 | The Bullroarer - Thursday 25 October 2007 | The Oil Drum: Australia/New Zealand | Australia: The Place To Be (Part 1) |  |
15 comments on The Bullroarer - Friday 26 October 2007
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15 comments on The Bullroarer - Friday 26 October 2007
Comments can no longer be added to this story.
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I shouldn't worry about it. No country has done anything about CO2 yet. Europe is totally non-compliant with Kyoto. So in Japan. The talk is just hot air. Carbon trading is about paying poor countries to cut their emissions so you can ignore the issue and feel better about yourself. The real interest is energy security and Kyoto is just a cover for that.
For example, the UK government's published estimates on future oil and gas consumption are factoring in a rise of consumption. We had Tony Blair saying global warming was the most important thing. So what's the rest of the government doing? Maximum economic growth through record levels of immigration. And this in a country that will be trying to import 80% of its oil and 90% of its gas in 2020. It's still GDP first and to hell with the planet.
Kyoto 2 will get nowhere so save your blood pressure. China has been the biggest emitter of C02 since 2006. If you include methane from paddy fields they have been the biggest emitter of GHGs for some time. Will they sign Kyoto 2? No! Will India? No! 75% of global GDP is exempt from Kyoto 1 and the rest haven't done anything.
Frankly, the environment suffers from what economics call the 'tragedy of the commons'. It doesn't belong to anyone so no one defends it. It's also impossible to measure or police CO2 emissions.
You are just been given a dummy to suck to comfort yourself. The only hope with CO2 is peak oil taking down the economy IMO.
No country has done anything about CO2 yet.
Recent New Zealand Government initiatives might contradict that kind of thinking.
They have produced some impressive sounding targets, are introducing carbon trading, and have effectively placed a 10 year moratorium on any new fossil fuel generators being built for main supply (I understand small backup generators are still allowed).
They are aiming for 90% renewable power by 2020? 2050? – Something of that order.
Rail extension and electrification is going ahead in Auckland after much fighting and uphill struggle by advocacy groups like FAST,CAA, walkauckland, and the campaign for better transport.
Ok, I concede that talk is only talk until something actually starts being constructed, but it is a positive step all the same.
It is interesting to note that some of the strategies and campaigns to reduce the boogie-monster of climate change (I acknowledge it just don’t think we small countries can do diddly-squat about it so shouldn’t bother) actually also help with peak oil problems – improved public transport/rail/Renewables etc.
While I’d rather the politicians and uncle Helen and all focused on Peak Oil as their burning issue rather than the wonderful political straw mad of climate change which gets them out and globe trotting, some of the changes made because of it are useful to the peak oil cause (if only accidentally)