US "Voluntary emission targets"... where would you also like voluntary targets?

Question

The taxes you pay?

The speed limit on the highway?

The number of hours you work?

Rationally personnified.

As I assume from your profile that you know a bit China, when was the last time you were there?
As China is ready to make some committment, their emissions per capita are still 5x lower than the US... and even a technologically advanced country like the US has not been capable to generate more GDP ppp per tonne of CO2 emitted...

First the US should bring its emissions per capita to the level of China before any negociation. (please note that the US has both finance and technology to achieve this).

Answer 1

For me personally? All those sound good.

For all Americans, I wouldn't want voluntary taxes, speed limit, working hours, and certainly not voluntary emissions targets.

Answer 2

China may have a lower per capita emission rate than the US, but they are catching up FAST. The US has some room for improvement, but not as much as I suspect you think. The reason China has such low emissions is the large number of people too poor to afford cars or air conditioning or even home heating. But that is changing. You will see China catch up to the US per capita emission rate in your lifetime if you are young.

Answer 3

I'd like to see "voluntary emission targets" for countries like China and India that, under Kyoto, have NO numerical limits on emissions whatsoever. Given the losses of American jobs to China and India, the United States is being most gracious in adopting "voluntary emission targets."

Answer 4

Good point. I guess the U.S. government trusts Big Industry more than the average American.