Community | May 15, 2009 | 11 comments

Climate bill in Congress doesn't come close to adequate emissions cuts

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/14/us-climate-change-bill

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JanforGore
It wasn't a hard call to make that this bill would be watered down to suit everyone's interests over the needs of our planet. Politics simply cannot rise to the level of consciousness necessary to deal with this crisis efficiently and adequately. But yes, I will be told again that it is better than nothing. But is it? With 17% reductions by 2020 (taking the place of the original goal of 20% by 2020 that was already pathetic) put that up against the emissions percentages of deforestation alone that will occur by 2020. Now does it stack up? I don't think so. Giving more leeway to utilities and oil companies with lessened targets and free pollution permits won't get us there either. So as has been stated many times before by many people, it comes down to us. I have washed my hands of expecting anything resembling a REAL climate bill based on the science and not their own aspirations coming from this Congress.
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11 comments // Climate bill in Congress doesn't come close to adequate emissions cuts

  • twitterbot
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Well for me, even if it passes with these numbers it fails, because that is all we will get, and it isn't enough. I am sorry, but I am tired of just settling. If this climate crisis is such an emergency why aren't you all out in the streets demanding what is NEEDED which is what scientists are telling us is needed, instead of settling for what politicians are only willing to give? We are past capitulation. Who are they to dictate the future? Even scientists do not place much faith in politics doing what is necessary to mitigate this crisis. And you can make all the laws you want, it is enforcing them that will be in my view close to impossible at this point. But I suppose we as Americans have become so used to mediocrity in government that even a slight notch above it is something to celebrate. So we will once again have to take what we get and like it. So, when are climate project members actually going to be protesting coal plants? When does it go beyond only appeasing politicians?

    • 3 years ago
  • jefftego
    • 0
      jefftego  

    • Hi Jan. Commenting from a climate project event in Nashville. Yes, the numbers are disappointing ( for now) but this still must pass. It's a very big step forward for those voting on it. It would be really bad politically if this fails.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Thanks futuregen. I wish more people in this country cared about this instead of allowing their politics to dictate their opinions.

    • 3 years ago
  • futuregen
  • futuregen
  • futuregen
  • futuregen
    • 0
      futuregen  
    • Image

    • Get off the grid with L16 batteries. Solar, wind or even an engine run on ethanol or biodiesel can power these with an invertor. You can charge them off your car or hook to a Prius.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • THREE TIMES this good man has gone up on that hill since 2007 to do as he did in the seventies in warning them of what is to come by their apathy. What happened to his 10 year 100% renewable challenge however? Congress did not even consider it, and that includes Democrats.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
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    • Imagine this as just an example: Nigeria's forests will disappear by 2020.

      This is sad. But it is what happens when you expect a political solution to a moral crisis. The most pressing crisis of our generation, and this is the best they can do after finding hundreds of billions of our dollars to give to banks and insurance companies to keep their precious political standing. Shame on them.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • From the article:

      But the ambitious global warming and energy agenda introduced to Congress six weeks ago, has been weakened in a number of key areas by the compromises with the Democratic hold-outs.

      Further details of the draft are expected today. But it now seems clear that America will come nowhere close to European targets for cutting carbon emissions – a shortfall that could provoke a backlash in the international community looking to Obama to provide leadership on climate change. Significant US commitment to greenhouse gas cuts is seen as essential to sealing a global deal to fight global warming at a UN summit in Copenhagen in December.

      The bill, which began to take shape yesterday, bears the imprint of a fierce PR offensive by the oil and gas industry against Obama's green agenda. The lobbying and advertisement campaign is set to intensify next week as Congress begins the formal drafting process.

      In its current form, the bill now calls for a 17% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020.

      That falls below the original target of 20%.

      However, it is still higher than the 14% reduction supported by Obama and the 6% floated by Congress last year.

      The new version of the bill also lowers the bar for electricity companies to generate a portion of their power from renewable sources, such as wind or solar. The first version had set a standard of 25% by 2025.

      That has now been watered down to 15% by 2020, and as low as 12% for some parts of the country that have not developed renewable energy.

      end of excerpt

    • 3 years ago
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