I don't think any environmentalist actually expects Americans to be martyrs. There are many disadvantaged parents. No one expects them to give up food and medicine for more expensive transportation alternatives, but, it's coming along.
We know a significant emission problem was coal fired electric plants. They are disappearing if not gone by now. That does mean the American public can relax, in reality this is only the beginning. And no one should think environmentalists hate coal. That isn't the truth, but, the facts are in and Earth cannot handle high greenhouse gas emissions. So, there has to RESPONSIBLE changes, this is some of them.
January 25, 2016
By Clifford Krauss and Diane Cardwell
...For the climate accord to work (click here) governments must resist the lure of cheap fossil fuels in favor of policies that encourage and, in many cases, require the use of zero-carbon energy sources. But those policies can be expensive and politically unpopular, especially as traditional fuels become ever more affordable.
...“This
will be a litmus test for the governments — whether or not they are
serious about what they have done in Paris,” said Fatih Birol, executive
director of the International Energy Agency.
So
far, there is no sign that the world’s two largest energy consumers —
the United States and China — are wavering. With those two countries
staying the course, albeit in the early days since the signing, there is
optimism among backers of the accord that the momentum is too strong to
stop. And despite the recent turmoil in energy markets, renewable
industries are prospering.
“The
trend toward much greater penetration of low-carbon energy driven by
policy and technological advancements is going to continue,” said Jason
Bordoff, director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia
University and a former top aide to President Obama. Despite the lower
fuel costs, he added, “technological alternatives and policy drivers
that are reducing demand for fossil fuels are already really starting to
take a bite.”...
I don't think there is a litmus test. This agreement is a matter of getting it right. All 196 countries are making commitments. They are looking to make their commitments real. I think this agreement has more of a "Quality Improvement" methodology. The idea is to find the best ideas and spread them around the world while recognizing methods that don't work.
Look, this is a planet. People live hear. The biotic content of Earth has been taking a beating and all everyone can think about is money from natural resources. It's crazy. This is our common home. What's every one doing?
Maybe providing a new carbon footprint equation might be helpful, but, the ideas haven't changed.
By the way, did every see what a Wind Turbine Technicians is making these days? Have a little respect. Maybe even admiration, right?
,,,In China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, the government implemented a new rule that no matter how low world crude oil prices may fall, the price of gasoline and diesel will continue to be set as though the world price of oil were still $40 a barrel. The goal is to prevent gasoline and diesel from becoming so cheap that China’s citizens would start consuming it indiscriminately....
That is absolutely heroic by China. It really makes an interesting comparison of different types of governance. China can make a policy and it matters, but, look at the USA's capitalism. If the USA Congress actually did something like that it would be very helpful, but, that won't happen and the market pressures are allowed to work.
Case in point:
...In Spain, the development of renewables has slowed to a crawl since the government started weakening support in 2009 because of an economic downturn. In Britain, analysts warn that the wind and solar industries could collapse as the government shifts subsidies away from renewables; two global wind developers recently canceled projects there. And in the United States, when an important tax credit lapsed briefly in 2013, installations of new wind farms all but ceased, falling 92 percent for the year....
What are people suppose to do when there are not realistic options? How many Americans would drive a better car if they could afford it and yes, I think electric cars are better cars. And then it gets to be ironic to realize the electric plug is powered by fracked gas. It is still better than using gasoline, but, it is not zero emissions.
,,,In China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, the government implemented a new rule that no matter how low world crude oil prices may fall, the price of gasoline and diesel will continue to be set as though the world price of oil were still $40 a barrel. The goal is to prevent gasoline and diesel from becoming so cheap that China’s citizens would start consuming it indiscriminately....
That is absolutely heroic by China. It really makes an interesting comparison of different types of governance. China can make a policy and it matters, but, look at the USA's capitalism. If the USA Congress actually did something like that it would be very helpful, but, that won't happen and the market pressures are allowed to work.
Case in point:
...In Spain, the development of renewables has slowed to a crawl since the government started weakening support in 2009 because of an economic downturn. In Britain, analysts warn that the wind and solar industries could collapse as the government shifts subsidies away from renewables; two global wind developers recently canceled projects there. And in the United States, when an important tax credit lapsed briefly in 2013, installations of new wind farms all but ceased, falling 92 percent for the year....
What are people suppose to do when there are not realistic options? How many Americans would drive a better car if they could afford it and yes, I think electric cars are better cars. And then it gets to be ironic to realize the electric plug is powered by fracked gas. It is still better than using gasoline, but, it is not zero emissions.
