Quote:
Originally Posted by transplant99
Interesting article Mel and a couple things from it. (This was a mere 32 years ago BTW)
Good grief.
This is EXACTLY why there is so much more information needed on the current "warming" trend on earth.
Could you imagine if they had knee-jerked and done something so stupid back then?
Thank god humans are tardy.
|
Yeah, it's ridiculous what the wackos are proposing today - reduce fuel use, put a price on pollution, encourage clean development in poor countries as they industrialize, etc. Knee jerk reactions like this are certain to end up creating irreparable harm to the planet if it turns out humans are not the major cause of the current warming trend.
Bottom line, if they are wrong, we still create benefits at some alleged cost to economic 'growth', but even the cost is arguable. As an example, I'm currently working on a project for one of the oil majors that has been initiated purely as a result of Alberta 12% reduction target on GHG intensity. The project should pay for itself, and will reduce emissions by the company by roughly the 12% target.
Even if 25 years from now we find out global warming is completely a natural phenomenon, there is a very definite benefit to the actions being taken today. Can anyone on the business as usual side of the debate say the same if they turn out to be wrong? Put it this way - if what I think is wrong, the downside is we've under exploited energy reserves and are possibly poorer from a GDP perspective, but we've also preserved non-renewable resources and reduced other emissions associated with burning fossil fuels beyond GHG's. If what others think is wrong, we
may have a higher GDP to help pay for flooding, more hurricanes, etc, etc.
I'm comfortable on my side of the equation up until probably 80% or 90% likelihood I'm wrong. What level of certainty do those on the business as usual side need before they say take action?
In a completely serious question, I would love to hear a rationale for continuing with business as usual. The only one I can make is that you are 100% certain global warming is natural with no human contribution. Are there other reasons?