Floods in China: Where's the Global Warming Connection?

Pam Meister
July 26th, 2007 1:49 PM
Font Size
Is it just me, or is there something missing in the coverage of the terrible flooding happening in China? Let’s see:

  • Destruction of life and property? Check.
  • Daring rescues? Check.
  • People fleeing their homes? Check.
  • Floods a result of man-caused global warming? Er…

In all the stories I’ve read from major news outlets about the devastating flooding in China, I have yet to see that the floods have been linked to the phenomenon known as man-caused global warming. Meanwhile, recent flooding in Britain has been connected to it on more than one occasion, as Newsbusters has reported.

What's the difference? I'm not sure. Could it be due to the fact that China is on the list of "developing" countries that was exempt from pressure to abide by the rules of the Kyoto protocol, even though the country ratified it and now produces the most greenhouse emissions of any other country (including the U.S.)? Or perhaps that China's government isn't likely to bow to pressure in the form of journalistic hype about a topic that is still in the infancy of debate?

It's an interesting question, but I'm not sure the answer is forthcoming any time soon.