Reply #3: The US is the largest emitter of CO2 in the world per capita [View All]

[NickB79]

We use 25% of the world's energy reserves for 5% of the world's population. The majority of the citizens of the US have no respect for the environment, as evidenced by the huge popularity of SUV's and trucks purchased by people with no need for them. People recycle, buy organic food and think they're doing their part while they commute 30-40 miles per day in vehicles that get 18 mpg, live in McMansion suburbs that were once farmlands, use huge amounts of electricity generated largely by natural gas and coal plants. We ignore the largest pollutant we produce, CO2, and ignore the global warming that comes with it. We set an example for the rest of the world, which is now resulting in China and India rapidly modernizing to become like the US with massive highway development and skyrocketting car sales.

Global climate change from our CO2 production and that of our clone nations will kill far, far more people in the next few decades than any other pollution we have produced. I'm sure in 30 years the people of Bangladesh will be touting the respect the US showed for the environment as half their country is drowned by the sea.