Wrong Approach

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged China to address the issue of climate change, as she starts a three-day visit to the country. But China said that it was still catching up economically, making it harder to reduce emissions. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said developed nations have contributed more to climate change because they have been growing fast for 200 years.

Urging China to tackle Global Warming will get the Chancellor no where. China's environmental problems are so severe that approaching them from the "Climate Change" standpoint isn't necessary. China needs to clean up its environment for the health and safety of it residents and as part of its challenge of entering the modern world.

If the UN wants to make itself useful, it should establish reasonable targets for China similar to those of western nations (x% of China's water should be potable by 20xx). The environmental challenges should be approached in terms of "if you want to be a leading nation competing with the western world, sixteen of the top twenty dirtiest cities in the world need to be in India, not China". China responds to challenges, not threats. It is a competitive nation and a "face saving" nation.

The Chinese government is aware of its environmental problems, but it isn't about to shoulder the world's "Global Warming" problems. It will be receptive to aid (technology transfer, not money).

Algore should stop talking about useless carbon credits and purchase western environmental technology and transfer it to the Chinese. That puts money in the pockets of American businesses and gives China the technology to clean up its water and air that it cannot afford.