I’ve been thinking a lot about the two narrative threads the last couple of weeks: climate change in Copenhagen and global competition here at home.<\/p>\n
As we muscle our way out of this recession, it’s unclear to me exactly how America will hold its position as an economic superpower. <\/p>\n
At the same time, we’re muddled over how to reduce our contribution to carbon pollution and global warming. <\/p>\n
Even if a meaningful deal is reached in Copenhagen, will America’s Senate ratify it? Hard to imagine. <\/p>\n
But when I look at the situation overseas, it strikes me that the answer to both of these muddles is more, not less, environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n
China and India, the two fastest-growing world economies, have made many of their gains at the expense of their land and rivers and forests.<\/p>\n
Their governments have tolerated practices so ugly and short-sighted that they are literally poisoning their own air, soil and water. <\/p>\n
We’ve seen how this kind of short-sighted thinking plays out. The Soviet Union followed a similar growth-at-any-price mandate and much of Russia is now a toxic waste site. <\/p>\n
Birth rates there have plummeted; quality of life is deteriorating. The once-powerful empire has plummeted to something approaching Third World status.<\/p>\n
If the developing countries aren’t careful — limiting, in part, the unconscionable behavior of American companies working in their lands — they will follow the same trajectory.<\/p>\n
The Washington Post has a story today about the poisoning of the Yamuna River<\/a>, which provides 70% of New Delhi’s drinking water.<\/p>\n