China says Australia pollutes too much

A couple of days ago I was talking to a friend who's visiting the East Coast for a few days before going back to her home in Japan. She's lived in several East Asian countries and Australia. I told her I'd love to visit China and asked her what struck her the most about China. "Without a doubt", she said, "the air pollution. It is overhwelming." She had very good things to say about Japan and Australia, where the air (and not just the air) is significantly more clear.

Then this morning I read this, China criticises Australia over greenhouse gases, because "if Australia's population was 1.3 billion, its total emissions would be significantly higher".

Of course, since the statement was made at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (hmm, climate change - whatever became of global warming?) with the statistics being provided by the Greenpeace Australia energy campaigner, it all boils down to "gimme, gimme":

Jiang called for international cooperation, namely financial resources and technological support, to help China reach its planned cuts in energy consumption.

So Jiang, does that mean your country has enough money for a space program but not for protecting the environment?

Or am I missing something here?

(technorati tags China Australia China Space Program United Nations Climate Change Conference Kyoto protocol Environment)