If you are wanting to get an idea of Australia's role in the carbon debate, go to China.
Every day in the major centres of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou you will struggle to see the sun, let alone the stars.
The country largely runs on coal powered energy and 1000 new cars hit the road every day in Beijing alone, where over six million cars already clog the cities generous highways.
It is very easy for westerners to point the finger at China for its infamous pollution and carbon emissions, being home to 16 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world according to a report last year by the World Bank.
But this problem is not just one that sits at the feet of the Chinese, it is in fact a problem partly generated by western countries including Australia.
The cheap products that fill our lives are probably made in China and their production and transportation has no doubt added to its frightening statistics.
We do not pay the true environmental cost of a DVD player at $49.95 or a washing machine for $500.
So we are also responsible for the filthy pollution in China.
In Nashan for example, a modern city in the north east of China, Australian coal fuels the power station and the Aluminum produced in its enormous works ends up in Australia as well.
In the Nanshan textile mill you will find Australian wool being processed for a third of the cost it was taking when the same mill was in Geelong.
While the world economy will always have low cost producers of manufactured goods, who are we to deny China the same economic growth and lifestyle that we now take for granted?
The 10 per cent annual economic growth China is now experiencing was experienced by European countries during the industrial revolution that began in Europe in the late 18th century.
The difference this time is that a country of 1.3 billion people are involved, during the industrial revolution there was not one billion people on earth.
Now there are 6.7 billion humans on earth are all are keen for a better lifestyle, but how much each is willing to compromise to achieve it is the question.
So what is the market-based solution?
Whether it is Chinese made cars, toys, steel or suiting, surely we must take some responsibility for the potential damage its production is causing.
Emissions trading will help us all feel a lot better as it aims to work the true environmental cost into the price of goods and services but without China included in a global program, there may be little global effect beyond exporting our industries such as agriculture and manufacturing to these low cost producers.
Sure, Australia has a leading role to play, to help pave the way for a better world but we must be a part of China’s solution just as it must be a part of ours.
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