Comments on: Meditations on the Obama/Hu Jintao meeting http://www.earthfeed.com/meditations-on-the-obamahu-jintao-meeting/ ecological dispatches from a small planet Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:27:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Earth Feed http://www.earthfeed.com/meditations-on-the-obamahu-jintao-meeting/#comment-88 Earth Feed Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:20:26 +0000 http://www.earthfeed.com/?p=341#comment-88 I agree with you on the fallacy of economic collapse as a result on action on climate change, but it seems bottom-line-bucks is the international language of this particular negotiation. I myself am wary of an economic model based on carbon credits; Carbon is carbon, regardless of where in the world it originates. I wish we didn't need high level international negotiations to make action a reality. I'd like to see local tax initiatives in developed nations to limit growth to domestic CO2 without compromising the poverty alleviation and growth goals of developing nations. Alas, my world view means political suicide for any politician doomed to try it. And beyond that, I'm out of ideas on just what to do! I agree with you on the fallacy of economic collapse as a result on action on climate change, but it seems bottom-line-bucks is the international language of this particular negotiation. I myself am wary of an economic model based on carbon credits; Carbon is carbon, regardless of where in the world it originates. I wish we didn’t need high level international negotiations to make action a reality. I’d like to see local tax initiatives in developed nations to limit growth to domestic CO2 without compromising the poverty alleviation and growth goals of developing nations. Alas, my world view means political suicide for any politician doomed to try it. And beyond that, I’m out of ideas on just what to do!

]]> By: Chris L http://www.earthfeed.com/meditations-on-the-obamahu-jintao-meeting/#comment-86 Chris L Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:41:11 +0000 http://www.earthfeed.com/?p=341#comment-86 Also, I would be wary to read too much into that article on the Wall Street Journal, which sounds excited as all get-out that Copenhagen might not result in anything substantial. The closing line says it all: "If he and we are lucky, however, the Senate will fail to act too, the EPA will get tied up in court, and the economy will recover faster without the looming burden of higher energy taxes." Stuff and nonsense, I say. Also, I would be wary to read too much into that article on the Wall Street Journal, which sounds excited as all get-out that Copenhagen might not result in anything substantial. The closing line says it all: “If he and we are lucky, however, the Senate will fail to act too, the EPA will get tied up in court, and the economy will recover faster without the looming burden of higher energy taxes.”

Stuff and nonsense, I say.

]]> By: Chris L http://www.earthfeed.com/meditations-on-the-obamahu-jintao-meeting/#comment-85 Chris L Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:36:44 +0000 http://www.earthfeed.com/?p=341#comment-85 Sad post. I've been there. Somehow I've been able to resist falling back in... maybe because I hit rock bottom a couple years back. But I think it's a fallacy that taking action on climate change will result in slowed/destroyed economic development. Not only is there a lot of room for new jobs in overhauling infrastructure, but adaptation (which will obviously become necessary) would damage the economy faaaar more than any preventative measures possibly could, given that it will all take place among increased droughts/floods and all that other stuff you already know about. Just look at how much it's going to cost Las Vegas to deal with their increasing water problems... http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-vine/las-vegas-nervously-watches-the-water-drop (It could be up to $1 trillion. For Las Vegas alone.) Sad post. I’ve been there. Somehow I’ve been able to resist falling back in… maybe because I hit rock bottom a couple years back.

But I think it’s a fallacy that taking action on climate change will result in slowed/destroyed economic development. Not only is there a lot of room for new jobs in overhauling infrastructure, but adaptation (which will obviously become necessary) would damage the economy faaaar more than any preventative measures possibly could, given that it will all take place among increased droughts/floods and all that other stuff you already know about.

Just look at how much it’s going to cost Las Vegas to deal with their increasing water problems…
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-vine/las-vegas-nervously-watches-the-water-drop
(It could be up to $1 trillion. For Las Vegas alone.)

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