Thursday, September 03, 2009

Why Mandate Carbon Cuts?

Global carbon emissions still may be rising, but don't blame the U.S. In fact, total carbon emissions dropped in 2008 and the first half of 2009--back to the levels of about the year 2000. That's without ratifying Kyoto. Meanwhile, China produces more atmospheric carbon than the U.S..

Yes, it wasn't just increased energy efficiency--the recession's effect on GDP growth likely contributed to the cut. But that just underscores the devastating economic consequences of cutting carbon:
Some economic models find that target impossible to reach without drastic action, like cutting the world population by a third. Other models show that achieving the target by a high CO2 tax would reduce world GDP a staggering 12.9% in 2100--the equivalent of $40 trillion a year.
Remind me again why Obama's pushing "cap-and-trade" and flirting with a "Kyoto II" while simultaneously trying to recover from recession? Oh, yeah: socialism.

3 comments:

Assistant Village Idiot said...

Appearance, not reality.

@nooil4pacifists said...

That too.

OBloodyHell said...

> while simultaneously trying to recover from recession? Oh, yeah: socialism.

Cluelessness. Sheer, utter cluelessness.

Either on the part of supporters or on the part of the admin, or some admixture of both.