Next100 - A Dialogue on the Next Century of Energy

Oct 17 2008

Climate Changes

Posted by: Jonathan Marshall

Climate change remained a hot topic in the news this week:

The worldwide meltdown of financial markets called into question the political will to enact cap-and-trade legislation or other curbs on carbon emissions. "The truth is there is a very large question mark hanging over the idea that Congress would take economywide action on global warming with the economy in such anemic shape," said Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch. In Europe, one expert said, "The Germans are giving up and the Italians are getting ready to follow."
California Gov. Schwarzenegger doesn't buy the calls for caution. "We all know we're going through tough economic times right now, but that's no reason to slow down when it comes to protecting our environment and investing in clean, green technologies," Schwarzenegger said while dedicating a new solar facility at Applied Materials in Sunnyvale.
EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso rejected the go-slow crowd as well. Speaking to European leaders on Tuesday, he said "Climate change does not disappear because of the financial crisis. Tackling climate change is central to Europe's future prosperity and to preserve the quality of life on our planet." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a similar declaration to the European Union today.
At least the British government doesn't appear to be shrinking from the challenge. It plans to issue legally binding targets in a new climate change bill that will require the UK to cut its carbon emissions by 80 per cent from 1990 levels by 2050.
According to Johan Eliasch, the UK's Special Representative on Deforestation, major reforms in world forestry practices will be an essential part of any program to address climate change. "Without action on deforestation, avoiding the worst effects of climate change will be next to impossible, and could lead to additional climate change damages of $1 trillion a year by 2100," he said.
Meantime, scientists say air temperatures in the Arctic have reached record levels, as the loss of sea ice reduces the amount of sunlight reflected back into space.