A New World Order

Originally Posted by classicman

The beauty of statistics - you get to see what you want.

I wouldnt be surprised if China surpassed the US in 2006...but I dont think any official stats to that effect are available yet.

So we are now probably number two...and both the US and China are millions of metric tons above any other country....which IMO means we both should be taking the lead on reducing emissions, but as a US citizen, I cant have much impact on China (well, maybe boycott "made in china" products)

The per capita emissions is interesting...US - #10, China - #91...but not as relevant to me, particularly since the top nine countries are so small, their impact is neglible.

I'm more concerned about total metric tons and what we can do to lower ours....not because of the still debatable impact on climate change, but because IMO, its good public policy to lower greenhouse gas emissions in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner.

Much like the environmental programs of the 70s - clean water act, safe drinking water act, solid waste disposal act, toxic materials disposal act, and clean air act (which Bush rolled back to some extent)....,all were beneficial and despite all the industry dire warnings at the time, there were little or no adverse economic impacts...and in fact, they stimulated the development of cleaner technologies.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

...which IMO means we both should be taking the lead on reducing emissions...

Not if it costs us billions while China can continue to chug along and build a new coal fired plant each week with no controls.

[sugarpop]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Not if it costs us billions while China can continue to chug along and build a new coal fired plant each week with no controls.

Oh, so because they aren't willing to clean up their act, we shouldn't do it either? That is just dumb.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by sugarpop

Oh, so because they aren't willing to clean up their act, we shouldn't do it either? That is just dumb.

No, because it will continue to place a massive economic burden to make the changes while China and India have no controls or requirements and they can grow without the same cost. It is a great plan, if you are China and India. For the US, not so much.

[tw]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Not if it costs us billions while China can continue to chug along and build a new coal fired plant each week with no controls.

Maybe you forget which nation embarrassed the United States by advocating all nations (including themselves) conform to principles in the Koyoto Treaty? China. TheMercenary forgot to mention that major embarrassment when the US was the only nation in that international conference opposed to addressing global warming.

Well the days when America operates with contempt for the world is (hopefully) over.