Save the Earth, buy less

China will over take the United States next year to become the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases. China and the United States together emit 40 percent of the planet’s carbon dioxide, according to the International Energy Agency. It is clear that leadership, not finger-pointing, is required from both of these nations if the global community is to deal successfully with the challenge of climate change.

China points to the fact that each American is responsible for generating six times more carbon dioxide than the average Chinese citizen, (24.5 tons to 3.9 tons, respectively). Washington, for its part, refuses to take action until China agrees to binding emissions reduction targets, while Beijing claims that the culprits are the developed nations, which have no right to deny economic growth to others. Apportioning blame is of little use. What is important is to resolve this climate stalemate.


The White House likes to remind our global neighbors that the United States is the only remaining superpower. But China is catching up quickly. The market-based reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping and cemented into place by each successive Chinese leader have led to 10 percent annual economic growth. Goldman Sachs projects that by 2027 the Chinese economy will be larger than that of the United States.

China’s growth, however, is powered by America’s demand for consumer products — and this growth is fueled by coal. These two factors lie at the heart of the political impasse. China and the United States each worry that if they agree to binding greenhouse-gas reduction targets, their respective house of economic cards will collapse. This unhealthy symbiotic relationship needs to be unraveled if any global post-Kyoto global warming agreement is to be reached.

SF Chronicle