The small state of Utah emits more carbon dioxide pollution - which helps create global warming - than some countries, such as Denmark, Portugal, the Philippines, Switzerland, Malaysia or Norway.
And Utah even emits more carbon dioxide per person than heavily industrialized Japan - meaning, unfortunately, that Utah is doing much more than its share to create global warming.That's according to a new study by Citizens Action, a consumer group founded by Ralph Nader. It used fuel consumption data from the government, plus conversion rates on how much carbon dioxide is produced by burning different fuels.
Carbon dioxide is the same gas breathed out by humans, but when produced in vast amounts by burning coal, oil or other fossil fuels helps create the "greenhouse effect." "We are releasing this report following President Bush's irresponsible actions at the U.N. Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and to stress the need for decisive action to reduce the threat of global warming," said Edwin S. Rothschild, Citizen Action energy policy director.
"Our nation's contribution to global warming is clearly the largest and most excessive in the world and can, with little commitment and investment be cut to 1990 levels by the year 2000," he said.
The report said the United States emitted 4.87 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide a year in 1989. The next largest producer was the former Soviet Union, with 3.8 billion metric tons.
Meanwhile, Utah produced 51 million metric tons of carbon dioxide that year.
That was more than the 49 million produced by Malaysia (the 43rd worst polluter among the world's nations), the 47 million produced by Denmark, the 46 million by Norway, the 41 million by the Philippines and Portugal and the 39 million by Switzerland.
Among the states in 1990, Utah emitted the 19th lowest amount of the pollutant. But on a per-person basis, Utah ranked 12th worst - emitting 23,153 pounds per person that year.
The study also noted, "Every state in the United States emits more carbon dioxide per capita than Japan."
The study suggests Utah's residents and businesses may not be using carbon dioxide producing fuels in the most efficient manner, because the state ranks eighth worst among the states in the amount of emissions per gross state product.
Nicholas Fedoruk, environmental policy director for a research arm of Citizen Action, said many things can be done to reduce emissions.
"Several states, for example, have encouraged the use of natural gas and other alternative fuels, while other localities have prohibited parking in downtown areas and built efficient light-rail systems to move commuters in and out of previously congested areas," he said.
Utah officials are fighting for funds in Congress to help build a light-rail system along the Wasatch Front.
The report also urges other steps including: providing tax benefits for employee use of mass transportation equal to benefits given for parking; creating a national rail program of high-speed links between major cities; and improving car fuel economy standards.
Fedoruk said, "Energy efficiency works. Reducing gasoline consumption just 10 percent by the year 2000 would not only cut carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent, but also reduce spending on gasoline by millions of dollars annually.
"Saving $50 to $100 a year for a family may not sound like much, but to Mother Earth it's a godsend," he said.