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Greenhouse gas emissions
The deal does not commit any nation to emissions cuts beyond a general acknowledgment that global temperatures should be held along the lines agreed to by leading nations in July. There are no overall emissions targets for rich countries.
The already agreed-upon emissions cuts fall far short of action needed to avoid potentially dangerous effects of climate change. These cuts are to be made by 2020:
• U.S., a 17 percent reduction from 2005 levels (or 3-4 percent from 1990 levels).
• China, a cut of 40 to 45 percent below "business as usual," that is, judged against 2005 figures for energy used versus economic output.
• India, 20 to 25 percent cut from 2005 levels
• European Union, 20 percent cut from 1990, and possibly 30 percent.
• Japan, 25 percent cut from 1990.
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