Growth on steroids

Interesting article on the horrific air pollution in India and China, covering both the immediate human health cost, and the long-term emissions disaster. Blair raises a very interesting point:

"Close down all of Britain's emissions and in less than two years just the growth in China's emissions would wipe out the difference."

It seems as with all things China and India, the speed of change is dramatically amplified compared to recent Western experiences. And so, as with the explosively fast growth in their economies, now we see the incredibly quick building of environmental dangers. It's as if each country is experiencing the past 50 years of American environmental destruction, legislation and hope compacted into 10 years.

As with all developments related to China and India - utterly unpredictable, but incredibly relevant.