Climate Change: Fixing a Critical Climate Accounting Error

Science ^ | October 23, 2009 | Timothy D. Searchinger, et al

[StopGlobalWhining]

CO2 Accounting Error in US House Cap and Trade Bill Creates Perverse Incentives to Clear Forests

Several recent studies estimate that this error, applied globally, would create strong incentives to clear land as carbon caps tighten. One study estimated that a global CO2 target of 450 ppm under this accounting would cause bioenergy crops to expand to displace virtually all the world's natural forests and savannahs by 2065, releasing up to 37 gigatons (Gt) of CO2 per year (comparable to total human CO2 emissions today). Another study predicts that, based solely on economic considerations, bioenergy could displace 59% of the world's natural forest cover and release an additional 9 Gt of CO2 per year to achieve a 50% "cut" in greenhouse gases by 2050.

Note: The text of this article is © 2009 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All Rights Reserved and cannot be posted on this web site. The complete article is available in the 23 October 2009, Volume 326 issue of Science, and online to AAAS members at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/326/5952/527

[StopGlobalWhining]

Another example of unintended consequence by both American and international bureaucrats who believe that their superior positions entitle them to regulate the behavior and activities of others so as to conform to their world view.

From the article in the journal Science:

This accounting error has carried over into the European Union's cap-and-trade law and the climate bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives (1, 12, 13). Both regulate emissions from energy but not land use and then erroneously exempt CO2 emitted from bioenergy use. In theory, the accounting system would work if caps covered all land-use emissions and sinks. However, this approach is both technically and politically challenging as it is extremely hard to measure all land-use emissions or to distinguish human and natural causes of many emissions (e.g., fires).

[Tawiskaro]

[blackbart.223]

"Another example of unintended consequence by both American and international bureaucrats who believe that their superior positions entitle them to regulate the behavior and activities of others so as to conform to their world view."

That is what this is all about anyway. Not to mention Al Gore making large amounts of money from a scam.

[blackbart.223]

Good one. Gore is a poltroon at best.

[StopGlobalWhining]

For the abstract of this article click on Science^ (Under the article title and to the left of the date), or see http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/326/5952/527

[doug from upland]

Great ice storm photos here

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hoax-slayer.com/images/ice-storm-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ice-storm-photos2.html&usg=__YhrM3AQ6JCRm-TotVWEtu4iLXpE=&h=504&w=758&sz=50&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=Nny_5DntitY7oM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=142&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dice%2Bstorm%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

[Tawiskaro]

Thanks, Doug. Nice images. We’re about due for an ice storm here in Buffalo. I have my generator ready to go.

[Amagi]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[doug from upland]

YOUTUBE SING-ALONG MOCKING OF GORE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVMoNHY1dLo

[_Jim]

CO2 Accounting Error in US House Cap and Trade Bill Creates Perverse Incentives to Clear Forests

And convert them into millions of board-feet of lumber (and effectively 'sequestering the carbon')?

Way to go!

[Wolfhound77]

“Another example of unintended consequence by both American and international bureaucrats who believe that their superior positions entitle them to regulate the behavior and activities of others so as to conform to their world view.”

So revolt. They can’t make you do a damn thing you don’t want to. Make them earn it.