Comments on: A Rare Glimpse Inside China’s Power Plants http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/business/inside-chinas-powerplants/47 for environmentalists who don't take themselves too seriously Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:42:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mekhong Kurt http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/business/inside-chinas-powerplants/47/comment-page-1#comment-135240 Mekhong Kurt Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:22:08 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/?p=47#comment-135240 Absolutely -- but that ought not let Beijing off the hook. Chinese leaders often argue that Chinese shouldn't be penalized since on a per capita basis, Chinese pollute on a one-to-one basis much less than, say, the average American. That's true -- but there are many more Chinese than there are Americans. To be fair, China also is forging ahead in areas such as solar and wind power, in serious ways. But with a burgeoning population and increasing energy demands, the country faces an enormous battle (just like the rest of us). *Global* coordinated effort is required. And even if one doesn't believe in global warming, who wouldn't like cleaner skies (and water and earth)? I haven't been to Beijing since 2002 -- I lived there 1986-88 -- and the worsening of pollution since my previous visit in 1992 was stunning. China has to act -- again, with the rest of us. In concert, not making up excuses. (And tell that to Washington; I have, over and over in e-mails to my various representatives, federal agencies, and the White House.) Absolutely — but that ought not let Beijing off the hook. Chinese leaders often argue that Chinese shouldn’t be penalized since on a per capita basis, Chinese pollute on a one-to-one basis much less than, say, the average American. That’s true — but there are many more Chinese than there are Americans.

To be fair, China also is forging ahead in areas such as solar and wind power, in serious ways. But with a burgeoning population and increasing energy demands, the country faces an enormous battle (just like the rest of us).

*Global* coordinated effort is required.

And even if one doesn’t believe in global warming, who wouldn’t like cleaner skies (and water and earth)? I haven’t been to Beijing since 2002 — I lived there 1986-88 — and the worsening of pollution since my previous visit in 1992 was stunning.

China has to act — again, with the rest of us. In concert, not making up excuses. (And tell that to Washington; I have, over and over in e-mails to my various representatives, federal agencies, and the White House.)

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