The problem with these talks are that from a developing country's perspective it looks like developed nations used cheap energy to get ahead. Now they want to curb usage of cheap energy in developing nations because:
1. Suddenly, they're affected by climate change, or claim to be.
2. It's just a ploy to increase energy costs for developing nations and keep them behind.
This may or may not be true but with this kind of perception, such talks will never go through. Also, there are choking levels of pollution in New Delhi [1] and Beijing. The cities are really uncomfortable, and there is a growing body of research to show that air pollution is carcinogenic. [2]
These countries would do well to curb pollution and use clean energy just in the interest of public health. Unfortunately, public health is very low on the agenda.
New Delhi is on the brink of ecological collapse (or maybe beyond that depending on the definition). There is no clean air, clean water, or clean soil. There are no numbers to indicate how many pollution related deaths occur in India annually or what kind of productivity is lost. Frankly, no one cares either. Until someone is personally effected (in a drastic way, like NO2 poisoning and dropping dead..) there will be no change. A very large percentage of children in New Delhi are diagnosed with asthma. [1]
Climate change is a far cry from getting discussed if domestic air pollution isn't a cause for concern.
Source: I am Indian and spend a lot of time there quite often.
[1] - http://bkpk.me/cigarettes-arent-that-bad-after-all/
[2] - http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/17/health/geneva-air-pollutio...
1. Suddenly, they're affected by climate change, or claim to be.
2. It's just a ploy to increase energy costs for developing nations and keep them behind.
This may or may not be true but with this kind of perception, such talks will never go through. Also, there are choking levels of pollution in New Delhi [1] and Beijing. The cities are really uncomfortable, and there is a growing body of research to show that air pollution is carcinogenic. [2]
These countries would do well to curb pollution and use clean energy just in the interest of public health. Unfortunately, public health is very low on the agenda.
New Delhi is on the brink of ecological collapse (or maybe beyond that depending on the definition). There is no clean air, clean water, or clean soil. There are no numbers to indicate how many pollution related deaths occur in India annually or what kind of productivity is lost. Frankly, no one cares either. Until someone is personally effected (in a drastic way, like NO2 poisoning and dropping dead..) there will be no change. A very large percentage of children in New Delhi are diagnosed with asthma. [1]
Climate change is a far cry from getting discussed if domestic air pollution isn't a cause for concern.
Source: I am Indian and spend a lot of time there quite often.
[1] - http://bkpk.me/cigarettes-arent-that-bad-after-all/
[2] - http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/17/health/geneva-air-pollutio...