When I moved from a more densely populated area in the east to the wide open west, I was struck by the realization of just how much room we have. Later I visited southern California and saw what an environmental hellhole it is. No wonder they think we are destroying the planet!
All that to say it is folly to think that our piddling population could make a dent in global emissions when that many people live in such close quarters on the other side of the planet.
I feel the same way when I look out the plane window when flying from Houston to SF. Nothing out there.
I've heard it said the whole population of the world could live inside of Texas if the houses were spaced, etc as in a normal middle class American sub-division.
Sign at the Texas, Louisiana border, El Paso 857 miles.
An English FReeper was bragging to me once about how big GB is...he said 610 miles from the south to the north. I told him about the Texas sign and mentioned that when you get to El Paso that you're still in Texas.
(He never said another word)