Britain responsible for up to 15% of world's CO2 emissions - official

I blogged several weeks ago [ http://rupertsread.blogspot.com/2007/10/who-will-lead-on-combatting-dangerous.html ] on Britain's hidden dreadful record on CO2 emissions, including Britain's responsibility, indirectly, for much of the emissions from China, India etc. (through being their carbonemissions-heavy products, etc.). At the time, I had not picked up on the fact that Phil Woolas, Minister of Climate Change had in fact already admitted on 20^th September, in a speech, that things might be even slightly worse than I had claimed. Quoting now from Woolas: “we see that as much as 15% of world carbon emissions are a direct result of UK economic activity both at home and abroad. “

Full context:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/speeches/phil-woolas/pw070920.htm

‘Many people regard any action taken by the UK in decreasing carbon emissions as insignificant. Indeed, this is the case if we look arithmetically only at emissions within the UK. However it is important to look at the consequence of the UK’s environmental impact across the world. From this perspective we see that as much as 15% of world carbon emissions are a direct result of UK economic activity both at home and abroad.'

A sufficient response, I think, to those who try to allay fears that we in Britain have to actually take responsibility for our (huge) part in the huge problem of manmade climate change...