Hot Topics Response

After watching the program “Hot Politics” from Frontline on PBS I had the feeling that I was suppose to be shocked, or even outraged, by what the program presented. However, as shocking as the sly politics of global warming have been and surely are now, one would expect such an account of the recent history of global warming as it was presented by PBS; that being interwoven with politics and specific interests.

Yet, what was most interesting to me throughout the program was the debate concerning the US wanting China and India, at a global energy conference in Berlin during the later parts of the Clinton Administration, to sign voluntary and/or mandatory documents that would put caps on their C02 emissions. In 1990, China only contributed less than 3% of the World’s C02 emissions/capita and India less than 1 %. Those numbers have drastically changed for China, as it’s C02 emissions/capita contributes to about 18% of the world’s c02 emissions in 2007, but India still is low on the low end of the spectrum contributing to 4.15% in 2007. Yes, both countries’ economies are booming dramatically, as is even noticable in their dramatic c02 emissions over the last decade and a half, but to expect India to adhere to regulations similar to what the US and other far more developed and wealthier countries have is absurd. I have been to India many times and expecting Indians to reduce their C02 emissions (by whatever means such as decreased car pollution, coal pollution, etc.) is not only improbable but ridiculous to even consider. In some sense protecting the environment is a sort of luxury, as to do so and be able to use the same means of transportation, fuels, etc., takes more $ than if leaving it to the environment to cope with our misuse. America and many European countries have that luxury but countries like India still do not. As “developing” as India is, poverty is still widespread, water is still widely dirty, and many of the conveniences that we take for granted here are still not readily and widely available their. In my opinion, reducing c02 emissions at this point in India’s agenda should not take the level of heightened concern as it is in the U.S. This might seem anti-environmental to many, but as dismal as it may seem, there are many “developing” countries in this day and age where global warming is the least of their worries.

In the film, what most aptly characterizes the US policy on global warming so far is best illustrated by a portion of the film when President Bush was asked “what he thought of global warming?” by a reporter. Bush’s reply started with “well, the globe is warming.” That simplified, almost comical, answer that Bush replied demonstrated how the US is not a leader in this issue even though they are the leading contributor. If the US is to step up to the plate in the next decade on reducing their C02 emissions through perceivable action, I am sure that the rest of world will follow. It’s almost like the world is reminding the US of the old adage, “practice what you preach”.