Emissions Per Person - Not Per Nation

Who spews more CO2 into the air, USA or China? The dubious honour of being #1 is now in debate. At 23% of the world’s CO2 production EACH, it doesn’t really matter who’s #1, as the earth can not handle this continued level of CO2 production. Add India into the picture and you have over 50% of all man-made CO2 production via these 3 countries.

There is no question, CO2 production levels must be reduced. But how do we allocate this “resource” (CO2). Most articles on CO2 and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) list the production “per country”. Is this fair? If we support the idea that all people are created equal, then we must look at CO2 production on a per person basis. A person living in the USA, Europe, China, India or Russia.. each has the same “right” to the resources of the planet, including clean air to breath and a comfortable standard of living.

Looking at CO2 production “per person”, puts the USA far ahead of the rest of the world. Yes the people of China and India are now producing huge, unsupportable levels of CO2. But at 2.4 BILLION people, do they not have the “right” to this current production level - to this current “Standard of Living” that is still 5 times below the standard of living for the average American.

Something must be done and soon. But we must look at our own backyard first. It’s unlikely that the developed nations will ever reduce their standard of living to equal the remaining people of the world. We must however, start the equalization process. Technology can help us reduce our footprint, but can not get us there on it’s own. We must reduce our consumption!

Your thoughts…

 

 

 

 

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Filed under: Climate Change