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by Scott Carlin
December 8th was a Global Day of Action on Climate Change. Pete Seeger sung and stumped for planet earth. But it was a relatively mild day of raised awareness. All of that changed in the last 24 hours. Climate activists are turning more ominous, while oil and gas interests (aka the Bush administration) are digging in for a protracted fight in Bali . Perhaps the problems in Bali were unavoidable. There are deep disagreements regarding how to proceed. Cap and trade schemes were adopted by the EU after Kyoto , but have been criticized for their loopholes, costs, and lack of effectiveness. The Bush administration favors non-mandatory carbon targets and investments in new technology. Others prefer taxing carbon, mandating technological standards, or placing restraints on fossil fuel production. Meanwhile the climate crisis intensifies. Even the Pope has weighed in on climate change this week.
The most important article of the week is written by Ross Gelbspan who offers an alarming and controversial critique of both inaction and “the notion that we can solve the climate problem.” A former Boston Globe journalist, Gelbspan has consistently been on the cutting edge of climate pronouncements this decade. He now believes it is too late to avert planet-wide disasters. Gelpsan says we should recognize that “this historical era of nationalism has become a stubborn, increasingly toxic impediment to our collective future.” Gelbspan argues our energies must now focus on the local. His discussion of 6’ sea-level rises has dire implications for Long Island coastal tourism. South Shore beaches would be wiped out leaving billions of dollars in property damage. Another implication of his article is that we have to prepare for the worst on our own, including New Orlean’s style abdication of governmental assistance following disasters. Gelspan’s basic thesis is climate activists are fighting the wrong war; the carbon cancer plaguing planet earth has now metastasized. The Pope this week specifically criticized this kind of alarmism (see link above). We can expect Gelbspan’s argument to be repeated with more frequency in the U.S. – because of Gelbspan’s stature – but these claims will be harshly shut down by opponents for its alarmism. Put differently, the war of words is intensifying; we are entering a new era of climate rhetoric driven by contending fears for the future. Expect the politics – on the streets and in legislative halls – to turn more strident as well.
Also worth reviewing is Amy Goodman’s comments on Gore’s Nobel acceptance speech. Goodman reminds us that Ted Glick is now on his 99th day of liquid-only fasting. Glick has pledged to continue his fast through the end of the year to pressure Congress into passing climate legislation this session. Ted Glick’s blog offers a quick review of Gelbspan’s essay.
There is also a well written article in the Wall St. Journal by Gwyn Prins and Steve Rayner explaining why they believe cap and trade has (and will continue to be) a failure. They call for raising R&D and technology investments to “war time levels” – an astonishing argument for the Wall St. Journal’s opinion page. Its editorials are typically blind to there being any climate problem at all!
Bottom line, as climate change intensifies our ability to change course is becoming more intractable. An interesting 24 hours.
Filed under: Global Warming
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