All the world's climate change policies are destined to fail.

[Bored Wombat]

Governments can't limit the use of fossil fuel if they keep promoting its extraction, says George Monbiot.

It's difficult to fault the logic of Monbiot's podium on last week's nature podcast.

"The global policy for preventing run-away climate change seems to me to work like this:

1) Encourage companies to extract as much coal, gas and oil from the ground as they can

and then

2) Pray to Almighty God that they won't be used."

His argument goes that although there are policies in place to reduce demand for fossil fuels there are none on the planet that reduce the supply. And note that the only proven method of geosequestration is leaving the damned stuff in the ground.

Listen to his piece here.

[Wowbagger]

With the price of oil, everyone wants a piece of the cake. Or many many pieces.

[Windguy]

The only true way of stopping climate change is a three pronged approach. Slow down on the fossil fuel burning, start removing CO2 from the atmosphere and minimise the symptoms (local and global) until the threat is annulled.

I don't need to repeat the methods since I've probably overstated them. But the current turn your lights off approach will not work in the long run.

[delboy]

Dubya must read this forum

Bush: America Must 'Get Off Oil'

"Let me start first by telling you that America has got to change its habits," said Bush. "We've got to get off oil. And the reason why is, first, oil is - dependency on oil presents a real challenge to our economy."

[spot1234]

I think that nuclear power is the way to go because that will at least allow us to keep consuming (a habit that we have gotten used to) without burning loads of fossil fuels. plus encouraging bike use, public transport and electric cars. Its not that impractical and wouldn't lead to the end of civilization as we know it.

[cbacba]

not to worry. the great depression was not even a minor dimple on the economic line when scaled to cover the range required for what gets proposed as beneficial, especially aorund here.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by cbacba

not to worry. the great depression was not even a minor dimple on the economic line when scaled to cover the range required for what gets proposed as beneficial, especially aorund here.

Do nothing and the same thing will occur.

Australia urged to take lead on climate change - earth - 22 February 2008 - New Scientist Environment

Garnaut Review Web Site: Welcome

[hefler]

One thing seldom mentioned. Lets say we (as in the planet) take action on climate change, but it's the wrong action. What then?

[spot1234]

Originally Posted by hefler

One thing seldom mentioned. Lets say we (as in the planet) take action on climate change, but it's the wrong action. What then?

I don't get you - cutting CO2 emissions is the only action we can take how you do that, thats the problem, what conceivable action would be the wrong action?

[hefler]

Biofuels for instance are cited by many as a green solution when they're often the exact opposite.