Some people will be acutely affected by climate change mitigation efforts, like those in the coal industry. A much much larger number of people will benefit by avoiding huge future economic costs. This is why we have representative government, to make the tough decisions that are clearly needed. But Rouge's point is pretty bang on. We've known about this problem for 30 years now, we've known that it's been a serious problem. We've continued to invest in productive capital as though it wasn't a serious problem. We're now whining that it's going to be more expensive to do something about climate change even though we've known that these investments were short sighted and ill advised. Alberta is pretty much the definitional example of that fact. It's a bit rich to cry poor when you've known about the problem for so long and have made short term riches in the interim regardless.
|