That's a good point Bulwinkle, and just look at our own Navaras as perfect examples.
European 2009 D40 STX gets audio controls in steering, climate control, 17" rims and I think reversing camera built into the rear view mirror.
It's the same in the computer industry. America has the latest widgetry there, with the exception of Apple who release their stuff globally at the same time. Want the latest model Intel processor-powered board for your server? You have to wait, America is in line before you.
So if we count so little, can we make a difference?
I actually believe we can. We might come second or third in the race for new technology manufactured over there, but China is employing Australian engineers to put wind energy systems in, they're looking at our advancements in solar technologies.
If the world's largest population and fastest growing economy pays attention to us, then when we make a move that affects how we impact on our environment (which if you cut the thing down to its original purpose and ignore that it may just be a tax grab, that's what it's about) you can bet the whole farm that they're watching us closely.
How much smog hangs over Beijing? They're inundated with pollution. If we come up with some idea that gets the manufacturing sector to do stuff smarter, they may just follow suit.
I don't think ANY country has the balls to do it yet, they're all waiting to see if it's going to work somewhere else, because it WILL have an impact on prices and the average Joe, so it won't be the favourite thing the government's done - but at the end of the day, if the factories run cleaner and we're not poisoning the air we're trying to breathe, other countries will see it, hop on the train and then we're back to where we are today, but with less environmental impact.
Now just let me finish this by saying that's a waaaaay optimistic view. I do NOT think the carbon price is going to achieve that on its own. There has to be other incentives, or maybe the carbon price for "x amount OVER some nominal amount" attracts a heavy price, to handle the big polluters, and other industries work on an incentive-based scheme.
I don't have the answer, but I do know that someone, somehow, has to start walking towards the final goal and until we take some steps - and even bad ones are good, because then we learn not to repeat 'em - we aren't going to be going anywhere.
Even if we're walking in the wrong direction, we'll figure it out and turn around and eventually make progress. We'll never do that by sitting on our hands.
So in a sense, kudos should go to the government for grabbing this issue by the short and curlies. They might be ballsing it up, but a step is a step and whether it's good or bad, we learn from it.