Which countries mean it when they say they'll invest in a sustainable future?

HSBC Climate Change has published an interesting report on the 'Green New Deal,' looking at how much of the financial stimulus package for different countries is 'green'. My friends over at REEGLE have created some helpful graphs on their blog.

It makes for some interesting comparisons. After Obama announced his particular spending spree I remember saying to a friend I wasn't sure about his green credentials because he didn't seem to be spending enough on sustainable development. Turns out to be 12%, whereas China is spending 38%, and South Korea 81%. It's not bad, though, back in the UK, dear old Gordon thinks the future of the planet is only worth a piffling 7%.

If you forget the percentages and look at the raw figures, some of them seem immense. The US is spending 112.3 billion dollars. China is spending even more: 221 bn US dollars. But let's put that in context: what was that number that got me so riled up in my last post? Oh yeah, the oil industry needs to spend "$25 trillion over the next 20 years" on "difficult oil exploration projects." Over $1 trillion a year. More than the combined figure for 'green' investment in the economic stimulus packages of the world's major countries in exceptionally trying circumstances - the 'perfect storm' recession; the worst economic climate for 60 years - every year for the next 20 years!