China is for the first time emitting more carbon pollution per person than the EU, birthplace of the industrial revolution.
As thousands of people took to the streets to demand action on climate change, scientists found that China’s total C02 emissions were outstripping the EU and the US combined.
The biggest rally was in New York, where organisers were expecting 100,000 people to take part in what could be one of the biggest global climate protests staged. The marches come ahead of a UN summit in New York tomorrow, where 120 leaders, including US President Barack Obama, are due to set out their plans to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide that drive global warming.