Forget climate treaties and help the world instead?
The results of poll were announced yesterday, revealing that two thirds of the UK population have no confidence that world leaders can agree on future solutions to climate change at the Bali summit.
But forget future solutions - the world has proven that we can’t even execute previous solutions; Despite the rhetoric of various national leaders, worldwide emissions have risen 20% since the foundation of the Kyoto agreement due to emissions increases in developing nations and industrialised nations, including those nations signatory to the agreement.
Current plans for renewable energy are fanciful at best with no real hope of meeting additional energy needs over the coming years, let alone replacing existing carbon energy sources.
And with the US refusing to agree to binding commitments, and China claiming that climate change is not their problem it seems the remaining third of the British public that were polled are highly deluded.
So shouldn’t we ignore the distraction of pointless talks, gave up on the fantasy of reducing emissions and concentrate on preparing for a warmer world instead? There are many advantages to this approach;
- Developing nations will have a chance to grow without restriction and generate strong economies that can finance climate adaptation projects. A wealthier world will be a healthier and stronger world.
- Free from the distraction of pointless climate talks we can focus on helping to resolve the issues that continue to blight the Third World. The most unfortunate people in our world today will benefit more from an end to corruption and poverty than they will from a reduction in Co2.
- The world can focus on projects which will have immediate benefits, such as improved water supplies and crop management, rather than projects that will have no measurable benefit for several generations.
- We can concentrate on taking advantage of the benefits that a warmer world may bring, including new opportunities for crop production, tourism and shipping routes.
- Finally, we can focus on some of the more serious underlying issues, such as population growth, poor education and lack of equality.
Of course, another poll would show that we have little hope of achieving these things as well, but the difference is that we are less likely to be distracted from the real issues of today by a group of do-good diplomats, negotiators, politicians and environmentalists trying to justify an all expenses paid holiday in Bali.
I agree with this mindset. Twenty years ago we were told that if we waited five years, it would be too late to save the planet. Then fifteen years ago, we were told if we waited five years, it would be too late. For two decades we have been in danger of immenent destruction if we didn’t do something immediately.
Let us get on with life. We should be building coal and nuclear power stations. We should be drilling for deep oil. We should use whatever energy it takes to bring the entire world up to the same high standard of living. Once we have done that, then we can worry about alternate energy, and we will also have the funds to finance it (since it is quite a bit more expensive than conventional energy sources).