I read a statistic from around 2002 that China consumed slightly more coal than the US, while polluting twice as much and generating half as much electricity.

I read a statistic from around 2002 that China consumed slightly more coal than the US, while polluting twice as much and generating half as much electricity. You needn't be an environmentalist to be concerned with such numbers. You also don't have to be an optimist to expect this to get better. More wealth will mean more efficiency and less pollution. More wealth dispersed throughout the population will mean greater demand by people to take action against already horrible air pollution, and other damage. But the pattern is familiar, and we only point out China because of its size. Production will move to poorer countries, and they will outsource their pollution generation just as we have.