Al Gore expects chilly reception to global warming warning

[osprey4]

The former Vice President sure has a knack for timing. He'll issue an indictment of the Bush administration's failed global warming policy on a day of record low temperatures in New Yawk City.

My personal view on this issue is that Gore is right and Bush is wrong, but that governments cannot change global trends with national policy decisions. The marketplace alone dictates what can and cannot be done to combat global warming.

[TOAD6147]

The marketplace alone dictates what can and cannot be done to combat global warming.

Instead of discounting what is said becasue of who is saying it, please elaborate in detail on your opinion. I mean, I know you are trying to say something but I can't quite put my finger on it. TIA

[tmx468]

There's nothing new in America being very much inactive in the world of Global Warming...

Trouble is, Global warming doesn't mean just getting hotter - it is making temperatures more extreme, on both ends of the spectrum..

[osprey4]

My point is that government policies do not have long-term effects on global warming. Administrations come and go and are, at best, inconsistent regarding regulation of green-house gases. Improvements in technology are the only solution.

The Kyoto Protocol will not have a real impact on this problem. It's just so much "hot air".

tmx468, perhaps you could enlighten us as to what your country has done.

[J-Excel]

The US Gov't has taken some steps, such as regulating CFCs, clean air acts, etc. I'd like to see incentives for purchasing hybrid vehicles, and tax penalties for purchases of gas guzzlers. Most of Europe I believe pays a tax based on the size of the engine in their vehicle.

[tmx468]

Unfortunately!

My friends in their little old bangers pay around £90 a year for car tax... my 1.6l Astra costs £165 a year

Of course, a friend of mine has an old 4 litre Jaguar - £250 a year!

[osprey4]

Obviously, one common sense approach is to allow CAFE and emission standards to apply to SUVs. Apparently, this idea is favored by the administration. But it doesn't much matter what standards and policies you adopt when Americans continue to demand SUVs. And both American and Japanese companies are happy to oblige, since light truck (including SUV) sales account for a hefty chunk of their profits.

[Mr. Goodbytes]

If global warming, formerly global cooling 30 years ago, exists, it is doubtful it is even caused by human activity. We account for less than 5% of greenhouse gas emission. It's a bit conceited to think that we have that much power over an entire planet, at least not in the amount that all the harbingers of doom forecast. Mostly a bunch of people who want either more supporters, more funding, or both. Kyoto may as well be Japanese for "Fleece America."

[Epidemic]

Population control before emissions control.

Improve cafe standards 50% and you still have double the emissions in 50 years or less as third world countries become consumers and part of the world economy.

Give every 6 indian's a car and every 10th chinese person and you have doubled or trippled world emissions.

Give them all solar pannels and they will now demand stripmining of copper for their computers. and wood for construction of their new house. and oil consumption goes up to supply their need for plastics.

Population is the biggest problem with the world and kyoto protocols do nothing for those. In fact they seem to be geared toward brininging poor countries up to the 20th century. Even at its most efficient I can not see how we could bring the standard of living up for 5 billion people with out being a hundred times worse for the environment then it is now.

the next 50 years goal should be for a 50% reduction in world population.

the ultimate goal should be around 1 billion people living a decent existance would be good.

Course you property moguls would be upset by this because property prices would plumet.

[Creatures]

i'm already waiting till the polar ice caps melt and float every beach over the whole world, and then the heat-deaths in some hot countries and those who die because it's too cold, dont forget the glaciers, they already melt here like ice cubes in hot water.

it will happen sooner or later

Creatures