Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Not Free To Desist

 By now it's become a familiar refrain: the U.S. shouldn't make any serious commitments to address global warming until China gets on board.  This rhetoric nearly sabotaged the Bali Climate Change Conference last month. In the end, the U.S. succeeded at watering down the final agreement, convincing the European nations to forego a commitment from the developed world for concrete emissions reductions in favor of an agreement that simply talks about cuts instead. [For more on our role as an international bully, see my December 26 post].

 I understand the instinct that drives this position. After all, the 2008 Climate Change Performance Index  ranks China near the bottom in a survey of 56 nations.  China contributes more than 15% of the world's CO2 emissions – and it is slated to overtake the U.S. as the single largest emitter.  Yet, for all of our talk about China, the U.S. fares much worse in the Performance Index.  In fact, China is ranked 40th (out of 56 nations).  The United States is ranked 55, “out -performed” by only Saudi Arabia.  The Performance Index credits China’s recent advancements on climate change, improving its rankings from previous years because of “China’s serious efforts to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energies as well as the recognizable turnaround in national climate and environmental policy within the last two years.”  The Worldwatch Institute examines these efforts in great detail in its recent report (“Powering China’s Development: The Role of Renewable Energy”).

There is no doubt that we won't be able to solve the climate crisis without China's cooperation. But the United States cannot wait for the Chinese to take action. It turns out, the Jewish tradition has something to say about this.  Pirkei Avot teaches: "It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task. Yet, you are not free to desist from it." These words ring true today: a China-less response will not be the final answer to climate change, but that doesn't absolve us of our responsibilities.
Posted by Jennifer at 15:34:11 | Permanent Link | Comments (4) |
Comments
1 - 40 out of 56 is a lot better than 55 out of 56. The United States has the ability of money, influence and research to become a leader in energy efficiency and global warming reductions. Yet, we are nowhere to be found among the leaders. (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2008/01/08 - 17:57:57
2 - I just read today that China has banned plastic bags and is charging for those who request them in the markets. A step ahead of us!
 (Comment this)

Written by: ksharp at 2008/01/10 - 03:58:14
3 - While it is true that a comprehensive solution requires China's participation, this is a thinly veiled stall tactic on the part of the Bush administration. China's current CO2 output has little to do with our own changes in policy and industry practice. Those decisions and their marginal impact are our responsibility. If the US chooses to implement a set of truly meaningful targets, China will soon be left with growing hostility from it's more solidified Western trading partners...something it will be forced to respond to. (Comment this)

Written by: Anonymous at 2008/01/10 - 15:15:08
4 - Americans. We want to have our cake and eat it too. The reason China makes so much crap in such a cheap, polluting way is because the Western world wants to consume as much as it can at the cheapest price. If we want China to clean up its act we'll have to boycott purchasing goods made in China. Hopefully, China would feel the pinch and get in line.

BTW-Who can blame China for wanting to catch-up to the wealth of the US? (Comment this)

Written by: ATzatfig at 2008/01/11 - 00:04:59
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