Comments on: BaliBuzz: Canada In Bali: Futile Climate Policy Debunked http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/ Dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:31:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Kirk http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-58467 Kirk Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:28:01 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-58467 Currently 80% of electricity in China is generated from coal. In order to meet the insatiable demand, approximately 550 new coal-fired plants are being planned; one new plant every ten days or less. India? 70% of electricity is generated from coal. Increased demand, in-efficiencies and zero alternatives are creating a future that will comprise 200 new coal-fired power plants. USA? The world’s largest polluter may build 70 new coal-fired power plants. How does this all equate and where are we now? Simply this: 1) No official treaty exists to curb green-house gas emissions. 2) By 2012, the USA, China and India will emit up to five times (2.7 Bn tons) as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as the Kyoto Protocol planned to reduce (0.48 Bn tons). This does not include the 350 coal-fired plants planned in all other countries combined. 3) Bali comes up with a frame-work and hope for 2008 and beyond. What will it be? 20% cuts? 40%? What can the world achieve? Don't harp on Harper for suggesting 20% from 2006 levels. This estimate may actually be an achievable target. No matter how far off it is deemed to be from the various targets or ranges suggested, it could be a good start. Considering that the world will build about 1170 coal-fired power plants within the next decade and scientists currently estimate that 500 new plants will push CO2 concentrations to a dangerous climate change level (400 ppm), any future climate change agreement MUST include the coal burning majorities of China, India and the USA. Regardless of the future advances in any alternative energy supply, the world must first act to minimise our reliance on coal and use new technology to reduce the emissions of future coal-fired plants for the next decade, 2010 to 2020. What can we do? I believe that all we can do is work towards establishing a binding agreement that is achievable in the future. Hopefully that is what happened in Bali in 2007. Currently 80% of electricity in China is generated from coal. In order to meet the insatiable demand, approximately 550 new coal-fired plants are being planned; one new plant every ten days or less.

India? 70% of electricity is generated from coal. Increased demand, in-efficiencies and zero alternatives are creating a future that will comprise 200 new coal-fired power plants.

USA? The world’s largest polluter may build 70 new coal-fired power plants.

How does this all equate and where are we now? Simply this:

1) No official treaty exists to curb green-house gas emissions.

2) By 2012, the USA, China and India will emit up to five times (2.7 Bn tons) as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as the Kyoto Protocol planned to reduce (0.48 Bn tons). This does not include the 350 coal-fired plants planned in all other countries combined.

3) Bali comes up with a frame-work and hope for 2008 and beyond. What will it be? 20% cuts? 40%? What can the world achieve? Don’t harp on Harper for suggesting 20% from 2006 levels. This estimate may actually be an achievable target. No matter how far off it is deemed to be from the various targets or ranges suggested, it could be a good start.

Considering that the world will build about 1170 coal-fired power plants within the next decade and scientists currently estimate that 500 new plants will push CO2 concentrations to a dangerous climate change level (400 ppm), any future climate change agreement MUST include the coal burning majorities of China, India and the USA. Regardless of the future advances in any alternative energy supply, the world must first act to minimise our reliance on coal and use new technology to reduce the emissions of future coal-fired plants for the next decade, 2010 to 2020.

What can we do? I believe that all we can do is work towards establishing a binding agreement that is achievable in the future.

Hopefully that is what happened in Bali in 2007.

]]> By: ty m e http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-58277 ty m e Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:08:09 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-58277 I am a student at Rothesay High School and right now i am taking enviromental science and we are now learning about the Bali agree ment and at the thought that Canada could ask for a watered down target makes me ashamed to by Canadian. We need a government that wants our childrens life time to just like theirs and not govern just for the time that they are in office. Out raged teen I am a student at Rothesay High School and right now i am taking enviromental science and we are now learning about the Bali agree ment and at the thought that Canada could ask for a watered down target makes me ashamed to by Canadian. We need a government that wants our childrens life time to just like theirs and not govern just for the time that they are in office.

Out raged teen

]]> By: hughbartling.com http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-57878 hughbartling.com Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:02:31 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-57878 <strong>Bali Climate Change Conference: Day Five</strong> The first week of the UN-sponsored climate change conference in Bali is coming to a close. I haven’t yet had a chance to look at the various webcasts from Friday’s sessions so this update will focus on some of the reporting. The main offi... Bali Climate Change Conference: Day Five

The first week of the UN-sponsored climate change conference in Bali is coming to a close. I haven’t yet had a chance to look at the various webcasts from Friday’s sessions so this update will focus on some of the reporting. The main offi…

]]> By: Derek Wall http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-57871 Derek Wall Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:42:35 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-57871 Real economic progress is about putting local people in charge of the land and preventing enclosure, yet forest people have been excluded from bali http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/2007/12/forest-people-barred-from-bali-climate.html Real economic progress is about putting local people in charge of the land and preventing enclosure, yet forest people have been excluded from bali http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/2007/12/forest-people-barred-from-bali-climate.html

]]> By: Books News » Blog Archive » Canada In Bali: Futile Climate Policy Debunked http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-57864 Books News » Blog Archive » Canada In Bali: Futile Climate Policy Debunked Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:13:16 +0000 http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2007/12/07/canada-in-bali-futile-climate-policy-debunked/#comment-57864 [...] Canada In Bali: Futile Climate Policy DebunkedBy Sasha PippengerIs it really a zero sum game, where any efforts to address climate change must come at the cost of our economy? Even prominent economists argue that the worst possible prescription for our economy would be inaction on climate change. …It’s Getting Hot In Here - http://itsgettinghotinhere.org [...] [...] Canada In Bali: Futile Climate Policy DebunkedBy Sasha PippengerIs it really a zero sum game, where any efforts to address climate change must come at the cost of our economy? Even prominent economists argue that the worst possible prescription for our economy would be inaction on climate change. …It’s Getting Hot In Here – http://itsgettinghotinhere.org [...]

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