More navel gazing
(National Journal) Is optimism building that the United States–and the rest of the world–can address global warming?
A series of extreme weather events –including droughts, wildfires, and heat waves –have thrust the topic of climate change into the limelight. Some influential energy experts, both conservative and moderate, are mulling a carbon tax to control fossil-fuel-generated emissions of greenhouse gases, which most scientists agree are causing global warming. Recent studies have shown that carbon emissions in the United States and other developed countries have actually stabilized and even decreased, due in part to increased reliance on natural gas over coal (the former results in 50 percent fewer carbon emissions than the latter). Some experts and prominent thinkers, such as New York Times’ David Leonhardt are also saying that despite the odds, the nascent renewable-energy industries are thriving as costs continue to come down.
Are these trends, or at least perceived trends, taken together signs that the United States and other parts of the world can come together in a way to address global warming even without an overarching agreement to cut greenhouse-gas emissions? What else is needed in order to spur more concrete action on this front? Is a carbon tax possible, both politically and economically? What other options should be on the table?
If you read the rest of the article, you’ll see 5 responses, all by those allowed by National Journal, and, would you be shocked to learn that they all one Someone Else to pay the piper? Why is it that Warmists never agitate for themselves and their comrades to lead the way and act in accordance with their belief set?
As far as a growing concensus to act, doubtful. Politicians want to get reelected and were able to witness the devastation wrought on the Queensland, Australia Labour party, which pushed all the “climate change” laws. In the elections earlier in 2012, Labour lost so many seats that they are no longer an officially recognized political party.
Holy cow is this a blatant Politburo Propaganda piece? Let’s not hide our glee at extreme weather. Let’s not hide our lies .. “Some influential energy experts, both conservative and moderate, are mulling a carbon tax “. Yeah.. NOT.
Actually, not carbon emissions, but emissions as a whole. CO2 levels still continue to rise. And, a global depressed economy can explain that. And, you know, I’ve been hearing about this supposed “switch” from coal to natural gas as the reason… but I’m not buying it. First, you can’t just switch a coal-fired plant to natural gas. It’s a completely different structure and process.
While there are coal-plants shutting down, I haven’t heard of many natural gas-fired plants being built, let alone coming on line in the last few years. And yes, several dozen coal-plants will shut down this year (they were not major players but did provide backup and emergency load relief. Wonder if we’ll be India in a few years???
I’m still waiting for someone to tell me why we should belief authors and news writers as experts on anything?
Ummm.. yeah, tell that to the people who’ve been laid off because of all the thriving bankruptcies? And how does subsidization equal thriving?
Someone is tokin a bit too much of that altered perception stuff. Just because you perceive it, does not make it reality.
Yes, because the best way to get things done, is to bypass the legislative process. Obama has shown this to work wonders.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Obama is a tin pot dictator, and enjoys that Power that comes with being President way too much. He surely shares quite a bit with Chavez and other dictators, and surely rues that there is only so far he can go. I hate to be conspiracy minded, but I can, in a small recess in my brain, see him finding an excuse to cancel the elections.
Oh, there will def be no limit that the Dem\Socialist party will go this election to make sure they win. No matter what.
Union thuggery, vote buying, voter bussing, intimidation, will be high. There will be a tremendous amount of illegal votes as well.
This is a defining moment for this nation.