An article in China View today demonstrates the very real danger of rising green protectionism. Proposals to introduce carbon taxes and impose tariffs upon imports from developing countries, which do not cap their carbon emissions, will hurt developing countries trying to trade their way out of poverty.

People in developing countries often rely heavily on exporting goods to the rest of the world- to tax these exports at the rates some have proposed, for emissions that historically they have not been responsible for, is perverse.

By contast, what would really help people in developing countries would be the removal of all discriminatory tariffs placed against their exports and to allow them to develop their industries and businesses, thus enriching their population. Then they, with their improved economic capacity, would be able to manage their own actions to reduce carbon emissions.

Sign the anti-green protectionism petition and voice your disapproval at the prospect of a Copenhagen Agreement that restricts trade and prevents Africans, Asian, Latin Americans - or anyone else - from trading their way out of poverty and improving the environment.