So in this figure, the blue columns reflects a few of the current commitments by nations, including Norway’s recently announced commitment to reduce their emissions by 40 percent below 1990 emissions levels. Indonesia has also committed to reduce their emissions by 26 percent below 1990, and they are confident that they “could cut emissions by as much as 41 percent” below 1990 if international aid is available. The UK has pledged a 20 percent commitment (30 percent if there is an international agreement). Russia and Japan have both committed to 25% below 1990.

The green column reflects the IPCC recommendation for how much wealthy nations must reduce their emissions by 2020 to maintain the 2 degree C limit in global temperature rise.

And finally, we have CA and the US. California has a state law committing to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (yes, that’s zero below 1990, which at the time was very forward looking). And the US currently has two bills in play (WRI has nice summaries of both bills), but neither really does much more than nudge us below 1990 levels.