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This was one of the big fears. That countries that had far more people than the western world would end up trying to chase that middle class lifestyle. And yet here we are.

I suspect we are going to be like the aphids on a rosebush that will suck it dry just trying to live and most of us go with it.

If we were to live closer to what many philosophers and religions of modesty, we probably would have never gone down this path. Yes, we wouldn't have most of the great stuff we have today but we also wouldn't be looking at a system that can lurch over and crash. There is no winning move in the universe just dances and responses.

https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co-emissions-per-capita

"Exploding" while the US still emits 50% more than China and has been emitting more than double and triple before recent years.

Quite a lie: https://www.theenergymix.com/u-s-emissions-rise-chinas-fall-...

This just isn't true. Chinas emissions peaked back in 2024.

Although they may increase this year because the Chinese government has been encouraging the substitution of coal for gas & oil during the Iran crisis.

Huh? That's not true.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-emissions-ha...