How did this get passed?

[the_only_turek_fan]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...604?hub=Canada

The bill, which must go to the Senate before it receives royal assent, will require the government to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Is this even possible?

[Burninator]

I think it's pretty easy for everyone in government to set a lofty goal like that when not one of them will be around when the deadline is closing in.

[Vedder]

Just reading the article it seems that the plan has little hope of actually being implemented.

[the_only_turek_fan]

To do this you would have to completely stop driving, generate no electricity and stop all oil sands production.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

To do this you would have to completely stop driving, generate no electricity and stop all oil sands production.

And shut down all feed lots.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

To do this you would have to completely stop driving, generate no electricity and stop all oil sands production.

Nuclear, solar, wind power?

[Locke]

Pffft. By 2050 we'll have been conquered by space aliens. No worries.

[Agamemnon]

Well... we've got 42 years to make it happen. 42 years ago it was 1966... I think things can change quite a bit in 4 decades, it may not be completely unreasonable.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

To do this you would have to completely stop driving, generate no electricity and stop all oil sands production.

Yeah, we'd have to go back to a 1989 level of technology. Man, I remember listening to Jesus Jones on my hand-cranked CD-player, and getting sweet neon decals on my horse and buggy. It's amazing when you think about the fact that cars and electricity were all post 1990 inventions.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Nuclear, solar, wind power?

The only industrial viable technology in that is Nuclear. And we all know how well that is received. NIMBY.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Yeah, we'd have to go back to a 1989 level of technology. Man, I remember listening to Jesus Jones on my hand-cranked CD-player, and getting sweet neon decals on my horse and buggy. It's amazing when you think about the fact that cars and electricity were all post 1990 inventions.

Go FLAMES GO!

[Locke]

Listen, there is no sense in cleaning up the place if the aliens are just going to take it over anyways. We might as well leave the problem in their hands. If they want the mess, they can have it.

Seriously, in 40 years a lot can happen. But its not going to miraculously happen on its own, I think the time frame is reasonable if someone is actually going to pro-actively do something about it.

If not, then hell, we might not make it that far anyways, so whats the worry?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

To do this you would have to completely stop driving, generate no electricity and stop all oil sands production.

I think over the next 42 years, there will be enough technological breakthroughs that this goal is possible. Just think about how much technology has changes from the 60s to now.... and it's only accelerating. You need to set the goal before you can make the acheivement, just like anything is science.

I give the government bonus points for doing this.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I give the government bonus points for doing this.

Wasn't this an NDP private member's bill?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Wasn't this an NDP private member's bill?

Yeah, but it was still approved by the House.

I think 42 years is a long enough time that gradual changes can be made to industry without upsetting the economic balance. The worst that can happen is that we don't meet the goal but still cut emissions to a respectable level. I don't really see a downside.... at least, I don't see the sky falling. And say if it does become apparent that we can't do it, then you scrap it, but there is no harm in setting goals and trying.

[Metro Gnome]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I give the government bonus points for doing this.

Which is entirely why governments come up with nonsensical "goals" like this. No one can possibly determine what's going to happen in the next 40 years, or how feasible or possible it will be to accomplish. In addition, the end-date is so far away, all those making these grandiose promises about an "80% reduction" will probably be dead (and no one will remember these pledges by that time anyways). In the short-term, however, they get their backs patted by the credulous electorate. It's like a 5 year-old telling his parents he plans to be a doctor that cures cancer when he's 50 so he can bask in their warmth of their approval.

[tkflames]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Yeah, but it was still approved by the House.

I think 42 years is a long enough time that gradual changes can be made to industry without upsetting the economic balance. The worst that can happen is that we don't meet the goal but still cut emissions to a respectable level. I don't really see a downside.... at least, I don't see the sky falling. And say if it does become apparent that we can't do it, then you scrap it, but there is no harm in setting goals and trying.

The worst that can happen is that we ignore this problem until 2048 much like we have ignored all previous emission targets and then we may really be in trouble. Having said that, with the way oil prices are rising and truck manufacturing plants are closing, I for one think this problem will a) fix itself and b) (wrong as this may be) affect mostly those that don't have the power to do anything about it. People in the lower middle class and people in developing countries.

[foofighter15]

I for one welcome our completely green overlords

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

I for one welcome our completely green overlords

you beat me to it!

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by Locke

Pffft. By 2050 we'll have been conquered by space aliens. No worries.

Not on my watch Locke, not on my watch.