The Inconvenient Truth

Yard Dart · May 17, 2014

The inconvenient truth President Obama denies about climate change is that China’s refusal to cooperate in international efforts to address the problem makes U.S. efforts to slow its pace futile. Moreover, his policies severely handicap America’s ability to mitigate its consequences.

The global climate has gone through profound cycles of cooling and warming since long before humans walked the Earth. While public figures and some scientists may disagree, the majority of researchers have concluded that human activities – in particular, greenhouse gas emissions – are now a significant cause of global warming, and they are urging concerted international action.

Carbon dioxide composes 80 percent of harmful emissions. Having failed to win congressional approval for a system of permits to reduce emissions, the president has unilaterally targeted coal-fired electric utilities and fuel used in transportation to reduce U.S. emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels.

Those actions are unnecessary and harmful.

The global climate has gone through profound cycles of cooling and warming since long before humans walked the Earth.
In recent years, more abundant and cheaper natural gas has motivated electric utilities to switch from coal, and energy intensive manufacturers in metals, chemicals and the like have made remarkable, cost-saving progress to reduce energy use.

Responding to consumer preferences, automakers were making more fuel-efficient vehicles before the president imposed more stringent mileage standards. The high cost and stress of commuting are encouraging many young people to live closer to their jobs. Competition from rail is pressuring trucking companies to purchase more fuel-efficient rigs.

Together, those free-market decisions have reduced CO2 emissions by more than 9 percent from 2005 levels.

Now the EPA and other federal agencies want to micro-manage those choices by imposing inflexible standards on electric utilities and other manufacturers. Progressives would happily force as many Americans as they can onto mass transit, imposing a terrible drain on state transportation and local government operating budgets.

Those initiatives would not do much to arrest global warming, but by increasing taxes and production costs, they would send more jobs to China.

With an economy about half the size, China already emits almost twice as much CO2 as either the United States or Europe. Every 18 months, its emissions grow enough to replace the emissions savings the United States will accomplish by hitting the president’s 15-year target.

Other developing countries, like India, are similarly adding to the problem; however, China accounts for about 85 percent of the annual increase in global CO2 emissions.

When jobs are outsourced to China, global emissions go up, because China uses energy less efficiently and relies more heavily on coal than the United States, and the growth of manufacturing encourages migration to cities where folks use more electricity and automotive fuel.

Simply, without China’s cooperation, U.S. efforts are futile.

Progressives propose to bring China and other nations along through diplomacy, but despite considerable effort, the president has not been able to obtain Beijing’s cooperation on climate change, its undervalued currency, or just about anything else that would constrain the Middle Kingdom’s growth.

Put bluntly, if man-made emissions are the culprit, then by China’s actions alone global warming is going to happen with the force and fury many fear. The United States can do little to stop it, and efforts to do so will only reduce U.S. resources available to mitigate its consequences.

U.S. economic growth has fallen from 3.4 percent during the Reagan-Clinton years to 1.7 percent since the beginning of this century. This slowdown was caused by U.S currency and trade policies toward China that disadvantage U.S. manufacturers, restrictions on offshore oil and gas development that keep America dependent on imports, and costly and ineffective regulations on banking, health care and other industries.

Millions of Americans are without decent jobs, and governments at all levels are severely challenged. Those will get worse if the nation continues on its current path.

Rising temperatures will confront federal and state agencies with unparalleled challenges, as droughts dislocate cattle ranchers in the Southwest, insects threaten forests, arable regions shift north, rising seas flood coastal cities and new diseases attack humans, plants and animals.

Moving populations and economic activities will cost trillions of dollars, and an economy impoverished by mindless micro-management from Washington simply won’t be able to generate the tax dollars to foot the bill.

Americans will be forced to abandon farms and cities – simply, fend for themselves – as Washington will not be able to sustain the essential elements of civilization.
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The inconvenient truth about climate change and Obama’s policies | Fox News

"an economy impoverished by mindless micro-management from Washington" is the problem.....

Motomom34 · May 17, 2014

China already emits almost twice as much CO2 as either the United States or Europe. however, China accounts for about 85 percent of the annual increase in global CO2 emissions. Simply, without China’s cooperation, U.S. efforts are futile.
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Clipped

These are my thoughts. I am sick of getting beat up by the gov't because we are not doing enough yet we keep promoting these countries that are undoing all of our efforts. Our efforts are good but it is not a wash. We can't make another country do their part but we should/can speak with our dollars. I do wonder why other countries such as China and India don't at least try to make an effort.

kellory · May 17, 2014

Simple. We pay them not to. Every dollar we spend for products they made while doing what they do, fuels their economy, and their factories(which are producing both our products, and more pollutants.)

Cruisin Sloth · May 18, 2014

CLEAN COAL ?? REALLY !!!

Easterners know crap air , it's like china , westerner's talk but have NO clue.
USA is just as bad as many other country's .. PLEASE , you've haven't squeaked clean for as long as you have been believing the BS .

Mindgrinder · May 18, 2014

Shutting down the "clean coal" isn't aboot "saving the world..." - it's aboot raising electricity prices for all Americans. US already imports massive amounts of hydro from Canada.
It's more aboot making it impossible to manufacture ANYTHING in the USA than it is aboot any enviro issue. They want you bankrupt, unable to pay your bills with no heat, hydro, no made in the USA clothes, vehicles, technology and not near enough home grown food to feed your population...
THEN....you'll call out to the government "DO SOMETHING! We give you all the power to save us!"
And the vast majority of American will.

Pipeline_Moe · Jun 1, 2014

I distinctly remember the "Carter Years" and how that SOB talked about "synching our belts" and "malaise"- all because he and his 60s radical socialists were embarrassed at the USA.

The times may have changed- but the mantra of the "Benevolent Socialist" hasn't.

"Give us all before we take all."

Communism- only slower.

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The Inconvenient Truth

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