WE ARE definitely our own worst critics in this country. Listening to environmentalists, for instance, you could easily get the impression that we are the main “dirty men” of Europe, if not the world. In contrast, countries like Denmark, particularly because of their stance in banning HFCs, are held up as paragons of virtue in “green” terms.
Things may not be exactly as they seem, however, particularly if the statistics I stumbled across the other day are anything to go by. The NationMaster.com website offers a vast range of statistical information taken from such sources as the UN, and OECD.
Predictably, the largest emitter of CO2 in the world is the USA, followed by China, Russia, Japan, India and Germany, with the UK coming in in seventh place. Denmark is way down at 50th.
However, take a look at the CO2 emission figures, based purely on energy consumption per head of population and the results are somewhat different. Top of the tree is, again, the USA at 20tonnes/capita/year, just ahead of.....(wait for it).... Luxembourg! Yes, Luxembourg that other HFC-banning country. The UK is down at no13, producing, per head of population, only just over half what is produced by Luxembourg. And who is above the UK? – well that would be such countries with “green” credentials as Denmark at no9, Germany at no10 and The Netherlands at no8.
And it’s not just in terms of CO2 emissions that some of these supposedly “green” countries fall down. You would imagine that the USA would also lead the table for the country producing the greatest amount of waste per year. But no, top of the tree is, again, our old friend Denmark, producing 560kg/person/yr, admittedly based on year 2000 figures. The Netherlands is second with 530kg/yr, the UK third and the USA, surprisingly, fourth with 460kg/yr.
And, despite polluting the world at every available opportunity how long can we confidently expect to live? According to the statistics, the average Brit will live for 78.16 years, placing him 36th in the world. Hanging on for approximately 8 hours and 45 mins longer is your average Austrian but your average Dane will already have been dead for over a year before you eventually pop your clogs.
And the best place to live for longevity? The tiny principality of Andorra. Not only is your average Andorran relatively safe from rising sea levels, landlocked as he is within the Pyrenees, but he can also expect to live to the grand old age of 831⁄2.
Neil Everitt
Editor