Ideas on how the U.S. can address the growing impact of China and India on global warming. I certainly acknowledge that global warming is an international problem, but we have to do something before we can expect anyone else to (from Marginal Revolution).
I’ve no idea where this guy’s coming from (although, with characterizations such as “the good countries,” I’m weary too) but he does have a point when he says that the the west can’t attempt to solve this problem as if it were just a western problem (well, ok, he didn’t say that, but like what he said). The fact is, China and India both have huge untapped domestic markets, and as they industrialize and post industrialize, the worlds two largest countries will become even larger polluters. Additionally, he does rightly point out that both countries lack the central government muscle nescessary for education and enforcement. State infastructure is rickety at best and it’s unreasonable to ask a country to choose between economic development and environmentalism.
That said, yes, it’s probably hypocritical that the United States lecture Asia without taking tangible steps of its own towards clean, renewable and diverse energy sources. ALSO, I like that he points to the Chinese currency as a success story, since it’s lots of posturing on both sides and small, gradual changes. and that because China didn’t like imperialism, they’re so uncooperative that they won’t try to work with the west. and now I’m suddenly realizing that this comment is more than you’ve ever written in your blog, so I’m going to shut up now.
the thing is, it’s nothing new for us to comment more than’s written. i’ve done it on your lj (d), and on ben’s blog (and if you look at archives i think there should be long entries from when he was far away), and on tyler and ming mei’s blogs. sometimes.
and in other news, i didn’t break my foot. and the piano might actually be okay.
yay for being cryptic. (and, ben, i promise i’ll explain later, but it’s such a good story to tell in person.)