Can we achieve growth & equality while kicking Climate Change?

[NoOneMan]

55. Aside from your strange Canada/America example, it very well mean this

Look at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_greenhouse_gas_emissions_per_capita

Now,

Premise 1) Standard of living correlates roughly to emission levels
Premise 2) The emission levels of 2000 create a "safe" scenario to avoid climate change's worst effects
Premise 3) This means that with the 2000 level finite cap on emissions, this translates into an average of 6.8 tonnes a person that we must all move towards

Conclusion: The US per capita emissions (and standard of living) would have to lower by ~75% to bring us to the agreed upon global average. About 80 countries would have to reduce their per capita emissions (standard of living), while allowing a permissible growth for 100 other countries to promote full equality.

So yes, the US would have to give up quite a bit so everyone can meet a "safe" per capita emission level that would not exacerbate climate change.

Or.....do we get to keep the Hummers and tell everyone in Uruguay to shove it? Or do we keep our Hummers, help them make theirs, and just say fuck it to the whole survival thing?