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Barometer | 21 May 2011

This week's Barometer

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Alexander Larman

What happened to the Rishi Sunak I knew at school?

Jeanne Calment, woman, d. 1997. Age at death: 122

Hanako, coi fish, d. 1977. Age at death: 226

Adwaila Aldabra, tortoise, d. 2006. Age at death: 255

Unamed quahog clam, d. 2007. Age at death: 405–410

An unnamed Chinahyra antarctica sponge was still going strong in 2010, when its age was estimated at 1550.

Aide memoire

Liam Fox has objected to the government’s pledge to donate 0.7 per cent of gross national income (GNI) to aid projects. The idea that rich countries should give this amount dates back to a 1970 UN resolution. These were the amounts given in 2009:

Sweden      1.12%
Norway       1.06%
UK              0.52%
France        0.46%
Germany     0.35%
Canada       0.3%
US              0.2%

Source: UNstats

Emission creep

The government promises to cut Britain’s carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2027. There are two ways to measure a country’s carbon emissions: the total emissions that occur in the country, and the total created worldwide to fuel consumption there.

    — % change 1990-2006 —

Consumption               Production

+30               UK                 -3
+43              USA              +17
+110           China             +168
+23           Germany          -13
+45            France             +6

Source: Policy Exchange

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