Speaking frankly, I have heard the point made many times and often it's used to shut down dialog rather than examine it as one of the barriers to action. I didn't interpret your use as the former. Literally, can pointing at China's inadequate response become a call to action? Obviously not if it's meant in a "you first" way.

The fix that we're in, not you and me - we'll be long gone, is exceedingly intractable or impossible. I don't see any significant action to reduce CO2 emissions being taken by the developed countries. As you know, the longer it takes for that to happen the larger, more costly, and more painful the reductions must be. A voice is telling me that we're doomed, but not you and me.