Today, a report by the Geneva-based Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF) says climate change “seriously affects 325 million people every year, a number that will more than double in 20 years to 10 percent of the world’s population (now about 6.7 billion).”

According to the report, economic losses due to climate change will reach $340 billion each year by 2030.

If it’s all connected, and we’re all affected, I think Cherry is correct about the importance of turning off the lights.

There hasn’t been much news about the Chinese environmental movement in the U.S. recently, and I have also been thinking about other projects. But, today, Drudge carried an AP article about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi making a visit to Beijing.

Pelosi stresses that climate change is an area where cooperation between the U.S. and China can be further concentrated, because, says Pelosi, “We’re all in this together”. This is true, and super cute.

The article also mentions that human rights abuses and the “fierce public criticisms [that] she has frequently leveled at the authoritarian government” were skirted in her recent visit, instead concentrating on the hopeful and positive ways that the “authoritarian” government in China and the Unites States can cooperate. Focusing on the positives does not negate the bad aspects, it just makes for happier, more agreeable players.

Later in the article, the AP says that Obama told Pelosi that Beijing stands ready to join the U.S. in cutting green house gas emissions.

Regarding human rights, I’m glad Pelosi makes the point that the right to a clean environment is also a very basic human right. This one, we’re all in together.