Climate change: The big emitters
The future of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change is largely in the hands of the world's biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. BBC News Online looks at how much they emit, what are they doing about it and where they stand on Kyoto.

US
The US emits more, absolutely and per head, than any other country - although it also produces more wealth. When Kyoto was agreed, the US committed to reducing its emissions by 6%. But since then it has pulled out of the agreement and its carbon dioxide emissions have increased to 16% above 1990 levels.
It has signed the protocol but repudiated it. For the agreement to become a legally binding treaty, it must be ratified by countries responsible for a total of at least 55% of the 1990 emissions reported by Annex I countries - the group of rich countries and emerging economies which made commitments to reduce their emissions under Kyoto.
As the US accounted for 36.1% of those emissions, this 55% target is much harder to achieve without its participation.
President Bush said in March 2001 that the US would not ratify Kyoto, because he thought it could damage the US economy and because it did not yet require developing countries to cut their emissions. His domestic and foreign critics think the US will lose out economically by staying aloof.
European Union
All 15 European Union states ratified the Kyoto deal in May 2002. The protocol's most enthusiastic supporter, the EU has pressured countries such as Russia, Japan and Canada to ratify Kyoto in the hope that the critical threshold of commitment will be obtained without the US.
The EU has continually argued for a rigorous application of Kyoto, wanting to limit the use of so-called flexibility mechanisms which allow countries to partially meet their emissions reduction targets by paying for improvements in other countries.
The EU has also opposed widespread use of forests and other carbon "sinks" to absorb pollution - but gave substantial ground on the issue at talks in Bonn in 2001.
However, despite its tough stance on Kyoto, the EU is some way off its own target, with greenhouse gas emissions rising 1% in 2001.
China
China is not an Annex I country - as a developing country it is not yet required to reduce its emissions. But it is reported to have cut its emissions of carbon dioxide by 17% since the mid-1990s. In the same period, its economy has grown by one-third.
Accounting for a fifth of the world's population and developing fast, China could soon emit enough to dwarf any reductions agreed by the Annex I countries.
But its leaders recognise that climate change could devastate their society.
China ratified the protocol in 2002 and encourages Kyoto's supporters to believe that the deal is already helping to make a difference.
Russia
Russia is in the critical position of being the country whose ratification would provide enough support for the Kyoto protocol to enter into force. It said in 2002 that it planned to ratify the treaty, but there has been continued uncertainty about when and whether it will do so.
Russia is listed in Annex I and has committed to cutting emissions. But its economy has shrunk so drastically since 1990 that industrial activity has dropped, leaving emissions reduced by about 40% and well below the level allowed under Kyoto.
In the short-term, Russia stands to gain billions of dollars through emissions trading - selling its unused emissions entitlement to developed countries which want to emit more than the protocol allows them to.
It says the money would be used for energy efficiency projects. Ratifying the protocol and committing to keep emissions low could, however, bring Russia economic costs in the longer term.
Japan
A major world economic power, Japan is a leading Annex I member of Kyoto, committed to cutting emissions. It was responsible for 8.5% of emissions in 1990 and its support for the agreement is critical in the absence of US participation.
Although previously reluctant to ratify the protocol unless the US also committed, Japan ratified it in June 2002.
Japan feels an attachment to the protocol, which is named after the Japanese city where it was concluded.
The country also recognises that its economy could benefit from the agreement, as Japanese companies could capture markets for new, clean technology.
India
Developing countries like India are not listed in Kyoto's Annex I country list, and they are not obliged to make any cuts in greenhouse emissions yet. But as they raise living standards their emissions will obviously increase - India's have risen by more than 52% since 1990.
Under Kyoto, developing countries will have to accept reduction targets in a few years' time. The protocol's architects say it is fair to allow them a grace period, because the problem has been caused by the industrialised countries. But India, with more than one billion people, will soon be a major emitter of greenhouse gases. It ratified the protocol in August 2002.
The future of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change is largely in the hands of the world's biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. BBC News Online looks at how much they emit, what are they doing about it and where they stand on Kyoto.

US
The US emits more, absolutely and per head, than any other country - although it also produces more wealth. When Kyoto was agreed, the US committed to reducing its emissions by 6%. But since then it has pulled out of the agreement and its carbon dioxide emissions have increased to 16% above 1990 levels.
It has signed the protocol but repudiated it. For the agreement to become a legally binding treaty, it must be ratified by countries responsible for a total of at least 55% of the 1990 emissions reported by Annex I countries - the group of rich countries and emerging economies which made commitments to reduce their emissions under Kyoto.
As the US accounted for 36.1% of those emissions, this 55% target is much harder to achieve without its participation.
President Bush said in March 2001 that the US would not ratify Kyoto, because he thought it could damage the US economy and because it did not yet require developing countries to cut their emissions. His domestic and foreign critics think the US will lose out economically by staying aloof.
European Union
All 15 European Union states ratified the Kyoto deal in May 2002. The protocol's most enthusiastic supporter, the EU has pressured countries such as Russia, Japan and Canada to ratify Kyoto in the hope that the critical threshold of commitment will be obtained without the US.
The EU has continually argued for a rigorous application of Kyoto, wanting to limit the use of so-called flexibility mechanisms which allow countries to partially meet their emissions reduction targets by paying for improvements in other countries.
The EU has also opposed widespread use of forests and other carbon "sinks" to absorb pollution - but gave substantial ground on the issue at talks in Bonn in 2001.
However, despite its tough stance on Kyoto, the EU is some way off its own target, with greenhouse gas emissions rising 1% in 2001.
China
China is not an Annex I country - as a developing country it is not yet required to reduce its emissions. But it is reported to have cut its emissions of carbon dioxide by 17% since the mid-1990s. In the same period, its economy has grown by one-third.
Accounting for a fifth of the world's population and developing fast, China could soon emit enough to dwarf any reductions agreed by the Annex I countries.
But its leaders recognise that climate change could devastate their society.
China ratified the protocol in 2002 and encourages Kyoto's supporters to believe that the deal is already helping to make a difference.
Russia
Russia is in the critical position of being the country whose ratification would provide enough support for the Kyoto protocol to enter into force. It said in 2002 that it planned to ratify the treaty, but there has been continued uncertainty about when and whether it will do so.
Russia is listed in Annex I and has committed to cutting emissions. But its economy has shrunk so drastically since 1990 that industrial activity has dropped, leaving emissions reduced by about 40% and well below the level allowed under Kyoto.
In the short-term, Russia stands to gain billions of dollars through emissions trading - selling its unused emissions entitlement to developed countries which want to emit more than the protocol allows them to.
It says the money would be used for energy efficiency projects. Ratifying the protocol and committing to keep emissions low could, however, bring Russia economic costs in the longer term.
Japan
A major world economic power, Japan is a leading Annex I member of Kyoto, committed to cutting emissions. It was responsible for 8.5% of emissions in 1990 and its support for the agreement is critical in the absence of US participation.
Although previously reluctant to ratify the protocol unless the US also committed, Japan ratified it in June 2002.
Japan feels an attachment to the protocol, which is named after the Japanese city where it was concluded.
The country also recognises that its economy could benefit from the agreement, as Japanese companies could capture markets for new, clean technology.
India
Developing countries like India are not listed in Kyoto's Annex I country list, and they are not obliged to make any cuts in greenhouse emissions yet. But as they raise living standards their emissions will obviously increase - India's have risen by more than 52% since 1990.
Under Kyoto, developing countries will have to accept reduction targets in a few years' time. The protocol's architects say it is fair to allow them a grace period, because the problem has been caused by the industrialised countries. But India, with more than one billion people, will soon be a major emitter of greenhouse gases. It ratified the protocol in August 2002.
