> Meanwhile China makes more solar panels than anyone in the world yet has the most filthy air.

Most overall or per capita? And do they use them?

If the cleaners at Grand Central Station use only twice the cleaning supplies as you do at your house, it's likely to be much dirtier than your house.

If things are that bad, big movements on water and energy markets will influence each other (because you can use energy to purify or desalinate water).

I don't think this is something that can be won, really, other than in a politics and power influence sense. Not to take analogies to where they oversimplify things, but this is similar to M.A.D.; we share the damage we do, locally, then globally. For us, the shortcut to energy production is in the industry already in place (with its centuries-old history and political power). Until that shifts, we'll keep going the same direction and worry about long term when we have to. Solar energy production is still in its infancy when you compare it to fossil fuels production, in China or anywhere else. I suspect the high output of actual solar panels are more (or just as much) a symptom of market than environmental concerns.

India too http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/indias-incoming-solar-plant...

Check out Canada's share of the world's fresh water sometime...

I wonder what prevents the use of "salt water" for fracking? We have an abundant supply of that resource; maybe prevents the oceans from rising too! (I am joking)

Based on a quick read of [1], it seems that using saline water is more expensive because of the preparation that is needed, so for now, it is easier to start with fresh water and add additives.

Also seems the consideration is about saline aquifers and not ocean water. I suspect the cost of transporting ocean water is the issue leading to this consideration.

[1] http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/breakthrou...