guardian Unlimited reported Tuesday (emphasis added throughout):

China has overtaken the United States as the world's biggest producer of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, figures released today show.

The surprising announcement will increase anxiety about China's growing role in driving man-made global warming and will pile pressure onto world politicians to agree a new global agreement on climate change that includes the booming Chinese economy. China's emissions had not been expected to overtake those from the US, formerly the world's biggest polluter, for several years, although some reports predicted it could happen as early as next year.

The article continued:

But according to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, soaring demand for coal to generate electricity and a surge in cement production have helped to push China's recorded emissions for 2006 beyond those from the US already. It says China produced 6,200m tonnes of CO2 last year, compared with 5,800m tonnes from the US. Britain produced about 600m tonnes.

Assuming American media outlets do cover this tonight on the airwaves and in tomorrow’s papers, will there be any mention of the wisdom demonstrated by President Bush to not participate in any CO2 emissions reduction plan which does not include China?

Or, am I kidding myself?

Stay tuned.