Much of that growth, and the resulting emissions, came before climate change was an acknowledged problem. At one point we didn't know that lead in paint was a bad thing. Or that asbestos was carcingenic.

Now that we do, however, we need to focus on the future.

I agree with Kim's comment. We're off better spending a trillion dollars on fixing our energy problems and reducing emissions, as opposed to giving away a trillion dollars in "reparations" to other countries that are likely to simply take the money and spend it on something else.

We do have a responsibility... to allocate our resources wisely.