China - Coal-based super-power

[marchesarosa]

Are you aware that the TOTAL annual CO2 emissions of the UK are only equal to three months’ of the GROWTH in CO2 emissions that are taking place continuously NOW in China?

Helps you get things in proportion, doesn’t it? Our 2008 Climate Change Act mandates a cut of 80% from 1990 emissions levels by 2050. (Gulp - How??)

I just came across this very interesting talk on video given by Roger Pielke jr at the 8th Environmental Policy Conference of the Washington Policy Center last week in Seattle.

rogerpielkejr.blogsp...

Roger devotes lot of his speech to the UK's energy position.
Towards the end he brings in China's situation which is very relevant to our previous discussion here. It might help clarify the clear confusion of some of the participants here.

Please watch it. Roger’s talk begins 17 minutes in. You can adjust the start time by clicking on the inverted T logo on the control panel.

It's a fascinating approach. Roger is by no means a climate sceptic or denier. He is an environmental economist.

[marchesarosa]

So long as population grows CO2 emissions will grow for the foreseeable future. That's because we all need stuff made from fossil fuels and electricity generated by fossil fuels. And all your children will want all the stuff you have, if not MORE. Especially the folks in the Third World will want and DESERVE more and it's not for the worried well of the West to deny them.

[marchesarosa]

Here was the same subject discussed on the bbc - all the usual suspects.

www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbradio4/NF2766778?thread=7639904&skip=0