Although the United States is the favorite punching pag of the greenies worldwide, reality is beginning to be recognized: that our market—driven system not only makes us wealthier than the envious Euro—Canadian carpers, we are actually doing better than they are in reducing so—called greenhouse gases, despite having not ratified the Kyoto Protocols. Foreign Policy Magazine reports:
When it comes to emitting greenhouse gases, the United States is usually seen as the bad guy, content to belch out fumes at its pleasure. But reports released in late November show that U.S. emissions have fallen for the first time in more than a decade. Between 2000 and 2003, U.S. emissions fell by 0.8 percent. By contrast, global goody—two—shoes Canada saw a 24.2 percent increase in 2003 from its 1990 levels. Even the sanctimonious Europeans are set to miss their Kyoto targets by 6.4 percent. Uncle Sam's emissions dropped partly because U.S. firms introduced clean coal technologies and reduced their methane emissions. So, is the United States turning into the Green Giant? Hardly. The most important reason for its drop in emissions was the migration of heavy manufacturing to industrializing countries such as China, the world's second—biggest emitter.
The bien pensants who fly around to international conferences at five star hgotels decided, in their wisdom, that pollution from India and China doesn't matter. Those nations are exempt from the Kyoto limitations.
So we have solved the problem.
Hat tip: Brian Schwarz
Thomas Lifson 12 14 05
Share