next made-in-China product: global warming?

[Ayatollah So]

If current trends continue, China will become the leading CO2 emitter in under a decade (source). Edit: or has it already happened. In light of China's remarkable ability to do its own thing despite international pressure, what does this say about the future of CO2 emissions?

I submit the following poll. In your opinion, the odds of substantial reduction in total global CO2 emissions over the next few decades is:

 

[Mise]

Your poll options pwnt me.

But I voted the 2nd one.

 

[skadistic]

In the coming years 1/3 of the pollution in California's air will be produced in China and float thousands of miles. Thats not going to change and neither will China's 'I don't care' attitude.

 

[JohnRM]

If current trends continue, China will become the leading CO2 emitter in under a decade (source). Edit: or has it already happened. In light of China's remarkable ability to do its own thing despite international pressure, what does this say about the future of CO2 emissions?

I submit the following poll. In your opinion, the odds of substantial reduction in total global CO2 emissions over the next few decades is:

Don't worry, the United States will still be the CO2/Global Warming bad guy, even when China overtakes us, cause, as Kyoto pointed out, its okay if its China or India. Hell, even if the EU overtook us, we'd still be the bad guys.

 

[Gaius Octavius]

I saw on a CBS program that China would get flooded in the event of a catastrophic global warming situation, due to rising sea levels. That ought to cap their emissions a bit. (Of course, this would occur over decades.)

BTW, excellent avatar, Ayatollah.

 

[Tycoon101]

And CO2 is proven to be related to Global Warming how? A "consensus" of scientists and a couple of graphs with poorly patched up data that doesn't match barely seems like evidence.

I still think that the "Methane-Moose" of Norway would cause more Global Warming than any human country could.

 

[Tee Kay]

Ironically if any large country is to be seriously hit by global warming it is China. Climate change will likely mean China drying up, with coastal cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou under water. Anyway, China is working hard to build alternative energy (there are government subsidies for companies building dams, wind farms and solar farms) so it is not entirely fair to accuse China of being a senseless contributor to climate change.

 

[El_Machinae]

The Islamic Creationists borrowed heavily from the YEC groups while creating their strawmen.

I wonder if Chinese industry will borrow from our industries in denying Global Warming?

 

[Perfection]

Chinese environmental issues are certainly beginning to crop up. While I can't see the growth ending in the next few years, I think it's quite possible for that trend to reverse in the upcoming decades with new technologies.

 

[El_Machinae]

Of course, cohesive and non-hypocritical pressure would be a big help, I'm sure.

 

[Perfection]

Well also internal pressure to improve air quality too.

It does show the importance though of making clean technologies not only affordable in western nations (which is still a challenge) but in the developing world too.

 

[MadScotsMan]

I've heard they have coal mine fires that have been going on for years....meh, I hope I'm dead when china blows us up anyway

 

[stormbind]

Don't worry, others will be credited too

Global Warming invented in 18th Century, UK.
Global Warming design & marketting outlined in 20th Century, USA.
Global Warming maket dominance achieved in 21st Century, China.

 

[Ayatollah So]

I saw on a CBS program that China would get flooded in the event of a catastrophic global warming situation, due to rising sea levels. That ought to cap their emissions a bit. (Of course, this would occur over decades.)

Wow, that's a brutal negative-feedback loop for you

It does show the importance though of making clean technologies not only affordable in western nations (which is still a challenge) but in the developing world too.

That's certainly a good idea. The sad part is that to make a dramatic change, these clean technologies will probably have to become as cheap as coal. That's an extremely ambitious target.

I certainly favor technological and political changes that will help mitigate the CO2 problem, but I think we need to face the fact that we're not going to see tremendous progress on that front. So, what do we do instead? Try to do something else to the climate to partially offset the warming? Or learn to stop worrying and love the heat?

 

[El_Machinae]

A fairly obvious method would be to get the economies to grow faster (and grow wealth faster) than the ecological devastation. That way, more people can survive the damages (financially)

 

[JollyRoger]

When will they become the per capita leader?

 

[wicshade]

methane gas is a bigger factor then Co2 in global warming.

Usa is ranked #1in potential renewable energy while China is ranked #2. But most of the cost effecient renewable energy has already been tapped,(there are not many more rivers that can be damed)

China is only an industrail power because of cheap power, China has invested in so many coal mines/reserves, If china switched to green energy most of thier industries would belly up(IMO).

 

[FriendlyFire]

Co2 we call it life !

 

[Lotus49]

And CO2 is proven to be related to Global Warming how?

A visit to the planet Venus would make you retract such a question.

 

[George2816]

If current trends continue, China will become the leading CO2 emitter in under a decade (source). Edit: or has it already happened. In light of China's remarkable ability to do its own thing despite international pressure, what does this say about the future of CO2 emissions?

I submit the following poll. In your opinion, the odds of substantial reduction in total global CO2 emissions over the next few decades is:

One volcanic eruption emits more C02 then the world gives out in one year. What are we going to do plug up the volcanes and make sure they never erupt?