Mark Lynas, A so-called journalist for The Guardian claims that China wrecked the Copenhagen deal. To see why, let’s take a look at the emissions per capita:
It becomes abundantly obvious that citizens of China haven’t taken advantage of their share of the Earth’s resources nearly as much as most other countries, yet the US insists on capping the entire developing world at that level. What must happen is that (1) all countries must agree to a global emissions cut of 20% by 2020 and 15% for each additional decade, and divide that proportionately with the world’s population; (2) an open and international research organization to coordinate on policy prescription, technical innovation and civil education; and (3) agreement on concrete measurement devices to maintain records of progress–changes in average yearly temperatures, level of rainfall, forest acreage, and of course, emissions numbers.
Lynas further demonstrates his inhibited vision of the world. He continues, “I am certain that had the Chinese not been in the room, we would have left Copenhagen with a deal that had environmentalists popping champagne corks popping in every corner of the world.” What he ultimately meant was that his absolute confusion prevented him from seeing the issue from the other 4/5th of the world’s population.
Yes, environmentalists in the west, oblivious to the desire of people in developing nations to exercise the same rights to development as those in the developed nations, would have been celebrating; but certainly not in every corner of the world.
He claims to have been at the climate summit. We need someone more humanistic and rational to represent the developed world. After all, this planet belongs to no one–hence, no one is entitled to a larger proportion of its resources than anyone else, certainly not the developed nations that triggered the problem in the first place.
It frustrates me to know how biased, selfish and close-minded people can be. This is our world to share and save; let’s protect it together.