Ban says U.S. climate bill plan "not enough"

[Karmadillo]

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE54N1YO20090524

By Gerard Wynn

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A draft U.S. climate bill did not go far enough to cut greenhouse gases, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Reuters on Sunday, three days after the plan won a key Congressional panel vote.

Ban applauded President Barack Obama's engagement on global warming but said that other countries were doing more, and added that a new global climate pact meant to be agreed in December could not wait for the United States to pass its domestic rules.

"That's what I have been doing and will continue to do," Ban said when asked if he was urging the United States to do more.

The bill passed on Thursday aimed to cut U.S. greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming by 17 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2020.

"That's clearly lower than other countries are now aiming, particularly the European Union," Ban said on the fringes of a climate change and business conference in Copenhagen.

more...

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE54N1YO20090524

[pleah]

1. That bill doesn't go far enough.

(The bill passed on Thursday aimed to cut U.S. greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming by 17 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2020.)

That is a disgrace.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Optical.Catalyst]

2. The United States needs to be at the fore front of Green House Gas reductions

We need to show leadership to the whole world on controlling carbon pollution. Global warming will not wait for some deliberative body to seek out equitable solutions. We are at a climate crisis that can’t wait.

We can take the lead in clean, renewable energy at the same time. We have to be first to get off the addiction to petroleum and develop the technology to produce energy from renewable sources like the wind, the waves, and the sun. The country that has working technology first with an fully capitalized industrial base will be well ahead of the rest of the world, and we need to be that country.

[RufusTFirefly]

3. But, but the whole idea of climate change is still controversial!

We can't encourage world gubmint and just throw money at what could prove to be the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.

:sarcasm:

[Canuckistanian]

4. 17% below 2005 levels? That's pathetic

Kyoto was supposed to reduce global GHG levels by 5.2% from 1990 levels.

And even THAT was a modest goal.

The US is not even CLOSE to pulling it's weight on GHG reductions.

Neither is Canada, for that matter. Harper is one of the last leaders of a major G20 country that actively DENIES Global Climate Change.

This is pitiful.

[Triana]

6. Nope. It's nowhere NEAR enough. But since the oil, coal, and gas interests OWN our gov't...

....we'll likely not see real progress on this issue - unless that changes.

[Gregorian]

9. Why are the interests able to own our government?

This is the question more people need to answer. It's very simple. Go one step up the food chain. We use the resources. We give them the power. And we are the ones responsible. Not them. They are powerless without us. There is not argument. It's the same with Congress. We give them power. Even if it's by having enough Americans who don't care or don't understand. Because if we had asked for it, there would have been a recount in 2000. There would have been impeachment. The numbers are ours. We are the millions who use the oil. But in this case it's not what we do, but what we would have to not do in order to make the change. But who is going to stop driving? Who is going to stop traveling?

[Gregorian]

7. If it went far enough everyone would be BORED.

They'd have to drive less. Travel less. Flit around without thinking, LESS. Buy less crap. And that's just the easy stuff.

Do you know where your food comes from? They'd have to decide not to have the prawns that come from Equador.

Our carbon foot print is huge because we're lazy. And we don't think.

Jonathan Richmond recently wrote a tune titled When You Refuse To Suffer. I can't find anything on the internet because it's not a massive hit. But if you've heard it you'll be amazed at how incredibly bright he is. It's all about energy use and the environment.

[DissedByBush]

12. Or fly a pizza chef in from St. Louis

Along with sauce and dough because you like *his* pizza.

How much fuel was burned to get Bono his hat in Italy?

All of Al Gore's private jet and limousine travel to promote his film?

Bush imported wagyu beef from Australia just for him. But that is expected.

For them it's not because they are lazy, but because they are rich so they can.

[Gregorian]

15. It's weird when one gets specific.

Like the carbon use of someone you really like. How much fuel did the Beatles cause to be used. Or Robin Williams? Comedians flying all over the planet. Haha.

It was easier to grow. But it's going to be slow and difficult to shrink. Club for Growth my ass.

And Al Gore has FOUR kids! That one always makes me wonder if he actually gets it. Or if it's the nesting instinct of a woman, and a man who can't say no. Dick Gregory, I love him, has ten kids.

My best friend recently decided to have a child. He and I always have talked about overpopulation. His situation is interesting. He has an excuse. But he agonized over it for a long time. He even apologized to me. And even more telling, he named him Noah. As in rising waters. As it stands this kid is probably the most intelligent and together kid on the planet. It's the Palins of the world who seem to love kids who produce the worst offspring.

Anyways, I've got a backhoe with a shredded hydraulic hose to go fix. Driving, wrenching, cleaning, mass production of rubber, steel mesh, hydraulic fluid...

I'd be happy to let the whole thing burn, except I can't find a happy place to live. I'll admit I'm selfish. My big concern with the world is that there isn't a square foot left that's worth living on that doesn't have car noise, or clear cutting.

Bla, bla, bla. As if I'm going to change a thing. :)

[NickB79]

18. I'll take being bored and alive, vs. being excited and dying

Which is what this all comes down to, ultimately. A 4-5C temp increase in under 100 years will be a civilization-killer.

[Gregorian]

19. So, yesterday I was digging a trench with my backhoe

Suddenly I was taking a shower in hydraulic fluid. It's Sunday on a Memorial day weekend. I've got a pickaxe. This morning I got up and dragged it out, and looked down the line I was going to trench. Man, we sure get used to petroleum. I started picking away, and it wasn't long before I figured I could just sort of wait and fix the hydraulic line, and just do the digging tomorrow.

I can't help but say that as we have become less active with our bodies, and let the fuel do the work for us, we have increased in cancer, heart disease, and all kind of things. I think that working is not as hard as it seems, but after years of not working hard, it just feels that way. I decided about fifteen years ago to use my contractor's license and go to work as a roofer, despite having a degree in engineering. I tore off roofs, and replaced them by myself. I did it because it felt like being superman. Now look at me. I can hardly pickaxe. Haha.

You obviously understand. I don't think life was meant to be so easy.

[47of74]

8. But why do I have the feeling that no matter what we did it would never be good enough?

[NeedleCast]

11. +1

[Psephos]

13. Because we have to cover for China, the world's largest CO2 emitter

The Chinese won't be signatory to any reduction agreements. They've already declared themselves exempt.

[ohio2007]

14. The China syndrome Ban refuses to recognize

He should make China give up all its patents to green technology and water combustion engines so that wee in the west can take a giant leap forward in greening up the planet..

oh
wait


China doesn't have any of that shit either?


I don't believe it

;)
:sarcasm:

[Deja Q]

16. +2

[slackmaster]

17. Word

Remember "word"?

This is word.

[Phoonzang]

10. It's too late anyway...

We'll have to end up doing something...drastic like Geoengineering to save ourselves within a few decades once the shit really hits the fan.