Bad news for climate change
If you’re concerned about climate change and the long term impact from burning fossil fuels, then you probably don’t want to know about the outcomes from this week’s Asia-Pacific climate change meeting. The group announced that they have no plans to cut back on coal usage, instead looking towards technological means of reducing polution. The CSIRO (the main non-academic scientific research group in Australia) chief scientist says that the technologies suggested are not currently available, but expects that “a number” of them may be available in 5-10 years time. You’ll forgive me if I’m a little skeptical.
The response seems generally to be pretty negative, particularly (but not unsurprisingly) amongst climate change bodies. It seems that most of the seats at the table were taken, not by climate change experts or representatives of renewable energy projects but by representatives from teh coal industry, etc.
It’s kind of depressing, but unsurprising. I know, however, that Jenny will be either depressed, outraged or some combination of the above when she hears about it.
But again, probably not surprised.
People should be far more positive about APPCDC than they are. Look at the work plan; they’re setting out to reinvent the core sectors of industrial society! This is far more ambitious than Kyoto.
More from me here. Also, peak oil vs global warming.