In a chart comparing populations, GDP, and greenhouse gas emissions, the NYT used exchange rate measures of GDP rather than purchasing power parity measures. This gives a hugely distorted picture, since exchange rates can be arbitrary and fluctuate widely. The difference matters hugely in the case of China. The chart shows China's GDP as being equal to 6 percent of world GDP. On a purchasing power parity basis, China accounts for close to 20 percent of world GDP.
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