it is not my responsibility to bring Mr Wong out of poverty.When...

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BenGrahamReborn

12,778 Posts.

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30/10/19

12:15

Post #: 41143864
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Originally posted by Penny Pincher: ↑

I am not disputing or disagreeing with any of your numbers madamswer, but let's look at this from a slightly different angle.

Let's say an average family in the developed world lives in a 2-4 bedroom house/apartment, drives one/two cars, owns a washing machine, fridge/freezer, TV, computer, smartphone, electric/gas stove, perhaps even a coffee machine, kettle, etc. and goes on an overseas holiday every "x" years.

In contrast, the average person in the developing world, might until recently have lived in a primitive accommodation in a rural area, but now -seeking a better life for his/her children - found a job in one of the big cities.

In practical terms, if this person from the developing nation buys an apartment, a motorbike, or a fridge/freezer, their emissions will skyrocket compared to when they lived a primitive life on the land. Hence the massive increase in emissions in the developing world.

The way I see things, the main crime of the impoverished people of the developing world is that they aspire to the lifestyle of their developed nation cousins - "us". More so since the Internet has allowed even some of the poorest to see what life in a developed nation looks like.

The reason why the developed world better make a move on getting to zero emissions is not that this will automatically lead to overall zero global emissions - as you numbers quite correctly illustrate. Rather, by the developed world showing that zero emissions are indeed possible - while hopefully maintaining a more or less comfortable lifestyle that it is worth aspiring to - change the goal of the impoverished developing nation citizen.

While in many ways the industrial revolution triggered man-made climate change, technological advancement can assist in reducing man-made emissions. Rather than analysing the climate change predicament via an "us vs them" lens.

We need to start thinking in terms of what strategies have the best chance of ensuring the survival of the species. This is likely to become one of the biggest challenges of mankind. Searching for numerical constructs that excuse us from tackling the problem is not going to be the solution.

imho

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it is not my responsibility to bring Mr Wong out of poverty.
When he gets there, he will kill me anyway.
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