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The Forum > Article Comments > Poor countries' media must tackle climate change > Comments

Poor countries' media must tackle climate change : Comments

By James Fahn, published 24/9/2008

Climate change reporting in developing countries is woefully inadequate because too often editors and writers lack expertise.

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Horus

You state: “Having been granted the moral high ground, the developing world need do nothing–except, wait for the handouts!”

I must disagree with your perception.

Despite vital information being unavailable to people in developing countries, China, as an example, is now the 5th largest producer of wind power (and catching up fast) where by the end of this year, will see that country providing some 10 gigawatts of windpower, 30 GWs by 2010 and 100 gigawatts of windpower by 2020.

On a global scale, India is in fourth place though I predict, soon to be overtaken by China.

Spain, with a population of some 40 million provides 16 gigawatts whilst (surprisingly) the US is now considered the world's fastest growing market for wind power. Last year 5 gigawatts of new wind power were installed, and 2008 will break the record again with 8 new gigawatts under construction.

We Australians can hang our heads in shame since this country provides a miserable one gigawatt of windpower – an extremely feeble effort in reducing carbon emissions and an embarrassing one.

I am not endeavouring to mitigage the seriousness of China’s carbon emissions, however, all companies building new coal fired plants in that country, must first decommission an old one, including oil fired plants.

Therefore, one could hardly accuse developing countries of waiting for "handouts."

Since I'm not a political animal, I’m wondering what you mean by:

"For short term political gain, they’ve campaigned hard on the platform that “it’s all the West’s fault”.

How will crusaders gain politically in the short term? Please explain.
Posted by dickie, Saturday, 27 September 2008 2:50:41 PM
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Dickie,

Re China:
It was rather tricky, Dickie, that you should have tried to bum-steer me down the road to the wind farm. Since as we both (should) know that China’s core energy source is, and is likely to remain for a very long time, COAL.

In fact so enamoured are the Chinese with COAL that they are building COAL power stations at the rate of “two large power stations a week” [ source: BBC] and so proficient at COAL production are they that while that environmental -pariah nation- the USA increased CO2 production (2006-7) by only 1.4% , China did so by 9% [:source: The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency]

Any percentage increases in production from wind farms (& solar power) sound impressive, but since it is from/on a very small base is statistically misleading, and wind is likely to remain in the realm of a small secondary … hobby farm activity.

But we shouldn’t point the finger, it’s not China’s fault .It’s the fault of all us Western’s foisting our dirty polluting industries on China [source: John Sauven, Green peace UK]

And if the Chinese would just remove that dastardly one-child-policy and get into reproducing in numbers, their per capita carbon footprint would simple fade away…[ source: :Horus]
Posted by Horus, Sunday, 28 September 2008 6:38:07 AM
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Dickie,

Re Politics:
Had you been on OLO pre-federal election 2007 you would have been surprised by the number of environmentally conscious posters bewailing our need to act now.

Had you been on the streets of any of the suburbs in Bennelong, pre-federal election 2007, you would have been charmed by Green groups handing out free ice-creams and giving you a spiel about the need to act now.

In fact almost anywhere you looked the message was the same.
The USA and Australia had made themselves -pariah nations- by holding out on Kyoto, and as the biggest producers of CO2s by volume, and by per capita, respectively, they had to be roped into line.

But now that election has passed and a more ‘enlightened’ govt have been elected
And now China is the No.1 producer of CO2s and India is not far behind . But the environmentally conscious mob while still around are somewhat subdued.[ Is it just my imagination or were the bulk of them using environmental issues as a flagellum to beat their political opponents?]

And now, when the plumbers, drainers & fitters of climate change approach the developing world re reducing pollution they are increasingly told “No, No Its nothing to do with us.We’ve read your press releases.Oh by the way , we want compensation, our island is sinking!”.
Posted by Horus, Sunday, 28 September 2008 6:50:25 AM
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Thank you Horus.
Posted by dickie, Sunday, 28 September 2008 9:36:59 AM
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