[mitchellberry]

So if China were to split into 10 different countries it would somehow become an acceptable level?

Per capita is the only equitable measure of pollution.

I certainly agree overpopulation of the earth is a tragedy likely felt for generations, but petty bickering over these very issues is why global leaders can't make any progress in greenhouse gas emissions.

[whatyoucantsay]

If those covered 10 times as much of the earth in similarly temperate regions, I would be inclined to say yes.

> Per capita is the only equitable measure of pollution.

Would you then believe that if Australia were to have a population of 3 billion and produce double the pollution China currently does, that the continent would be doing well on environmental issues simply because per capita numbers were lower?

In any rational analysis, the environmental strain an ecosystem can withstand is directly related to the size of that ecosystem in comparison to the strain.

The strain an ecosystem can withstand is, unfortunately, not increased in a per capita manner as human population in the ecosystem increases. This may not be equitable. Nature often isn't.