My point is really simple, but you seem to be completely missing it.
On Dec 30, 3:29 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> > The relative date of an emission (past, present, or future) has
> > nothing to do with it being beneficial or not. Perhaps beneficial
> > emissions should not be charged against the emitting nation's account
> > regardless of when it occurred.
>
> Carbon debt is an argument used by developing nations (including
> China) and a number of NGO's to press the case for transfer payments
> from developed nations to developing nations to pay for their
> emissions reductions and as reparations for supposed damage caused to
> them.
>
> I argue that:
>
> 1. This poisons the debate
> 2. It is unjust, because the industrial revolution and the resulting
> development of positive technologies such as PV could not have
> happened without carbon emissions
Yeah, but industry today and in the future can also develop positive
technogies. What's so magic about past emissions vs future emissions?
> 3. It is also unjust, because there was neither an intention to cause
> harm to other countries nor an awareness that this was likely
Nobody intends to cause harm by emitting CO2, regardless of when they
do it. This applies both to past and future emissions. How could
ignorance of the consequences possibly be a defense?
> 4. It is unjust that present generations should pay reparations for
> the sins of their ancestors
Happens all the time. If a person who you are suppose to inherit from
have debts when they die, you have to pay the debts from their estate
and you get what is left of the estate.
>
> Let's rather start with the notion that developed nations are wealthy,
> have the capacity to do good and the wish to do so, if they think it's
> going to make a big difference.
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