Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
The first evening of the ASPO-USA conference kicked off with …the subject of global warming (GW). Why global warming? Because it is what you get when you burn up lots of fossil carbon-based fuels and load the atmosphere with otherwise excess levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). GW is the other side of the coin of Peak Oil.
It is a testament to the power of money that Nicholas Stern’s report should have swung the argument for drastic action, even before anyone has finished reading it. He appears to have demonstrated what many of us suspected: that it would cost much less to prevent runaway climate change than to seek to live with it.
Morales’ gas nationalization complete /
Bolivia waiting for nationalization /
China limits exports of energy intensive commodities /
Miliband calls on UK Chancellor to devise new menu of eco-taxes
Shell president talks about CO2, Calif Prop 87; denies lowering prices for Republicans /
When an oil executive is worried . . . /
Japan hits setbacks in push for energy /
‘Fund clean energy with oil tax’
With the midterm election around the corner, here’s a wacky idea you won’t often hear from our elected leaders: We should raise the tax on gasoline. Not quickly, but substantially.
(The author is professor of economics at Harvard.)
Global warming could cut the world’s annual economic output by as much as 20%, an influential report by Sir Nicholas Stern is expected to say.
Supreme Court tackles global warming /
Tackle climate change or face deep recession /
UK parties bid for the environment /
Australia unveils $500M climate change drive/
Australia: warming to the idea
Green Left: Global warming: looking beyond Kyoto /
Kent Council’s 12 ways to combat climate change /
Climate change ‘will threaten Britain’s water supply’ /
Baffin Island a global warming hot spot
Integration of US energy and foreign policies /
A more efficient US? (not yet)/
UK ‘has squandered oil revenues’
Australia: Trying to avoid the reality of climate change /
Climate change could lead to more failed states: British FM /
UK ministers bow to pressure for climate bill /
When it comes to global warming, market rule poses a mortal danger /
Is the carbon-trade business really ‘green’?
For society as a whole, the manic-depressive nature of markets can have serious and even potentially dangerous consequences. Wild price swings make it difficult for people, companies and governments to plan. It is just such behavior which has characterized the energy markets in recent years.
James Lovelock is now rattling the cages of environmentalists by coming out in favor of nuclear power. His opinion is not easily discounted, because he was the man who convinced the scientific community that the ozone hole was indeed a threat and that governments should ban ozone-destroying CFCs.
