The Environment pt.1, and Steady Eddie

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070307.waltathrone0307/BNStory/National/home

So if Stelmach is coming out with intensity-based greenhouse gas reduction targets, and so is the federal government, what happens and which targets do the companies shoot for?
Now, on to the environment!

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=156df7e6-d490-41c9-8b1f-106fef8763c6&k=0http://www.fcpp.org/main/publication_detail.php?PubID=1601http://www.torontosun.ca/News/Columnists/Goldstein_Lorrie/2007/02/18/3642612-sun.html

and from the Globe:

"Economists have calculated that countries begin to clamp down on sulphur dioxide when per capita GDP reaches $9,000 a year, on particulate pollution when per capita GDP reaches $15,000 a year — a variation on the “Kuznets Curve,” which holds that you have to get dirty before you get rich, and you have to get rich before you get clean. China will get much dirtier. Its per capita GDP reached $1,000 last year. The producer of 18 per cent of the world's GHG emissions, China is gaining fast on Europe (22 per cent) and the United States (21 per cent). The International Energy Agency says China will expand GHG emissions by 120 per cent in the next 20 years, averaging 6 per cent a year, far surpassing Europe and the U.S. For a small-population country such as Canada, with 2 per cent of global emissions, one might ask: Why bother with Kyoto? What difference will it make? Canada produces 160 million tonnes a year of the world's eight billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Were Canada to eliminate all of its GHG emissions, China's increases would replace them — every last ounce — in 18 months. Were Canada to eliminate 10 per cent of its emissions, China's increases would replace them all in 60 days. As noble as self-sacrifice can occasionally be, it must have — somewhere — a rational purpose."

Let's talk global warming. First of all, I believe it exists, but I also believe that it's part of a larger, global trend that's a long-term historical one, and that I believe humans are exacerbating it, not causing it. Secondly, the environmentalist religion scares the fuck out of me. They've thrown all moderation aside, politicized the issue to the point of demonizing all those with a contrary opinion, and turned it into one of mass paranoia and partisanship. Moderation and conservative steps have to be taken, and we can't denounce and discount a single scientific opinion, however contrary, in this mess of partisanship. As John Stuart Mill told us all:

"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind"

Anyways, back to global warming and climate change. Thirdly, I also happen to be utterly pessimistic about the whole situation. From the blind climate partisanship to the hypocrites with "go green!" bumper stickers on their SUVs, but especially towards China. From my perspective, I just find it hard to get in arms about climate change, considering that China would replace ALL of Canada's emissions in 18 months. It's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better, there's no stopping it. There's not much we can do in Canada but adapt, work on bettering environmental issues we can affect, such as pollution in our cities. Beyond that, I can only see the environmental through politico eyes, how each party can best campaign with it, etc. Perhaps I'm some horrid, pessimistic political nerd with a hard-on for pretentious latin, so sue me, I'm also quite right on the issue. The war for global climate change isn't going to be fought in Canada, it's going to be fought in China, India, and Brazil, so the most we can do is sit back and adapt to live with it. The futility over ruining our economy and standard of living for NO gains in the "war" on emissions in the long-term, global scale, is utterly obvious.

Our major focus in Canada must be on adaptation (it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better) and on local issues, aka the original Climate Change act. The air in the cities is ridiculous and it's harming kids, who are the ones growing up with new cases of asthma. Going from small-town Nova Scotia back to Calgary, and the air quality amazes me, it's terrible on the lungs there, I don't even want to imagine how bad it is in the GTA.

We also all need to realize that the environment today has NEVER been better. We can yearn for the good old days, but of what, the London Fog and acid rain? As well, who the hell are we, rich, spoiled Westerners, to tell Chinese or Indian people that they arn't allowed to get rich and prosperous like us. To industrialize and splurge and consume. We got their first, we managed to ruin the environment first, or so they say, so you're not allowed to share in the privileges of the modern age. How callous and pompous can we be? What makes anyone think that they'll take our environmental cults seriously?

Kyoto will be talked about soon. Otherwise, let's all laugh at Al Gore's massive emitting mansion, and his zero-sum emission credit game, credits bought from a company that he owns. Practice what you preach?