As a climate change researcher I've been studying the issue of climate change and development for years, but it wasn't until I moved overseas and saw the issues up close did I realize how desperate the situation is.
Three years ago I moved from the US, the epicenter of world consumption (where 5% of the world's population consumes 25% of it's energy) to Beijing, China during an explosion of new-found consumerism.
In late 2007, you could still navigate the crowded streets on a bicycle, riding safely through bike lanes as big as the automobile lanes back in the US.
In early 2011, those same lanes have been taken over by parked cars, forcing bike riders into sharing the road with very chaotic drivers.
When asking Chinese friends why they're so eager to own a car they are quick to answer -- because they want to emulate the US lifestyle they've seen for years in bootleg DVDs of American TV shows and movies.
America's greatest export is it's lifestyle of excessive consumption and the developing world seems all to eager to mirror it.
The danger with this scenario? The potential that an explosion of growth in developing countries pushes us past a point of no return, when we are no longer able to control runaway climate change.
Given the pace at which India and China are adopting the patterns of American consumers, it appears that day is fast approaching.
On the other hand, there is reason for hope, for as the US is completely stalled on adopting any climate change policies or renewable energy development strategies, China is leading the world in wind and solar production.
So while their citizenry is rushing out to the malls, looking for the latest deals, their government is instituting an aggressive strategy to develop alternative energy.
I wish I could say the same of my home country, but for now, I'll have to channel my hopes that the developing world is capable of adapting faster to the realities of climate change.
Three years ago I moved from the US, the epicenter of world consumption (where 5% of the world's population consumes 25% of it's energy) to Beijing, China during an explosion of new-found consumerism.
In late 2007, you could still navigate the crowded streets on a bicycle, riding safely through bike lanes as big as the automobile lanes back in the US.
In early 2011, those same lanes have been taken over by parked cars, forcing bike riders into sharing the road with very chaotic drivers.
When asking Chinese friends why they're so eager to own a car they are quick to answer -- because they want to emulate the US lifestyle they've seen for years in bootleg DVDs of American TV shows and movies.
America's greatest export is it's lifestyle of excessive consumption and the developing world seems all to eager to mirror it.
The danger with this scenario? The potential that an explosion of growth in developing countries pushes us past a point of no return, when we are no longer able to control runaway climate change.
Given the pace at which India and China are adopting the patterns of American consumers, it appears that day is fast approaching.
On the other hand, there is reason for hope, for as the US is completely stalled on adopting any climate change policies or renewable energy development strategies, China is leading the world in wind and solar production.
So while their citizenry is rushing out to the malls, looking for the latest deals, their government is instituting an aggressive strategy to develop alternative energy.
I wish I could say the same of my home country, but for now, I'll have to channel my hopes that the developing world is capable of adapting faster to the realities of climate change.