Europe v. America on CO2

Wall Street Journal ^ | December 14, 2006 | Wall Street Journal

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Climate-change activists and Democrats on Capitol Hill are gearing up to push the U.S. to limit so-called greenhouse gases. In their telling, America must save mankind from an eco-Apocalypse by adopting the arbitrary targets popular with Europe and other Kyoto Protocol signatories.

Well, let's look at results in the real world, as opposed to this Kyoto spin. Recent data show that placing artificial limits on emissions hasn't done all that much to reduce emissions, and may even be counterproductive. Contrary to caricature, the American approach offers more promise than Europe's.

As the nearby chart shows, CO2 emissions growth in the U.S. far outpaced that of the 15 "old" members of the European Union from 1990-95 and especially from 1995-2000, when Mr. Climate Change himself, Al Gore, was the second-most powerful man in America. But, lo, the U.S. has outperformed the EU-15 since 2000, according to the latest U.N. data. America's rate of growth in CO2 emissions from 2000-04 was eight percentage points lower than from 1995-2000.

By comparison, the EU-15 saw an increase of 2.3 points. Only two EU states, Britain and Sweden, are on track to meet their Kyoto emissions commitments by 2010. Six more might meet their targets if they approve and implement new, as yet unspecified, policies to restrict carbon output, while seven of the 15 will miss their goals.

Cynics play down America's improvement, noting that its economy cooled from the earlier years to 2000-04. True, but the EU-15 also had lower economic growth in the latest period and still saw its emissions growth rate double. What's more, the U.S. economy expanded 38% faster than the EU-15 in 2000-04, and its population twice as fast. So the trend lines, for now, are reversing...

[FreedomPoster]

I don't doubt it, but do you have a link on that?

[Alas Babylon!]

Here's an all but forgotten culprit, let off the hook by Kyoto:

[upchuck]

Dang trees! Yes, the trees should inhale only.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I was in France in 1986, albeit for only two days, and I got near only two people with rancid body odor, as far as I could tell.

[Calvin Locke]

Yeah, but didn't Germany say they were going to phase out nukes, while the rest of the world is building, or
at least, reconsidering nuclear power?

[ModelBreaker]

We are a net absorber of CO2, not an emitter. The rest of the world should copy us.

I would be interested in a reference for this fact. Journal article would be great, popular science, whatever. I would like to be able to cite it.

[CherylBower]

Yes, but if you spend enough time in the monkey house, you get used to the smell and no longer notice it.

[sergeantdave]

Former Vice-President Al Gore, inventor of the internet, hopes to train 1,000 storytellers to spread the myth of man-made global warming.

Gore is on a one-pony carnival tour to promote his fanciful movie titled “An Inconvenient Truth.” The film is a hodgepodge of dramatic scenes of violent nature at work, concluding that ordinary people doing ordinary things are the quintessential evil force causing global warming and destroying the earth.

Gore complains that awareness of the “climate crisis” peaks and then is washed away as sane people turn to more important matters like buying cereal for the kids or cleaning the cat box.

Because normal people won’t stay permanently fooled by Gore’s chicken little warnings, he hopes to train a small army of fog peddlers to confound and indoctrinate small children, gullible college students and a stray dog or two.

The Gore hustlers will come armed with a slide show and heads filled with junk science to promote the global warming religion at Rotary Clubs and high schools.

Gore said he hasn’t decided on running for president in 2008, but he might accept the title of Chief Kettle Banger of Global Warming cult.

[Volunteer]

"The government of France (I can't say I have anything substantial against her people) is like its poodles. Just freaking annoying to look at and to listen to, but mostly harmless.

THAT, my friend, is funny.

[etcetera]

OK...America will sponsor a "Hold You Breath Day", say on January 1st of each year. At precisely 12 noon in each American time zone, everyone will stop what they're doing and hold their breath for as long as they can.

Local jurisdictions can sponsor "Hold Your Breath" contests, with prizes to be determined by local sponsprship (passing out is automatic disqualification). This thing could go international much like Nathan's Annual Hot Dog eating contest. Maybe it could even become an Olympic event. 8-D

[aligncare]

Dave, Dave, Dave....it's global warming, don'tcha know?

[proud_yank]

BTTT

Not to mention that the 1997 vote AGAINST Kyoto was 95-0.

I believe humans cause global warming(TM) ONLY (and I mean ONLY) when it comes to using nuclear power to combat it :-)

[proud_yank]

Hasn't it changed to 'Abrubt Climate Change' now?

[proud_yank]

Oops, I meant to say 'Abrubt Climate Change(TM)'

[aligncare]

My local paper, The Journal--a liberal rag--in Orange County, NY, had a "news" item last Friday...a local family was inviting the public to their house for a free screening of 'A Convenient Lie'. The article said they had room for up to 75 people...some house!

[aligncare]

Hey, p_y, the only thing the left believes in more fervently than human-caused global warming, is their belief in the certain destruction of humankind by the use of nuclear powered generators.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

This stuff is getting so old I forget where I saw it. And you sure aren't going to find it searching the dinosaur media.

Fortunately it's pretty well documented in more recent literature. I give you an overview, along with this and this.

A rethinking of the ocean's role, as well as the European contribution.

You'll have to read fast before the Dems and the RINO's censor these sources.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Sorry I missed you.

See my post #38.

[FreedomPoster]

Thanks.

The level of brainwashing on this stuff is pretty breathtaking. There are many who take as a given that A) any warming climate change is anthropogenic and that B) CO2 emissions are leading to runaway warming.