"The Economic Miracle of China" Is the pollution worth it?

[AndyF]

By then,
it will be too late.
like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

So why, exactly, doesn't the West simply cut emmisions down to Chinas present level. Problem solved..??? Drop usage to 5 tones per person.

Are YOU prepared to live at the same living standard as the current average Chinaman... no?  Well why do you expect them to...?

 

[whitelackington]

By then,
it will be too late.
like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

So why, exactly, doesn't the West simply cut emissions down to China's present level. Problem solved..??? Drop usage to 5 tones per person.

Are YOU prepared to live at the same living standard as the current average Chinaman... no?  Well why do you expect them to...?

The Chinese will be poisoning themselves & the rest of us into oblivion.
Their GDP is currently 8%
Every year they have a smaller area of agricultural land because of desertification &
poisoning brought about by their maniac struggle for "GROWTH"
Growth is what will annihilate a huge proportion of the worlds inhabitants, fairly soon,
IE in less than half a century.

 

[Hughie]

By then,
it will be too late.
like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

So why, exactly, doesn't the West simply cut emissions down to China's present level. Problem solved..??? Drop usage to 5 tones per person.

Are YOU prepared to live at the same living standard as the current average Chinaman... no?  Well why do you expect them to...?

The Chinese will be poisoning themselves & the rest of us into oblivion.
Their GDP is currently 8%
Every year they have a smaller area of agricultural land because of desertification &
poisoning brought about by their maniac struggle for "GROWTH"
Growth is what will annihilate a huge proportion of the worlds inhabitants, fairly soon,
IE in less than half a century.

Arguably, Mick, the Chinese could accuse the western world of doing the very same thing - and still doing the same thing.

Remember - it's western consumerism and materialism that's driving rising economies. Live with it, or dramatically change your lifestyle.

 

[whitelackington]

The U.K. Economy is smaller now than it was two years ago,
we now use less fossil fuel than we did two years ago.
We have not built a coal fired power station in a decade,
The Chinese are building more THAN TWO A WEEK.
We are lowering our lifestyle.
It is time The Chinese realized the awful harm their ludicrous rush for growth is having on the world.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/28/met-office-study-global-warming
According to scientists, a 4C rise over pre-industrial levels could threaten the water supply of half the world's population, wipe out up to half of animal and plant species, and swamp low coasts.

A 4C average would mask more severe local impacts: the Arctic and western and southern Africa could experience warming up to 10C, the Met Office report warns.

 

[gus horsley]

The U.K. Economy is smaller now than it was two years ago,
we now use less fossil fuel than we did two years ago.
We have not built a coal fired power station in a decade,
The Chinese are building more THAN TWO A WEEK.
We are lowering our lifestyle.
It is time The Chinese realized the awful harm their ludicrous rush for growth is having on the world.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/28/met-office-study-global-warming
According to scientists, a 4C rise over pre-industrial levels could threaten the water supply of half the world's population, wipe out up to half of animal and plant species, and swamp low coasts.

A 4C average would mask more severe local impacts: the Arctic and western and southern Africa could experience warming up to 10C, the Met Office report warns.

I'm aware of all these statistics and could produce some even more alarming ones if I wanted.  However, getting back to China, we in this country have to take a lot of the blame as many of our UK companies have their products manufactured in China. Go and have a look at where the gadgets in your home are made. So, Mick, are you prepared in future to not buy any products manufactured in China and, more importantly, not grumble when those products turn out to be a whole lot more expensive when they're manufactured here in the UK?

 

[kay]

Whitelackington, the Chinese seem actually to have listened to you about the need to curb population growth, so lay off them for a while.

Instead, take a wander round to your local council 'recycling' centre and have a look at how many perfectly serviceable items are going into landfill simply because we all want the newer and shinier model. Then wander around your town centre in the evening and consider how much electricity is being wasted lighting shops and buildings which are empty and powering ever larger and more garish advertising displays. Look up the statistics on the average length of car journeys. And then start thinking about how much we could reduce our emissions without even lowering our standard of living.

 

[ChrisJC]

Whitelackington, the Chinese seem actually to have listened to you about the need to curb population growth, so lay off them for a while.

Instead, take a wander round to your local council 'recycling' centre and have a look at how many perfectly serviceable items are going into landfill simply because we all want the newer and shinier model. Then wander around your town centre in the evening and consider how much electricity is being wasted lighting shops and buildings which are empty and powering ever larger and more garish advertising displays. Look up the statistics on the average length of car journeys. And then start thinking about how much we could reduce our emissions without even lowering our standard of living.

It is points such as these raised by Kay that make me realise that we are doomed. Might as well enjoy life whilst you can...

Chris.

 

[whitelackington]

Whitelackington, the Chinese seem actually to have listened to you about the need to curb population growth, so lay off them for a while.

Instead, take a wander round to your local council 'recycling' centre and have a look at how many perfectly serviceable items are going into landfill simply because we all want the newer and shinier model. Then wander around your town centre in the evening and consider how much electricity is being wasted lighting shops and buildings which are empty and powering ever larger and more garish advertising displays. Look up the statistics on the average length of car journeys. And then start thinking about how much we could reduce our emissions without even lowering our standard of living.

You have made an excellant contribution Kay.
Growth is the problem.
sustainability is the solution.

 

[gus horsley]

Sustainable growth is the solution.

 

[ChrisJC]

Sustainable growth is the solution.

Does it exist?, or is that an ironic oxymoron?

Chris.

 

[whitelackington]

By then,
it will be too late.
like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

So why, exactly, doesn't the West simply cut emmisions down to Chinas present level. Problem solved..??? Drop usage to 5 tones per person.

Are YOU prepared to live at the same living standard as the current average Chinaman... no?  Well why do you expect them to...?

"China to blame for failure of Copenhagen climate deal" says Ed Miliband
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6964106.ece
In the most direct attack on the country to date,
the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
accused China of hijacking the summit.  :thumbsdown: