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Should a global climate agreement hold the US to a higher environmental standard than the rest of the world?

Title endorsed in part by:

by Matthew Abuelo

Created on: November 22, 2008

US And Global Warming
For those who don't believe that the United States
should take up the bulk of responsibility for dealing with global warming, I say this, remember, this country makes up only 4.6% of the world's population but at the same time, manages to give off 24% of the world's CO2 emissions. In comparison, China, which makes up 21% of world population, also exudes 13% of CO2 emissions. And the EU which is which is 6.3% of world population, only gives off 14% of the greenhouse gas. Since George W Bush overturned the United States stance on Kyoto


in 2001, often illegally altering reports by climatologists on global warming findings, we are now producing more total green house gases world wide than we did in 1990 when we were at 36.1%.




The most citied reason for the current administration's rejection of the Global-Warming treaty is that it would harm business and ultimately the economy. This is the same group of White House squatters who have been overseeing our crumbling economy for the past 8 years. Ironically enough, the 3 largest US car manufactures, GM, Ford and Chevrolet find themselves on the verge of collapsing in part because they still insist on building large and horrible gas inefficient automobiles that no one want to buy. Compare these companies with Honda, Toyota
and Mitsubishi, all of, which are now focused on hybrids and fuel cell vehicles and the Bush White House's excuses seem mighty thin. To make matters worse, this week we have learned that the George Bush regime plans on further weakening the clean air act by giving mining companies more leeway to pollute. According to a recent NY Times editorial, " In coming weeks, we expect the Environmental Protection Agency to issue a final rule that would weaken a program created by the Clean Air Act, which requires utilities to install modern pollution controls when they upgrade their plants to produce more power. The agency is also expected to issue a final rule that would make it easier for coal-fired power plants to locate near national parks in defiance of longstanding Congressional mandates to protect air quality in areas of special natural or recreational value. Interior also is awaiting E.P.A.'s concurrence on a proposal that would make it easier for mining companies to dump toxic mine wastes in valleys and streams. "And when it comes in international efforts by the UN to curb the problem of global warming, the United States has filibustered every effort.

By comparison, China and the EU

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