India goes to Copenhagen
Summary: India wants wealthy nations to pay for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
As the world's fourth largest producer of CO2 emissions, India is crucial to any possible agreement in Copenhagen next month. Here's a look at how that nation's leaders see the international emissions debate.
India has positioned itself as spokesnation for many underdeveloped nations: the rich guys should pay first and pay most. Don't hold back India because you've been driving cars and burning tons of coal for decades. We in India have a right to our share of the economic pie.
This argument will be parroted in the U.S.Congress by those working to stop any energy and emission regulation law. See, they can say, if we clamp down on our pollutilon it will just give India another economic advantage in competing with our corporations and leach out even more U.S. jobs. Once the media have forgotten about the medical insurance issue, jobs and the lack of jobs in the U.S. will become the national obsession. So job-related arguments will be paramount for most of 2010, an election year as well.
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Talkback
See, it's all about wealth transfers.
Climate debt my ass. Nonsense.
If countries want more wealth, here's the recipe:
- get off your ass, and work;
- good governance, no corruption.
And stop blaming everything on the west.
It is futile to argue with Communist
taking your money and giving it away to
the people who are on welfare.
Class-warfare and he is successful since
the 15 Million who are NOT working are
crying about not having Oboma tucking them
in at their Ghetto!
Global Warming is total BS lies to control
how you live, eat and basically EVERYTHING
you do without.
Totally agree.
Of course
We have simply moved from mere physical objects to virtual money. As the current economy illustrates, most of the "money" is unreal. It's a matter of faith like so much of American culture.
--Harry Fuller
Which is - I agree - sad.
RE: India goes to Copenhagen
curb the greenhouse gases. The world tough should be
fair and look at the actual per capita emissions from
other countries. Well but that will never be the case
and all will be lost in the media hype created by the
promises by US and China. That is a smart move in
International politics rather then a real concern for
environment.
Few points...
I think current countrywise CO2 emission comparision is unfair. Can you compare CO2 emission of Chicago against a remote small town in Texas? Similarly comparing CO2 emissions of 1.2bn people cannot be compared against a small population. Today most of european countries are not in top list is because they are very small countries. For fair comparision whole europe should be considered as one nation.
But beyond country level arguments we have many questions to answer:
-How can we convince someone not to buy a car whose last 3 generations dreamed of buying one?
- How can you ask someone to give up air travel who never sat in aeroplane before and dreamed of it most of his life?
- How can we deny access to electricity for those who spent most of life without it?
- How can we deny access to clean water to those who currently travel 10km to fetch clean water during summer months?
As far as media hype of American jobs is concerned; I have not seen shread of evidence suggesting that India or China received unfair advantage due to cap on CO2 emissions in US. Because so far that cap is still on paper and unemployment is already real. Infact corbon emission cut will bring in more opportunity to sell clean technology to other countries. America has lots of innovation in this field; it is just matter of digging it out and marketing it around the world.
I believe this is first time US is coming under real challenging situation. But US population should not underestimate their country. Soon it will rediscover itself and live upto its status of superpower.
Some good points. In addition...
That being the case, I believe this is going to be a very difficult issue to deal with effectively on a world wide basis. The richer countries need to take the high road, lead by example and then use various means to persuade the rest of the world to follow.
There are of course business opportunities here, in the form of renewable energy technology, but future payoff is uncertain because lower oil prices, even for a relatively short time, can kill a renewable energy business and cut clean energy research funding. This is one important reason why governments need to be involved.
Finally, I think US consumers are often too selfish and lazy, evidenced in part by the obesity explosion. Driving your gas guzzler to the fast food restaurant to consume a close to 2000 calories meal, is not exactly the type of conduct we need in today's world. There is unfortunately little regard for excessive consumption if ANY kind.
"The richer countries need to take the high road, lead by example"
The fact that you have a belief in your head based on junk science, doesn't mean that others should be bothered by you.
Do what you want yourself, or stop being a hypocrite.
End of America
the communist Oboma. He is a ruler with all of
the luxuries of security, private jets, money
and all of the nice things.
The rest of the citizens or peasants can fend
for themselves and do without.
I hope the people enjoy the HIGH taxes and
destruction of jobs.
What's up with Harry Fuller? 8 out of the 20 blogs right now?
Can someone remove his gaia-pollution from ZDNet please?