This ignores how comparatively richer domestic economies in the developing countries have become and are continuing to become.

It isn't just cheap kotchkes being consumed by western consumers anymore.

Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Nigerian, Brazilian, and other consumers are also able to consume much more than they were 40 years ago (which is when most HNers appear to have been born).

40 years ago you'd be hard pressed to find plastic wrapped packaged food in a village in rural China or India. Now they're available everywhere.

40 years ago the only people who could dream of buying a car let alone a motorcycle or moped in those villages would have been local politicos. Now they are well within grasp for most households.

As large countries like India, Vietnam, the rest of ASEAN, and other regions are expected to grow in the 6-8% for at least the next decade, expect carbon output to also grow - not as the same degree as before, but still significantly nonetheless.