Copenhagen and the environment
I have avoided writing about the Copenhagen Conference on the Environment so far, since we have all been bombarded by the media about if for what seems like weeks. Given that the media is predominantly left-wing, and that the conference is about the environment, you could predict a wave of self-righteous chest thumping news bites about global warming, the excesses of the rich western developed nations and the sufferings of the poor developing nations (they don't talk about under-developed nations any more since it's considered demeaning).
In these snips of information it is of course the rich nations that are causing all the pollution by burning too much carbon-containing fossil fuels (coal, oil, gasoline) and it is the poor African, S. American and Asian countries that are suffering as a result. But, wait a minute, China is the second largest polluter in the world followed by India, and both of them are supporting the poor countries in demanding money from the developed coutries in order to make up for the effects of global warming. This includes the melting of the ice caps and glaciers causing the sea to rise and thus inundate low populated areas such as the Pacific islands (Nauru, Fiji) and estuaries (Bangladesh, India).
This is all based on the presumption that not only is Global Warming a fact, but that it is due (at least in part) to the pollution of the industrialized world. But, then if China is regarded as a "developing country" that means that the US and Britain should be paying China because of their contribution to global warming, when China itself is a major polluter. So the whole system reeks of hypocrisy, and the walk-out of the poor countries demanding huge payments from the West is an example of industrial blackmail on an international level.
This week the heads of state are due to arrive to decide on the practical outcome of the conference. They will have to agree to a reduction of pollution levels (CO2) in each of their countries according to an international standard. At present the levels of reduction required are in the range 12-50% by 2020, but after some grumbling and trading, they may well end up between 20-40%, with the industrialized countries paying fines to the poor countries if they don't meet their target in time. There are also issues of water pollution and health outcomes that are being discussed.
Pres. Shimon Peres, representing Israel, has said that he will aim for a 30% reduction by Israel, even if the agreed limit is 20%. Israel is not a highly industrialized country, yet it causes much of the air pollution in the area, mainly from auto emissions and power stations. It would be greatly in Israel's interest if the reduction in carbon emissions worldwide resulted in a move away from oil and gasoline to alternative means of power production, such as solar, wind and wave power. The greater and the quicker the reduction of dependence on Arab oil the better for Israel's future.
In these snips of information it is of course the rich nations that are causing all the pollution by burning too much carbon-containing fossil fuels (coal, oil, gasoline) and it is the poor African, S. American and Asian countries that are suffering as a result. But, wait a minute, China is the second largest polluter in the world followed by India, and both of them are supporting the poor countries in demanding money from the developed coutries in order to make up for the effects of global warming. This includes the melting of the ice caps and glaciers causing the sea to rise and thus inundate low populated areas such as the Pacific islands (Nauru, Fiji) and estuaries (Bangladesh, India).
This is all based on the presumption that not only is Global Warming a fact, but that it is due (at least in part) to the pollution of the industrialized world. But, then if China is regarded as a "developing country" that means that the US and Britain should be paying China because of their contribution to global warming, when China itself is a major polluter. So the whole system reeks of hypocrisy, and the walk-out of the poor countries demanding huge payments from the West is an example of industrial blackmail on an international level.
This week the heads of state are due to arrive to decide on the practical outcome of the conference. They will have to agree to a reduction of pollution levels (CO2) in each of their countries according to an international standard. At present the levels of reduction required are in the range 12-50% by 2020, but after some grumbling and trading, they may well end up between 20-40%, with the industrialized countries paying fines to the poor countries if they don't meet their target in time. There are also issues of water pollution and health outcomes that are being discussed.
Pres. Shimon Peres, representing Israel, has said that he will aim for a 30% reduction by Israel, even if the agreed limit is 20%. Israel is not a highly industrialized country, yet it causes much of the air pollution in the area, mainly from auto emissions and power stations. It would be greatly in Israel's interest if the reduction in carbon emissions worldwide resulted in a move away from oil and gasoline to alternative means of power production, such as solar, wind and wave power. The greater and the quicker the reduction of dependence on Arab oil the better for Israel's future.
posted by Jack Cohen at 1:25 PM
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