WWViews participants support the introduction of 2020 reduction targets for fast-growing economies such as Brazil, China, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Uruguay that have substantial economic income and/or high emissions. This support is equally strong (with one exception) among citizens from these countries themselves.

OBSERVATIONS

• 76% of the WWViews participants support year 2020 emission reductions of greenhouse gases beneath 1990 levels as a target for the fastgrowing economies (i.e. actual reductions). Another 21% support only the limitation of the growth in emissions compared to business-as-usual (i.e. limiting growth). See the explanatory graph.

• Half of all participants support the target of reducing emissions of fast-growing economies in proportion to their economic situation and level of emissions, whereas 27% feel that the targets for fast-growing economies should be the same as for Annex 1 countries.

• Two-thirds of participants from the growth economies themselves support actual emission reductions by 2020.

• As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the largest fast-growing economy, China is of particular interest. 45% of the Chinese participants support actual emission reductions in their own country, whereas a small majority (another 52%) support limitation of the growth of emissions as the target for growth economies. In contrast, the majority (72%) of participants from other fast-growing economies support actual emission reductions.

ASSESSMENTS

The strong support from WWViews participants for 2020 reduction targets for fast-growing economies is dramatically at odds with the ongoing negotiations, in which no demands are made for such commitments. The participating citizens wish for actual reductions, whereas political negotiations revolve around limiting the growth in emissions only, compared to business-as-usual. The WWViews participants thus give their COP15 negotiators a strong mandate for introducing tougher emission targets for fast-growing economies than are currently on the table.

The high level of willingness to take actions toward emission reduction by the citizens in fast-growing economies demonstrates a high level of self-responsibility. Although participants in China are the least inclined to introduce 2020 targets for fast-growing economies, nonetheless 45% wish to do so while another 52% are in favour of limiting the growth in emissions.

By acknowledging national variations in capacity to meet 2020 target, the WWViews results indicate clear support among the participating citizens for the principle of proportional responsibility.