Chinese Pollution

To say that I've been skeptical of the global-warming thesis would be an understatement.  I think it's utter nonsense, and my views on the topic can be found in my piece The Temperature Also Rises.

Of course, questioning climate-change orthodoxy will probably get me branded a heretic, but its inquisitors had better hope those in my camp are right.  Why?  The answer is one word: China.

China uses coal to satisfy its energy needs, and, staggeringly, it is opening another huge coal-burning power plant every week to 10 days. That's right, one about every week.  And India, with the world's second largest population, is right behind China in the production of coal-fired plants.

My point here is that western leaders can pontificate about climate change all they wish, they can wax sentimental about the environment, but do you really think China cares?  Do you suppose she is going to care? China makes no bones about her aim to supplant us as the "hegemon," meaning, the world's superpower; she is trying to outstrip us technologically, militarily and economically. 

And she plays for keeps.

China's regime won't be deterred from these goals, whether we like it or not.  As pointed out in this article, China already uses more coal than the United States (but we are the big bad polluters, right?), the European Union and Japan combined. 

And we are already feeling the effects of Chinese industrialization. Air currents carry their pollution to our west coast, and air filters in parts of California are the blackest they have ever been.  This fact, by the way, must please many in the Chinese government to no end.  I wouldn't be surprised if they relish the thought of destroying their great adversary's air quality.  Call it "eco-warfare."

Anyway, if you environmentalists really want to accomplish something beyond scoring political points, go to China.  Until you get the Asians under your tent, your efforts will amount to just spitting into the CO2.