| There has been a lot of talk surrounding the recent | | | | about power generation in developing countries is the |
| G8 summits and the unwillingness of developing | | | | size of the populations in many of these countries. As |
| countries to join in on environmental programs. It | | | | countries like India and China start using more energy |
| may not seem that important to include these | | | | on a per-capita basis and approach the levels of |
| developing economies in a climate control plan. Given | | | | more developed countries there is going to be a |
| the current statistics about energy use and pollution | | | | huge demand for electricity generation due to the |
| creation in which the US and other developed | | | | massive size of their populations. If allowed to |
| countries top the list it stands to reason that what | | | | continue to meet this demand with dirty power |
| the developing world is doing isn't that important. | | | | generation methods they will over time create a |
| However, there are several key factors that are not | | | | huge pollution problem, the effects of which will be |
| being considered that make the developing countries | | | | felt everywhere in the world. |
| of the world a very important part of any global | | | | If allowed to continue unchecked, the increase in |
| climate change discussion. | | | | dirty power generation in the developing world will |
| First off, as we in the US are seeing now, once you | | | | offset any reductions in pollution made in developed |
| have an established method of power generation, it | | | | countries. The world cannot afford to continue |
| becomes more difficult to change. The life cycle of a | | | | producing pollution at current levels, the goal of any |
| power plant is very long and it takes much of this | | | | environmental plan as to be to reduce global |
| lifecycle to recoup the costs of development. This | | | | emissions. These developing countries are therefore a |
| means that power plants being developed today in | | | | huge threat to any environmental program that is |
| developing countries to meet their growing electrical | | | | really trying to fix the problem. This is not to say |
| needs will still be in use 25 years from now. It is | | | | that the developed countries in the world shouldn't |
| much easier to start out producing clean energy then | | | | reduce their emissions if developing countries don't |
| it is to transfer to it after the fact. If developing | | | | agree to as well. Any effort to reduce emissions is |
| countries continue to use dirty power generation to | | | | better than none. However, it is important to get the |
| meet demand today, everyone will pay the price in | | | | support of developing countries in stopping global |
| the long run. | | | | climate change. Without their help, nothing we do can |
| The second reason that we must be concerned | | | | truly stop the problem, it will just put it off. |