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China has a far lower per capita carbon emissions rate than the US. Has a growing share of energy produced by green technology. Is the world leader in manufactu

China has a far lower per capita carbon emissions rate than the US. Has a growing share of energy produced by green technology. Is the world leader in manufacturing electric cars and using electric cars. Is the global leader in low cost solar panels and batteries among other green technology. Oh yeah, and a huge portion of their emissions go to making things that Americans consume. On top of all that, they have managed to stop growth in their carbon emissions and are on the cusp of reducing them. I don’t know how China could possibly be considered worse except that they historically used coal, and are rapidly transitioning away.

kortilla 3mo ago
The problem is that the earth doesn’t care about a per capita denominator.
- dghlsakjg 3mo ago
  When the per capita number applies to a billion people it sure makes a huge difference, or would it not matter to the earth if china doubled their per capita carbon numbers to be more like America? I'm not a climate scientist but I would bet my entire net worth it matters quite a bit if China doubles their carbon output per capita.
  - kortilla 3mo ago
    I don’t think you understand. It doesn’t matter if there exists a per capita that is higher. What warms the earth is total CO2. US emitting more per capita than China is not an excuse for China to emit more total and it’s definitely not an excuse to catch up on per capita. The only framework that makes sense in is one that allows global warming as long as we all do it equally.
- mrkeen 3mo ago
  Right, so if someone was in the US and didn't think they should take action (because of China), then the obvious reply is that they should take action on the basis of being part of US+China, whose population is far greater than either US or China.
- triceratops 3mo ago
  Then it doesn't matter if the US reduces emissions or China does. They all count. The US has more money to spend on reducing emissions. Ergo it makes sense for the US to go first.
  - kortilla 3mo ago
    There is no “go first”. You either care and aggressively cut and pressure the worst emitting countries in whatever way possible or you’re just accepting severe warming with one country taking a penalty.
    - triceratops 3mo ago
      > You either care and aggressively cut and pressure the worst emitting countries in whatever way possible Has the US done either of those things? Now that would've been a worthy use of tariffs.

kortilla 3mo ago

The problem is that the earth doesn’t care about a per capita denominator.

dghlsakjg 3mo ago
When the per capita number applies to a billion people it sure makes a huge difference, or would it not matter to the earth if china doubled their per capita carbon numbers to be more like America? I'm not a climate scientist but I would bet my entire net worth it matters quite a bit if China doubles their carbon output per capita.
- kortilla 3mo ago
  I don’t think you understand. It doesn’t matter if there exists a per capita that is higher. What warms the earth is total CO2. US emitting more per capita than China is not an excuse for China to emit more total and it’s definitely not an excuse to catch up on per capita. The only framework that makes sense in is one that allows global warming as long as we all do it equally.
mrkeen 3mo ago
Right, so if someone was in the US and didn't think they should take action (because of China), then the obvious reply is that they should take action on the basis of being part of US+China, whose population is far greater than either US or China.
triceratops 3mo ago
Then it doesn't matter if the US reduces emissions or China does. They all count. The US has more money to spend on reducing emissions. Ergo it makes sense for the US to go first.
- kortilla 3mo ago
  There is no “go first”. You either care and aggressively cut and pressure the worst emitting countries in whatever way possible or you’re just accepting severe warming with one country taking a penalty.
  - triceratops 3mo ago
    > You either care and aggressively cut and pressure the worst emitting countries in whatever way possible Has the US done either of those things? Now that would've been a worthy use of tariffs.