Tim Flannery: 

China is leading the world towards this low emissions future now. They’ve committed to a reduction in emissions intensity of between 40% and 45%, which is incredibly ambitious.

Reality:

China’s emissions in 2010 were 8.15 billion tonnes, up from 7.46 billion tonnes the year before – a 9.3 per cent increase in 12 months.

The 694-million-tonne increase alone dwarfs all the carbon emissions that Britain produces in a year. China now accounts for 24.3 per cent of global carbon emissions and has taken over the role, held by America for decades, of the world’s biggest polluter.