One argument against doing anything about climate change is that, even if we were to implement something like the Waxman/Markey bill currently being debated in the Senate, we would get very little reduction in greenhouses gases unless China, India, and the rest of the developing world also get on board. But because U.S. legislation has no power to compel others to cooperate, such legislation is useless.
I don’t understand this argument.
If global climate change is a genuine threat to human habitation, it is a threat to China, India, and other developing nations as well. Why would we assume that if the U.S. takes substantive steps to implement climate change, these developing nations will not do the same.
The primary disincentive to developing nations doing anything about climate change is the fact that rich nations, especially, the U.S. have done little. There is utterly no reason to think developing nations will not follow if we take the lead.
This is an example where having a bit of trust will go a long way.
