China’s hot air
China now leads the world in greenhouse gases, emitting more than any other country in the world. But, believe it or not, many Chinese consider that the fault of developed nations like the United States.
How so? Much of China’s economic growth goes to make goods shipped to advanced markets in Japan, Europe and, of course, the United States.
China has its own Greenpeace organization to address the issue, and this is what leader Yang Ailun told the Associated Press: “All the West has done is export a great slice of its carbon footprint to China and make China the world’s factory. This trend has kept the price of projects in the West down, but led to climate disaster in the long term.”
There are some unemployed and underemployed American workers who would gladly take some of that carbon footprint back. China is learning what happens when business’ race to the bottom leads to your front door ó you wind up with a mess. Eventually China will wise up and establish regulations to end the exploitation of its environment and maybe even its workers. Then doing business there won’t be so cheap. Next stop: Africa.