Climate Denial Industry Costs Us $500 Billion a Year

[H2FC]

Climate Denial Industry Costs Us $500 Billion a Year

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced in its latest World Energy Outlook that every year of delayed action to address climate change will add $500 billion to the price tag of saving the planet.
The climate denial industry should foot the bill, since they are responsible for causing the delay.

In the run-up to the Copenhagen climate summit, a growing number of government leaders from around the world - and even high level United Nations representatives - have suggested that an ambitious, legally binding agreement is all but impossible to achieve in Denmark this December. Some have indicated that it may take six months to a year beyond Copenhagen to cement a global agreement. Nearly all point the finger at the United States for causing this delay.

But it is not President Obama’s fault, a fact that is difficult for many outside the U.S. to comprehend. Shouldn’t the U.S. president, often considered the “most powerful man in the world,” be able to commit the nation to specific emissions reduction targets and financial contributions to help developing countries deal with climate change?

It is not that simple, though.
The real blame lies at the feet of the climate denial industry, which has spent the past 20 years working to confuse the U.S. public and lawmakers about climate change. More than any other single factor, the climate denial industry can claim responsibility for the present stalemate in both domestic U.S. and international climate policy debates.

Groups like the Heartland Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, American Enterprise Institute and a host of oil and coal industry front groups, including the now-infamous American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), have collectively thrown a wrench in the cogs of U.S. climate policy, grinding the nation’s response to climate change to a halt.

Disinformation and denial campaigns waged by these fossil fuel defenders – several of which I profiled briefly in a recent post Who Is Killing Copenhagen – have also had an impact on efforts to forge a global action plan to address climate change. These front groups were actively involved in blocking U.S. participation in the Kyoto Protocol back in the mid-1990s, and now they are directly responsible, once again, for U.S. obstruction in the Copenhagen negotiations.

Now we know definitively that the climate denial industry – which spends hundreds of millions every year on disinformation and denial efforts – is costing the world an extra $500 billion for each year that we fail to implement a coordinated global response to climate change.

World leaders meeting in Copenhagen next month should consider adding to the agenda a plan to charge these oil and coal industry front groups for every penny of that $500 billion annual delay cost, including back payments for the past 20 years of delay created by the climate denial machine.

They owe at least that much to those facing climate change impacts already, let alone future generations who will suffer far more due to their efforts.
http://www.desmogblog.com/climate-de...0-billion-year
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/cli...on-500-billion

[jasdon11]

Amazing! Someone can put a cost on 'saving the planet'....watch out, here comes another bunch of taxes!

[fab]

Climate Denial

Amen brother!

[Gerry]

For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction.

The new physics.

One says yea, one says nay.

Imagine the cost spent by each spinning the other's findings to discredit the other.

[JuniperPark]

And following on the "global warming" scam has been estimated to cost $2 Trillion.

It's obvious we should ignore the scam.

By the way, check the news today. An "icebreaker" is TRAPPED IN ICE in Antarctica. Kinda makes it hard to convince people the ice si melting away when it's forming so fast it's trapping boats, eh?

And in other news, early snowfall and cold temps are already gripping the US. Better sound the "global cooling" alarm again.

[H2FC]

Many people seem to ignore the "Global" in Globalwarming as well as the length of time it will take before excessive hardships from climate change will be felt by the majority. They seem to base their judgements on whats happening right now instead of what will be happening in the next 40-50 years.

We will continue to have hot/cold spells and floods/droughts as usual for many years to come as our average global tempertures and co2 levels continue to gradually trend upwards.

Unfortunately such a trend is not sustainable on the long term effects of our climate and environment. It will, in fact prove to be a detriment to our way of life for our children and grandchildren if left to continue as is.

Everyone (well almost everyone) agrees something should be done to contain the excessive co2 in our atmosphere that causes globalwarming but not all are willing to step up and speak out against it. The problem is the longer we wait the more it will cost.

This is the inconvenience truth Al Gore made famous.

[JuniperPark]

The fact is the last few years have seen global COOLING... an "Inconvenient Fact".

The fact is that if you look over the last few hundred years have seen global COOLING... an "Inconvenient Fact".

But what's most inconvenient is that Al Gore has not only been caught in many lies, but continues to fly around the world and lives in mansions, as UN-GREEN as you can possibly be... Gore's "Inconvenient Hypocracy".

[south]

Bush did it!

[H2FC]

The fact is the last few years have seen global COOLING... an "Inconvenient Fact".

The fact is that if you look over the last few hundred years have seen global COOLING... an "Inconvenient Fact".

But what's most inconvenient is that Al Gore has not only been caught in many lies, but continues to fly around the world and lives in mansions, as UN-GREEN as you can possibly be... Gore's "Inconvenient Hypocracy".

Here are a few articles I ran across today that contradict your opinions.....if you care to read them. Read the last one anyway...it sorta sums it all up.

Steve Connor: Climate change is like a disaster in slow motion
Independent Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:10 PM PST
There now seems to be a growing disconnection between the message that scientists are sending out about climate change and the corresponding reaction of politicians and the public. As the experts issue increasingly dire warnings about what could happen to the world's climate system if we don't do something about carbon dioxide emissions, politicians prevaricate, the public becomes more sceptical ...
Copenhagen climate change talks stall as CO2 emissions rise
The Christian Science Monitor Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:36 PM PST
The Copenhagen summit on climate change is looking less likely to produce a binding CO2 emissions reduction agreement as a new study finds that global carbon dioxide emissions increased 29 percent in the past nine years.
Creating clean fuel from coal and waste
Guardian Unlimited Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:33 PM PST
'Gasification' process enhanced to save millions of tonnes of carbon and provide energy Millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide could be prevented from entering the atmosphere following the discovery of a way to turn coal, grass or municipal waste more efficiently into clean fuels. Â Scientists have adapted a process called "gasification" which is already used to clean up dirty materials before ...
U.S. Northeast Carbon Permits Drop to Third Low in Eight Days
Bloomberg Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:25 PM PST
Nov. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Carbon dioxide permits in a “cap- and-trade” program for power plants in the U.S. Northeast fell to their third low in eight trading days amid delays in legislation creating a national emissions market.
Led by China, CO2 gases rose in 2008
MSNBC Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:15 PM PST
Despite a global economic slump, worldwide carbon dioxide pollution rose 2 percent last year, most of the increase coming from China, according to a study published online Tuesday. China - Carbon dioxide - Environment - Pollution - Carbon Cycle
Carbon emissions from fossil fuels rise
CBC.ca Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:20 PM PST
Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels rose 29 per cent between 2000 and 2008, an international team of researchers says.
Fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions up by 29 percent since 2000
Science Daily Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:15 PM PST
The strongest evidence yet that the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions continues to outstrip the ability of the world's natural "sinks" to absorb carbon has just been published.

[JuniperPark]

So Gore has STOPPED living in mansions and flying in airplanes? Didn't see that in any of your links.

The ship is NOT stuck in ice in Antarctica? Seems you can't refute that either.

There's NOT record cold in the US this fall and the last few years? Nope, looks like you can't refute that either.

But congrats, you're now several steps closer to understanding that 'global warming' is a scam'. It's been shown all along that CO2 has nothing to do with warming, Gore made that up.

Now go put your jacket on, it's cold tonight. UNUSUALLY cold.

[JMJ]

The only thing green Gore is concerned with is taking your green money. The only people it's costing $500 billion a year are the suckers buying into his BS. If you're really concerned tell those bastards to quit spraying chemicals from airplanes and maybe the climate won't be changing so drastically. I think the only real way to save the Earth is to take all of these scammers up in an airplane and toss them out without their green parachutes. Carbon credits aren't going to change a damn thing except making your wallet lighter. The polluters will keep on polluting, you'll keep on paying higher and higher costs, and Blood and Gore will get extremely rich.

[H2FC]

There are a few who chose to base their misguided opinions on climate change caused by excessive co2 on what the temperature is right now and the info they get from the Climate Denial Industry.....I'm proud to say I'm not one of those.

I don't get my infomation from Rush L., Glenn Beck, or any of the other popular talking heads on the radio/TV as well as some politicians who would sell their soul for a few dollars.

I chose to believe the great majority of leading climate scientists in the world as well as the leaders and governments of the vast majority of the worlds countries. These guys are much smarter than me.

Make no mistake about it.....stopping globalwarming will cost us all a bundle but the sooner we get started the less it will cost.

I'm all for new green alternative energies to replace the old fossil fuel industry. I'm for new technology and moving away from the old ways of doing things....its gonna happen and the sooner the better imho.

[Zeeble]

The fact is the last few years have seen global COOLING... an "Inconvenient Fact".

The fact is that if you look over the last few hundred years have seen global COOLING... an "Inconvenient Fact".

But what's most inconvenient is that Al Gore has not only been caught in many lies, but continues to fly around the world and lives in mansions, as UN-GREEN as you can possibly be... Gore's "Inconvenient Hypocracy".

Absolutely right.

Another inconvenient fact is that on average only 5% of 'green' taxes are reinvested into environmental projects. That shows us clearly that it's not about 'saving the environment' and more about a convenient factor to blame higher taxes on.

I also don't buy the argument that increasing taxes on thing such as fuel reduces the negative externalities, it's obvious to anybody with have a brain that fuel has inelastic demand meaning that a hike in price will do little to impact demand. As any economist will tell you, if a product has inelastic demand, taxing the product is not the way forward.

So Gore has STOPPED living in mansions and flying in airplanes? Didn't see that in any of your links.

The ship is NOT stuck in ice in Antarctica? Seems you can't refute that either.

There's NOT record cold in the US this fall and the last few years? Nope, looks like you can't refute that either.

But congrats, you're now several steps closer to understanding that 'global warming' is a scam'. It's been shown all along that CO2 has nothing to do with warming, Gore made that up.

Now go put your jacket on, it's cold tonight. UNUSUALLY cold.

I just wanted to add, that due to the fact that the globe hasn't been warming in recent years, the term has been conveniently changed to 'Climate Change' so that all manners of weather and freak storms can be blamed on CO2 emissions.

[H2FC]

The Bush/Cheney company in support of the Climate Denial Industry began using "climate change" because they were making every effort to suppress the term "globalwarming".

[Zeeble]

The Bush/Cheney company in support of the Climate Denial Industry began using "climate change" because they were making every effort to suppress the term "globalwarming".

Unfortunately I don't know the exact dates of when the term "Climate change" started being used, however, I am certain that it wasn't just a term invented by the Bush administration. It is something that started even before Bush was president.

[H2FC]

I'm not saying Bush/Cheney invented the term "climate change"

I am saying they used it place of "globalwarming" and as a result it became much more popular and more widely used by the press and general population.

[jasdon11]

I chose to believe the great majority of leading climate scientists in the world as well as the leaders and governments of the vast majority of the worlds countries. These guys are much smarter than me.

They sure are; they're getting paid say what they say...

How many would be out of a job tomorrow if they said otherwise?

Gee, I wonder where all that extra 'green' tax money has gone....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8376009.stm

...paying those scientists perhaps?

[Creature]

This thread has gone a bit quiet. Is that because we've learnt so much this week? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuovqFwUtDc

[H2FC]

naw....I think its because the proof of man made global warming is so positive there is no point in arguing about it.

That so called "Lord" monckton made a total fool of himself...or was it the woman he was interviewing who made the fool of him? Anyone viewing that video can easily see the interview backfired on him....much to his surprise she was not belittled by his lies as he thought she would be.

She wasn't buying his BS.....and neither do I or anyone else who has taken the time to really look into the science of the issue.

I sometimes wonder why anyone with common sense could possibly believe that all the countries in the whole world are wrong in their belief of MMGW and the damage it's doing now and will continue doing as a result of climate change. The skeptics would have us believe these countries along with the great majority of their people have been taken in and misled by a few who warn against climate change caused by MMGW.

The countries and people of the world are not wrong....its the relative handful of skeptics who for the most part are protecting their personal interests in one way or the other who are wrong.

Those who would take sides with the self-serving skeptics are doing all of us including themselves and coming generations great harm. They should be ashamed of themselves. I have absolutely no doubt they will be ashamed before this mess is over.

[HasRob]

Anone who deoesnt believe the globe is warming is being lied too. The glaciers have been retreating for years, just look at glacier before and after pictures on google. And check out exxonsecrets.org