| in my view, the growing issue of growth in emissions output is not inextricably linked to economic growth. it is linked, but there are options to decouple them.
to most conservatives, that bit sounds good. here comes the painful bit.
the US - as well as most other western countries to lesser and varying degrees - has set the standard for tearing up the earth with wanton consumption of energy, emissions and waste output.
this worked OK while everyone else was relatively poor, but now those damned chinese want to get in on the act! suddenly we are realising there just ain't enough to go around....
one of two things will happen over the coming decades:
1. we will work out that there is more scope to tear up the earth than was believed during the whole 'greenhouse years' saga
2. things will get worse, and the need for environmental conservation will only increase.
this is basically the crux of the argument between greenies and industrialists. now i will point the finger of blame at both sides:
1. industrialists (conservatives) are living in denial, scientific opinion is of a virtual consensus on that.
2. greenies (liberals) have largely thrown their weight behind the Kyoto treaty. while a step forward from a purely scientific perspective, it is highly politicised and won't win support from the US and other western countries.
we need a better solution. |