Reason Writers Around Town: Shikha Dalmia on Why Poor Countries Won't Curb Carbon Emissions

July 15, 2009

Writing in Forbes, Reason Foundation Senior Analyst Shikha Dalmia argues that new U.S. tariffs won't make poor countries curb their carbon emissions. In fact, as Dalmia writes, there is a perfectly good reason developing countries are unwilling to act on climate change: What they are being asked to do is more awful than climate change's implications—even if one accepts all the alarmist predictions.

Read all about it here.

Comments

|7.15.09 @ 4:50PM|#

Environmentalism, if we are not lucky, will kill more people in the 21st Century than Communism killed in the 20th.

|7.15.09 @ 5:01PM|#

We figured it out, though.

When you only kill the ones who can't pass a paper bag test, nobody cares.

It's like the drug war.

Clint|7.15.09 @ 5:17PM|#

(from the article) "In fact, they have a charismatic and savvy spokesman who combines a deep commitment to their cause with considerable powers of persuasion."

Anyone who thought a single person, George W. Bush, was responsible for the lack of action on climate change had a lazy analysis.

The problem isn't an individual. The problem is that the U.S. government has been completely taken over by business interests, who, not surprisingly, have little interest in reducing emissions.

|7.15.09 @ 5:18PM|#

I've only been screaming about how reducing global CO2 emmissions would condemn billions to poverty here since, I dunno, I first found the site. The eco-warriors either toss out fantasies of cheap clean carbon neutral energy that's right around the corner or they ignore me.

How much cheap energy are we willing to let Chad have?

|7.15.09 @ 5:19PM|#

"The problem isn't an individual. The problem is that the U.S. government has been completely taken over by business interests, who, not surprisingly, have little interest in reducing emissions."

Yes because businesses are like fucking aliens from mars. They have no effect on the general well being of the country. They don't hire people. They don't provide valuable goods and services. They don't ensure our standard of living. Nope. They just take our stuff and emit carbon.

hammeredHead|7.15.09 @ 7:43PM|#

Clint you must be new here. Most writers and posters at Reason, believe that business interests strongly desire more regulation including cap & trade. This allows them to eliminate smaller competitors. It is called corporatism.

Mike Laursen|7.16.09 @ 12:55AM|#

All those third-worlders will be sorry when the sea level starts rising, and they only have thirty years to replace their shanty towns with middle class suburban housing on higher ground.

|7.17.09 @ 6:37AM|#

nice post..
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