Is the global warming summit much ado about nothing?
Protesters gather on City Hall Square in Copenhagen to call for carbon emissions cuts during a global warming demonstration. (PHOTO CREDIT: Jasper Carlberg/AFP/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With the global warming summit kicking off today in Copenhagen, Denmark - some are wondering what the point of this whole exercise really is.
The British newspaper The Telegraph reports that more than 1,200 limousines have been booked by VIPs. Also, an extra 140 private jets are expected during the peak period of the summit - this far exceeds the capacity at Copenhagen's airport - so some planes will fly to regional airports, or in some cases Sweden, to park; and then come back to pick up their passengers.
All this for the 15,000 plus delegates, officials, journalists, world leaders, politicians, celebrities, etc. attending these meetings meant to reduce the planet's carbon emissions.
This little get-together will produce more than 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide - which is more than Switzerland produced in all of 2006.
To make matters worse, the summit is taking place under a cloud of suspicion - thanks to those leaked e-mails from climate scientists. Critics suggest the messages show researchers are ignoring data that questions whether global warming is real.
Now that President Obama has changed his schedule to attend the later part of the summit, some see this as a sign that an agreement may be closer to happening.
The U.S., India and China have all come out with specific proposals for the first time; and world leaders hope to come up with a deal that includes commitments on reducing emissions. But a legally-binding treaty to combat global warming? Never gonna happen.
Here’s my question to you: What do you expect to come out of the global warming summit in Copenhagen?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Michael from Alexandria, Virginia writes:
Like you said, Jack, a binding treaty is never gonna happen. I doubt that we will get honest science on this (which would discount warming). I would much rather we give up on warming and instead target actual pollution of air and water in the developing world. Of course, the Chinese would block this too -as would the U.S., who benefits from both Chinese and Mexican pollution run amok.
Ray from Nashville, Tennessee writes:
Jack, Conservatives, Republicans, Blue Dog Democrats, Tea Partiers and their corporate masters can all cry foul and deny global warming if they wish, but the facts are that mankind has done immense damage to our planet… If nothing else comes out of this summit, I hope the countries of the world can agree to begin reducing pollution any way they can.
Mike from Chicago writes:
They are all adding significantly to their carbon footprint with all the private jets and limousines. Why can't they do a video conference so no one had to travel and set a good example for us all?
Eric from Atlanta writes:
I think we might actually get something done now that the Petroleum Party isn't representing us and we have a president who can actually pronounce global warming. At some point, we need to take responsibility for our behavior instead of making ourselves feel better by nit-picking the minutia while missing the big picture.
Mike from Jacksonville, Florida writes:
I hope nothing comes of it. Not to be crass, but the last thing we need is job-killing environmental legislation that aggravates an already shaky economy. First, they need to pin down whether global warming is occurring and whether it is man-caused. Then, and only then, should they even consider the kind of taxation they want now.
John from Fort Collins, Colorado writes:
The only thing I expect to see come out of the global warming summit is an increase in my already high utility bill. The in-your-face hypocrisy of the attendees with their limos and private jets is sickening.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
What ever the coal barons, Rupert Murdock and the Saudi's want.
Jim
Cripple Creek, CO
i would like to see prof that this summit can produce ways that will fool mother nature
Hopefully nothing. Why should we put any faith in the current hysteria, except to believe that it is once again all about the money and control? How about the climate cooling scare of the '70's?
How about Greenland, which was ice-free during the Viking visits? Perhaps that gives credence to those that feel that we are simply coming out of a cold spell, and the warming spell is just what it is: a warming spell.
Besides, plant life requires CO2 – as do we all – and perhaps a warming spell signifies great plant life to feed all those extra CO2-producing humans?
Scam and tax; that is all politicians are good for, these days...
Not much Jack, after all we have talked this talk for what now . . . . 12-15 years?? And just for the record . . . I really think that the term "Climate Change" is a lot more inclusive in that it does swing both directions.
And for those that say "It ain't happening!", I ask "What were the early explorers looking for north of Canada back in the 1600-1800 and later while freezing their . . . . backsides off? Last year they sailed right through that area.
Something's sure happening in an evolutionary short time with the climate!!
Hot air. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
Not much Jack, this country isn't very concerned about global warming and probably won't be until the sea levels rise and drown our coastal cities. Then the accusations will start but it will be to late although Al Gore will be able to say "I told you so".
Hopefully nothing. Before we go spending all this money on an experiment, more time should be spent finding out the truth, considering the hacked emails that have been exposed contradict their argument. And by the way, it is no longer called global warming, new catch phrase is climate change.
An international agreement to reduce pollution to 350 parts per million. That will slow the global warming and reduce the floods, droughts, and tornadoes. Civilization will survive and most species of animals will avoid extinction.
That were all DOOMED!!
Just a lot of hot air. These are politicians meeting each other.
Hopefully, the global warming summit will begin the reigning in of carbon and other pollutants which add to global warming. Human-caused climate change is real. Aside from nuclear war, It is the greatest threat to future generations.
A transfer of wealth which has nothing at all to do with saving the environment. If they cared about the environment they wouldn't fly there in their big private jets and arrive in limos. This is going to cause a great deal of our tax dollars to go to corrupt, unstable, worthless countries and be totally wasted.
a lot of hot air...
After this conference FOX news will get behind revitalizing our economy through green manufacturing. Sarah Palin will admit that drill, baby, drill is probably not a sustainable strategy. George W. Bush will say he was on board the whole time. Senator Inhofe's head will swell to five times its normal size, but he will claim it really hasn't.
hopefully we will come together to save earth before the finale failure comes.
Jack,
Nothing! Just like the jobs summit, nothing. Do they even know what they are meeting about? I doubt it Jack. This is just another reason why I won't vote for Obama again. He going off jet-setting to talk (nothing more than talk) about something the world is uncertain about. For crying out loud Jack, they should take notes from business's and just do a tele-conference. It would save us money and the world would have less emissions.
Joe M (MN)
I expect to see only more heat and potential for more heated debates. It's time for cool heads to focus on establishing an agreed upon scientific approach to determine the causal factors for global warming if it does indeed exist. Man may not be the culprit.
I doubt much will come of it thanks to the head-in-the-sand mentaility that continues to grip major industrialized countries. I would encourage the people who choose not to believe that carbon emissions in a closed enviornment are a problem to try an important experiment (since they refuse to believe crazy stuff like the scientific method or satellite maps showing that enormous tracts of polar icecaps are disappearing at an alarming rate). Sebastian
Philadelphia, PA
I've got no expectations concerning all these big shots of our world. They'll play "point the finger" until they've stuffed themselves, then go to bed. Now that earth is showing it's positively in trouble, they hold a summit in Copenhagen ? The people who live on this planet are too burdened with the way our lifestyles have been destroyed by our leaders. We've been aware of all the signs of Global Warming for many years. Meanwhile, these leaders have been living rich and ignoring the needs of their people.
Jack,
This is one of those cases where the science is cloudy, and the politics even murkier. Global warming appears to be rather certain, but it's causes remain subject to debate. Copenhagen will be a political debate ... a realignment of haves and have nots ... that may shift future alliances, but won't mean much now.
Rick, Medina, OH
Global warming is a very important problem. The chances of significant progress from this summit are small. The US has not done enough but now seems headed in the right direction. To get the cooperation of Chana and other foregin polluters, we need to use Trade Ageeements as a tool with penalities for lack of environmental regulations and incentatives to improve.
Not much, if anything. All good intentions aside, without any meaningful legal leverage, it's just another dog-and-pony show that will be used as political capitol or to falsely enhance someone's profile at election time.
Jack,
That's exactly what this is. The United States and many other countries will here and read all the Dire and negative reports and then do absolutely nothing.
Massive tap dancing and shuck and jive as the US media continues to ignore the uproar of climategate that the rest of the world is experiencing.
Oh, lets not forget the $865,920 fuel bill to fly air force one over and back.
That's alot of low income home heating oil for sure.
Whatever they come up with it will cost the people.
It appears to me that any subject can become political. Any situation is a chance for legislators to gain power and money.
Are human beings poluting the earth? Yes. Is nature doing what is does naturally? Yes. To what degree we are responsible for a warming is the question. In fact, the earth may actually be cooling. But give politicians a "crisis" and they will jump all over it. What a great chance to tax the people and push an agenda.
I'm all for a clean earth and alternative energy.... but unless we can run our cities and cars on bull crap, they won't solve the problem in Copenhagen.
Much ado? yes. About nothing? Well, about something. But, I believe that this is being overblown in order to achieve some ideologic social agenda items (Welcome to Washington, Dems). Climate change happens naturally and we don;t really know how much of what is going on is our doinjg or Mother Nature's. Until we do, we should take a more moderate approach. I know that Al Gore will be furious about this perspective becasue it may jeaporize some of the hundreds of millions of dollars he is making as an under-recognized lobbyist on Capiital Hill.
Unfortunately special interests from the U.S. will be able to torpedo any meaningful action to curb global warming. The people of Europe have been upset with the United States for more than thirty years for its waste and polution. Practically everyone in the U.S. has been affected by the green house gas problem whether it is from auto exhausts or factory emissions. You don't need scientists to point out that it is killing trees, animals, lakes, and finally us.
I *hope* that countries will come together to make a meaningful stand to reduce carbon emissions, but I wouldn't hold my breath expecting it to happen. Why? Because the greedy will say and do anything to keep making money even if it kills trees, the ocean, wildlife and people.
Our country (and this world) is controlled by the corporate libertarians and military industrial complex who put the bottom line before all else and who fully want to privatize wealth while socializing all risk.
Until there is a climate cataclysm that can be directly attributed to green house gasses we will do nothing. Humans in general and specifically Americans will not take action to resolve problems without tragedy.
Dave – San Diego County, California
In light of the recent Climate Gate scandal, I hope nothing comes out of this meeting in Copenhagen. The ultimate goal of the 'globalist' crowd is a redistribution of wealth in the name of saving the planet, giving the globalists total control of our daily lives. Every year, these people tell us that we're at the point of no return, and yet nothing happens. Now we find out the many of these scientists have allegedly manipulated data or even destroyed it. The fact of the matter is the Earth has been changing since its inception and there's nothing we can do about it. Let's stop global whining.
Jack what I expect to happen is a bunch of political posturing. These world leaders will all come together and say we talked about Global Warming. Big Deal. I guess it is OK to use jet fuel, Limo's and all sorts of other vehicles for security enlarging your carbon footprint when you go to a meeting like this. That makes it all better I guess. One other comment Jack. Why if they were so concerned about global warming did they not have a Global Summit over the Internet? They could have saved millions of dollars and shrunk their carbon footprint instead of expanding it. I guess that was a little to smart an idea for all these politicians to grasp.
1200 limos X 40 private jets X alot of hot air = climate change screwed...I mean squared!
Higher taxes and the loss of jobs if this thing goes through. Hard to think I should bother driving a Prius while they are flying private jets and riding in Limos. Actions speak louder than words and their actions are showing us they don't really believe all the global warming hype. The hacked emails should be addressed and dealt with, to ignore them just adds to our skepticism.
Smoke and mirrors!
I'm hoping for at least an increased awareness. Most people don't know that for only the first time in recorded history, both the Northwest and Northeast passages are ice-free and open That means so much ice has melted that the North Pole is now just an island of ice. By the time those of us along the coast are standing knee-deep in water, it may be too late to do anything about it.
Ed
Texas
More hot air.
considering the fact that they are all coming in their fancy private jets, their stretch limos and who knows what other perks why are these people wasting time, energy and money? Obviously they do not really care about the fact that global warming is real!
A whole lot of nothing followed by perhaps another week of coverage on another party-crashing incident.
-Brentwood, TN
Lots more expelled hydrocarbons from all those limos!
Hopefully an open, honest debate that isn't dominated by whoever has the most money at stake. Also, I'd like to see these people address their own hypocrisy. Of course, none of this will happen because its all a dog and pony show to make the public think that these people actually care. If they really did, they would be making every effort to make these efforts green.
When Manhattan is knee deep in water a few decades from now New Yorkers will be looking to tar and feather the decendents of the Congressional Republicans and their intellectually challenged pals like Sarah Palin. It really doesn't matter if the globe is warming or not despite the glaciers melting. If we don't get off carbon based fuels we will destroy the environment and be the prisoners of oil sheiks and Chinese bankers forever or until we choke to death on fumes.
I dont care if you believe Global Warming is a hoax the fact remains our planet is in peril ,We have used and abused our environment, so it does not hurt for all countries to come together and discuss ways in which to better protect it.......
No big or small it is a real problem and if some people do not try to do something about it we woudl all be yelling were have all the people that could help have gone. Also we all would be yelling why didn't anyone tell us anything about it.
this is just a show gee having all those leaders fly in their private jets to therre at the countries taxpayers expense to shove more controla nd higher energy prices to tackle the greatest hoax put on the u.s and the world just to make a profit take al gore for example
Absolutely nothing ! We have so many fakes running around this world trying to manufacture ways to tax primarily the American People it is becoming offensive.
Jack C
WA
Jack, you need to change your vernacular. The accepted term is "climate change" now, not global warming, didn't you get the memo. Green-freaks, usually people with the most to gain from the "climate crisis", have decided that they can no longer sell people on global warming since recent years have shown that there has actually been global cooling and we are in the midst of what is shaping up to be a particularly cold winter. They call it climate change because then anything short of the weather hitting the absolute average historical temperature, they can blame it on people. If it is too hot, too cold, too many hurricanes, too few hurricanes, more fires, less fires etc. It's all due to "climate change" and we almost revert to the stone-age for the good of the entire world.
Honestly, I see a lot of talking but truly no effective measures to take place. Being a part of a nation that is one of the top countries that are "needful" on oil speaks for itself. Then you also need to point out that some of our leaders themselves have their hands within the oil business as well brings up a second strong point also. Politicians seem more inclined towards keeping the money flowing than helping out where it is really needed.
With the technology the world has now, why wouldn't these 15,000 plus delegates, etc. just have this get together by way of video conference? And let's not forget all the other 'global' meetings that take a ton of big wigs all over the world in separate planes producing even larger quantities of carbon dioxide. All these meeting should be conducted via video conferencing. Who gives a damn about being nose to nose and shaking hands and making brownie points. Ridiculous!
Well Jack, the measurable amount of CO2 is at the highest level in the atmosphere in 800,000 years and rising.
The people in Bolivia that depend on Andean Glaciers for their fresh water are running out of Glaciers and running out of fresh water.
The rise in the world's Ocean is undeniable and South Pacific Islanders are moving inshore or off their tiny islands completely.
The Earths Oceans are very close to no longer absorbing any more Carbon. You tell me Jack, where is millions tons of carbon fibers and compounds going to go, if the Oceans no longer absorb them?
Desertification of the spreading Gobi and Sahara Deserts is swiftly gobbling up large swaths of once fertile lands.
You tell me Jack, the Republican Party of Do Nothing is the way to go from here?
Jack,
From Copenhagen's summit meetings we can set a course to stop flooding our waters and air with garbage, pollution and waste. We all have to live on this one planet. Nature however, has no interest in our actions. The planet will cleanse itself and we the polluters may be gone and our yelling propaganda artists too will go. Too bad, we fell for their lies. Any child knows if you mess up your room too badly you can not live in it. They become toilet trained rather early in life. But now we pretend we do not have to use sanitary procedures.
I think the summit on climate change is symbolic. Unfortunately I don't see and evidence of any serious environmental policy coming out of the USA. I suppose Obama could borrow another 800 billion to give green industry a fighting chance; but the baby boomer 401Ks are mostly invested in oil and status quo market structure–so I doubt Obama or Congress will challenge this system, since he already bailed it out.
I for one dont trust our president or goverment to tell the truth I follow globale warning with a mt mind open but to listen and follow grant money I dont believe most to be truthful
I expect an array of expensive agreements that will cost our economy trillions without accomlishing anything toward slowing the warming, if warming even exists.
In my opinion over population the root problem....global warming is just one of many symptoms. The earth as a planet won't care, but we are populating ourselves out of existence.
Climate change is real. I don't depend on popular writing like Al Gore's book. I check sites that give information on the melting of the Arctic ice and the West Antarctive ice shelves and the decline of glaciers.
There should be no debate about it no more than people should debate on whether the earth is flat.
The terrifying thing is that we are at or over some tipping points. It is no longer a matter of what will happen in the next generation. The problem is what could happen tomorrow.
I expect nothing of substance, but we are treading on very scary ground. With the EPA, President and House trying to push economy crippling regulations on everyone in America, I think the best business to be in for a while is packing and shipping. No one in their right mind will manufacture anything int he US with all our onerous laws. Someone might as well make some money by helping all the companies pack and head over seas. Al should be foreced to give back his Nobel Prize, which coupled with Obama's prize proves, we can no longer put any stock in such awards any way. The Ice Age didn't end because the cavemen drove too many SUV's. CO2 is not a poison and it is a minute component of our atmosphere. Technically, we are still in an Ice Age because our polar caps are covered with ice, and it is a normal lifecycle for our planet to go through periods of warming and cooling. What is dangerous is for people to pretend it is all related to "man" and not natural. We could all sit in the dark and walk everywhere and still the icecaps will melt. The only thing this climate change conference will accomplish is put another nail in the coffin of the American way of life.
Jack: A long journey starts with the first step. If the United States, India, and China can agree on something it is a good start. Global warming is serious business for all who make money doing business. We can not be like an ostrich and put our heads in the sand, because the effects of global warming are real. To many leading scientist in the world agree that man is changing the climate of this earth.
The heck with this thing in Copenhagen. The way I hear it China and India was huge amounts of money before they will sign on and start reducing emissions. Why should they get any money? See every time someone has a good idea, these sophomoric countries come running with their hand out. For once it would be nice to see someone besides the American taxpayer carry the load.
What is most likely to come out of this summit is a lot of hot air and carbon dioxide from the delegates with no way to alliviate the problems they have come to discuss. If any substantial change is going to be made by humanity it will have to start with people remembering to take the necessary steps ourselves.
It is well know fact that most if not all people do what they want even after asking and seeking advice, governments even more so. So Jack in word nothing but words.
You know Jack it's getting to the point that when it comes to major issues like climate change or economics their never seems to be a stright forward yes or no answer. Is the climate changing due to human behavior or not? Can the gov't help the economy or not. One expert says one thing, another, the total opposite
Is it that we humans just are not as smart as we think we are and can't figure anyting out? I kinda think that's it. We are dilusional.
It will probably get to the point when the planet is about to get swept under by a super sunami or super depression some people will say. Oh come on! it's all left wing propagnda. It's hilarious!
It is good for so many countries to face up to the damage that our collective civilization is doing to the planet Earth. It is good for so many countries to be talking together for any reason. It is bad to fabricate a swift-boat out of stolen e-mails.
This thing stinks from the head down.
Imagine if the conference was told that the leading scientist wrote an e-mail stately flat out that the whole thing was a hoax and that he had been lying to the world community about the whole global warming issue.
What would their reaction be? Nothing...because they have another agenda.
And that agenda is money.
Well, guess what?
That's exactly what the leading scientist at the CRU did and it was discovered in those stolen e-mails.
Our future is being hijacked people, plain and simple and it will hit us in our wallets.
I am hoping and praying that this whole thing breaks wide open and the perpetrators are tried and convicted of fraud and put in jail.
The UN, which is the most deeply flawed and fraud-ridden organization in the world, should be disbanded.
What about the $28B Oil for Food scam? Where did all that money go and why was it not fully investigated.
That fiasco pales in comparison to what the UN and its IPCC are perpetrating on the world now.
Nothing. Obama should have opened the summit, so he could have said, as usual, nothing that mattered.
Denis
Pittsburgh, Pa.
I think the summit on climate change is symbolic. Unfortunately I don't see any evidence of any serious environmental policy coming out of the USA. I suppose Obama could borrow another 800 billion to give green industry a fighting chance; but the baby boomer 401Ks are mostly invested in oil and the status quo market structure–so I doubt Obama or Congress will challenge this system, since he already bailed it out.
Nothing much to come out of this summit.
Whatever is agreed cannot go far enough in combating those aspects of Global warming caused by natural rather than man-made influences.
Largely a waste of time and effort.
DVG Lincoln UK
Our world, clean air, water, and the general health and well-being for all inhabitants (not just the wealthy) are a big to-do to me.
Jack, what I expect to come from this meeting is "LIP SERVICE"! Everyone gets together, runs their mouths, pledges to fix global warming, goes home after a good week of partying saying look what we did, we'll save the world if we can just get everyone to do all this "stuff". After a year or so, they'll meet again, see that nothing has changed, and generate more "LIP SERVICE". Total waste of time and money, and like you said, generates a huge carbon footprint for no return/benefit.
I thought global warming was real until I found out the scientists behind warnings had manipulated the numbers. Now I realize I too must confess. I am the one responsible for the demise of the Sahara Rain Forrest. Yes, it's all my fault. To make up for it I am trying to release as much CO2 into the atmosphere as I can. There are reports that parts of the Sahara desert have started to turn green again with trees and plants so it must be working. While I am willing to take the blame for the Sahara, don't try to blame the Gobi rain forest on me. That was some other guy.
Jack,
Much ado about nothing is overstating it. A bunch of celebrities, politicians and jounalist who have too much time on their hands...
Climate change debate is between two schools, claiming:
a)It is a natural cyclical process. b) Caused by man.
In the known history of the Earth, several ice ages and several warming periods are discovered. These are natural cycles of our planet. However, excessive CO2 gas emissions and depletion of Ozone zones will aggravate the natural cycles and will expedite the warming period unnaturally and may even push the normal cycle to a level which may be beyond a no-return level. Both cases are scientifically studied and proved. Defenders of each cases acts like the other side is dead wrong. In reality neither side is wrong. Instead why not accept both cases at the same time! We can not control the natural process but we can control the man’s contributions. At least we should do our part and cut down the emissions, before it may be too late.
Ergun Tok
This is a serious problem. With war is climate change. Our activities are effecting the planet & its ecosystems.
As far as scientists cooking the books on the data and this so called weather gate it is good this is out in the open. Other scientists can and will either confirm of deny their claims. As far as the public is concerned this is a blow to the creditability of scientific community which is built on open & hopefully honest reporting of observations. When observations are biased either for or against a group they (scientists) have betrayed their profession.
However there are plenty of people who have agenda and would love to bias these finding to discredit the idea of global warming.
If developing countries like China, India and Russia commit to sharing responsibility for the global environment - instead of just blaming pollution on Europe, Japan, and the US - then this Summit will be well worth all the political hot air and VIP carbon.
What do I expect from the global warming summit? Hot air. Period.
Jack,
time is needed for – But a legally-binding treaty to combat global warming? Never gonna happen.
But it should not stop U.S., China and India to step up since many countries have already step up as well as U.S. States and canadian provinces did not wait for their federal government to step up!
As for emails saga – perfect timing to feed conspiracy theorists! Time is better spent at finding solutions to face and help the populations that are already facing climate change at home as well as looking how citizens, businesses and governments logically have a moral and economic responsibiity to save energy!
It is about everything, Jack! Hopefully the US will this time be part of solutions instead of one of the biggest problems.
Jack,
time is needed for – But a legally-binding treaty to combat global warming? Never gonna happen.
But it should not stop U.S., China and India to step up since many countries have already step up as well as U.S. States and canadian provinces did not wait for their federal government to step up!
As for emails saga – perfect timing to feed conspiracy theorists! Time is better spent at finding solutions to face and help the populations that are already facing climate change at home as well as looking how citizens, businesses and governments logically have a moral and economic responsibility to save energy!
Out of Copenhagen I expect a higher level of consciousness for the world, where the higher power of mankind is mankind's survival, not money, power, corporate entity, or nation's dominance.
It has past time that all countries rise up.
Unseasonably warm temperatures in Copenhagen from all the hot air.
Jack, Things in Copenhagen look bad. Now that the convenient truth about the science on global warming has been revealed, there's not much to be done, unless Obama tries to circumvent congress, with his own climate controll agreement. If Obama tries that, the stuff will hit the spinning blades.
More confusion and pollution ..If we get rid of CO2 then the plants won;t live and emit oxygen so we can breathe .... don't like those odds..
What will come out of this? A wonderful all expenses paid vacation for the 14,000+ attendees, lots of Dutch Christmas presents for their families & friends, a great boom for the Copenhagen economy, and a huge waste of energy & global tax dollars.
Jack I really do not expect anything. What they should do is have representatives meet in private and iron out an agreement in principle. Then have the big boys and girls fly in to sign it. This looks like a show designed to make it look like they really care about glaciers melding and mountains that no longer have snow on top all year long.
Jack,
In the end at the conclusion of the big show they will all agree to disagree and once again nothing will be accomplished to reverse the carbon levels in the atmosphere that are effecting the global warming of our precious plant...
Vinnie Vino
Central Islip, N.Y.
More promises that we will borrow from China and give the money to Indonesia?
Maybe Al Gore will be appointed King of the World.
The World has woken up to the problems we are causing for this Planet. But the Anti-Obama group still has stuck its head in the sand ignoring the overwhelming evidence about Global Warming.
I hope nothing comes of it. Not to be crass, but the last thing we need is job-killing environmental legislation that agrravates an already shaky economy. First they need to pin down whether warming is occurring and whether is is man-caused. Then, and only then, should they even consider the kind of taxation they want now.
This summit will provide leaders with yet another opportunity to act like they're doing something important, it will provide us ordinary folks another opportunity to actually hear oxygen being wasted, and Obama with another photo-op.
Like you said Jack, a binding treaty is never gonna happen. I doubt that we will get honest science on this (which would discount warming). I would much rather we give up on warming and instead target actual pollution of air and water in the developing world. Of course, the Chinese would block this too -as would the U.S., who benefit from both Chinese and Mexican pollution run amok.
No, it is a scam based on phony science designed to help the cause of the global government crowd. The Obama folks are rabid about giving away our dollars,our freedom and our soverignty.
It doesn't take a summit to see that we need to take care of our planet. We just need to look around us at the melting glaciers, the warmer temperatures, the loss of animal habitats, the rising oceans. We need to take responsibility while we still have an Earth to live on. The upcoming summit is "much about nothing"–just a time for socializing and photo ops. It will take the leaders of industry to curb pollution and the rest of us to do our part.
Pretty simple Jack
About 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
Sersiously, I think we can all agree that pollution is not a good thing and should be curbed to the extent possible without curtailing the growth of the Amercian economy or placing the USA on an un-level playing field where economic competition is concerned.
These people are blowing hot air and you know where they're blowing it. This is all a big show to satisfy their own egos and to pad their bank accounts to get more money to study the "problem" instead of just accepting that we are headed for another dramatic change at some time in our history.
The only thing I expect to see come out of the global warming summit is an increase in my already high utility bill. The in-your-face hypocrisy of the attendees with their limos and private jets is sickening.
no it's not- they are all adding significantly to their carbon footprint withh all the private jets and limosines.Why can't they do a video conference so no one had to travel and set a good example for us all?to
Selfishly, and unrealistically, I’d like to see manufacturing brought back to the US by way of renewable energy sources. We can’t be isolationists, but we also can’t ship all our manufacturing jobs overseas and expect to thrive (unless you’re a bankster, that is).
I expect the cinference may be the backdrop for a major traeaty announcement involving the US, India, and China involving the reduction in carbon emissions, or at least I hope that will happen. I'm glad the president will be attending which I view as a major change from the viewpoint of the Bush administration. Assuning US involvement there is a strong potential for significant good may finally come from this conference. As the father of a meteorologist, with specialty of climatology I get special insight into aspects of global warming that others may not get
I expect it to produce a lot of hot air and more than 40,000 tons of CO2. Amazing that all these global warming proponents can't carpool or planepool to cut down on the waste they create. If they truly beleived all their hype would they not be taking busses instead of thousands of limos? Walking? Bicycles?
The summit won't lead to a legally binding treaty, but in the end that's not what will change the situation. Holding a large summit focuses attention on the issue and spreads recognition that many countries are prepared to internally advance new policy to help promote clean energy technology. This pushes investors to get on board. New, cheaper, and cleaner sources of energy will become available as it become clear that developing them will be profitable. This notion that the media has pushed lately that things are not worth doing unless you see immediate measurable results is insane. Those moments seldom occur in history - and they are always preceded by a number of steps that don't produce measurable results - that's why big moments in history are big moments.
Honesty.
A lot of hot air.
Yeah, it's much ado about nothing. What's so wrong with leaving a globe that's cleaner and more energy efficient for our grandchildren? As long as we're plugged into the grid, nothing will change and you can bet your last tax dollar lobbyists don't give a hoot about a cleaner world. And what does Wall Street care about cleaning up our environment? Leave a garbage barge in front of the NYSE for a week. You can bet they'll find a way to clean up their trash at a good return to stockholders!
Jack,
"Clean" coal and their obstructionist/big business allies (the GOP) don't require facts, just push-back. The lastest PR campaign distracts from the largest issue: melting polar ice. A freak Houston snow dusting is not reason to undermine what most nations think is our greatest challenge. Reports for the Enterprise Institute and other conservative spin-tanks are just b.s.
I expect other countries to be warming up to our new President, but that's about it for now. But it's a start.
Jack ,
Conservatives, Republicans, Blue Dog Democrats, Tea Partiers and their corporate masters can all cry foul and deny global warming if they wish, but the facts are that mankind has done immense damage to our planet. Remember the Cuyahoga River catching on fire? That's not natural. Neither are smog or oil tanker spills. If nothing else comes out of this summit, I hope the countries of the world can agree to begin reducing pollution any way they can.
Jack,
Just as you said... 40,000 tons of fossil fuel burned. That's all that will come out of this summit.
-Jeff from Cambridge, MA
Good for you pointing out the carbon footprint the conference causes. What about all the video conferencing software available? What do I expect? NADA. NOTHING. ZIP. ZERO. ZILCH.
A lot of HOT AIR, Jack. And, because of that, some melting snow. Thus, a lot of good they're doing there. 🙂
–Stephen
Panama City, FL
Just a lot more hot air, Jack. Just a lot more hot air.
All I expect from Copenhagen is Carbon Rich Hot Air. If none of the officials was concerned enough to use this as an opportunity to be examples and they still failed. Any serious climate change will come from the people, not the governments. We need to stop waiting to be governed and begin doing what's right.
Michael
What do I expect? Nothing but a HUGE amount of HOT AIR (and methane) from their bloated bellies!
I expect the politicians to generate enough courage for then to do what is necessary to save the planet for humans. Otherwise Mother Nature with do it for them—with or without a human presence.
I think we might actually get something done now that the Petroleum Party isn't representing us and we have a President that can actually pronounce Global Warming. At some point we need to take responsibility for our behavior instead of making ourselves feel better by nit picking the minutia while missing the big picture.
Hot air...
Arguing against global warming is like arguing against a geo-centric universe. For centuries after Copernicus' discovery, so-called scientists, financed by the church proposed all sorts of ridiculous theories to prove that the earth was the center of the universe. All of these theories were false. The same applies to the "critics" of the theory of global warming. The scientists they cite are simply ignorant charlatans financed by the oil companies.
It is too early to tell whether the Coopehagen conference is "much ado about nothing." But if we fail to act quickly and decisively in face of overwhelming evidence, future generations will have the right to curse us to their dying breaths. It's that serious. Wealthy old geezers have no right to determine policies that will affect future generations. And that's what the current so-called "debate" centers upon.
Hot air, Jack.
I suspect there will be a lot of hot air to come out of the global warming summit in Copenhagen and that will only lead to an increase in warming and CO2 emissions. Consider all those jets flying these people in there to the summit.
At least the US going there in good faith, compared to the Bush administration that dragged it feet for eight years on the global warming issue.
climate change or not, what do republicans and people who deny climate change have against passing clean air to future generations?
A lot of hot air will come out of this summit. Be careful about the carbon footprint it will leave.
Nothing, Nothing, Nothing, not a dam thing. Just alot of so call important people getting together to party and have an expense dinner. Breeze on that.
Global Warming is a serious issue, but the previous summits solved little, except for a raising of consciousness. The only thing I see coming out of this summit are plans by various nations to support advancing tehcnologies, such as the development of electric cars, aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Nothing should come of it if anyone is listening, right? I mean, at the very least America should take time to educate on the costs, implications, and legitimacy of any world agreement coming from copenhagon, especially in like of these wonderful emails!
Jack,
Don't you think that awareness of the issue is a required precedent to actually doing anything about it? It seems to me that if all we get is empty promises from this summit, it may some day lead to real action.
Thanks,
Russ
Jack – thank you for getting this crucial subject coverage. Yes, if Copenhagen creates anything binding, that would be good enough for me. The crucial line to cross, I believe, is getting commitments to 1990 carbon levels, not 2005 levels. Working to 1990 levels at 350 parts per millions is where we really need to be aiming to offset climate scientists' worst fears. 2005 levels are just not good enough!
We are going into an international conference. CNN is saying that unnamed "experts" who are represented by none other than James Inhoffe, Senator for ExxonMobil are claiming that something is going on they suspected all along. Yes, their paranoid delusions are still rolling along. These people need medication, not validation.
What I expect to come out of this summit is absolutely nothing. A bunch of politicians who know nothing about the science of global warming are going to stand around slapping each other on the back and glad handing. When it is over the world will be no better off. End of story...........
It's blatantly obvious what will come out of this conference.
A lot more global warming from all the hot air!
Ray
Germantown Hills IL
Jack..
Obama tables the legislation to apply tarriffs to high carbon oil (Read Oilsands).. all this EPA and Copenhage nonsense is going to accomplish laying a "moral" foundation for the US to tax Canadian Oil sands oil..
Extrapolate from that Britains eagerness to participate and its nothard to conclude there will be import tarriffs handed out by the have not resource states...
Its all about the money.. it always is and always will be.
Climategate should be enough evidence to everyone that AGW (Human caused Global warming) is a myth.
But its not stopping the US from cashing in on it..
Jack, I'm a republican who is skeptical about the whole thing. But let's assume the earth is heating up. Do you really think paying a tax to a world global government is going in anyway prevent ice melting on Mt. Everest or anywhere else? This whole thing is a money grab Jack, and a power grab, mostly paid for by the American people.
More hot air.
Pooooof!! That was the sound of a lot of hot air and carbon emissions is exactly what I expect to come out of this convention just as you indicated. Nonetheless, I am hoping to be surprised that if the nature of the situation is as serious as they indicate it to be then meaningful action should be taken.
The only firm result from the Copenhagen Summit will be more global warming from all the HOT AIR being spewed by the participant's self serving speeches, their jets and limos.
Just more hot air.
Global Warming will go down in history as the greatest hoax perpetrated on the human race.
I hate admitting being old enough to remember the '70s well, but I do.
Back then (right before the over-blown year 2k drama) we were being warned by our scientists and politicians that a new ice age was coming!
Is the planet warming? Probably. Should we protect our environment? Absolutely! Should you believe scientists who live off grant money and government funding? Should (or can) we believe our politicians have enough brains to sort it out? Heck no!!!
What do I expect? Rreally now, how about enough hot air to really cause global warming.
Jack-
I would expect that the participants would have a nice out of town vacation and nothing more. There are no accurate models to determine warming/cooling patterns...these people are not conducting experiments as scientists do and whether or not you believe the planet is warming or cooling, the real question is man's involvement. It just doesn't add up yet. Everyone there should get a copy of the new book SuperFreakonomics that suggested very inexpensive ways to possibly combat the problem. This new religion is just a way to make people rich or funded at the cost of the faithful...err taxpayers!
Jack,
people need to know that countries that signed the Kyoto accord met their goals except Canada which did not stop individual provinces to meet higher goals than the country. The same for the U.S. who did not sign the Kyoto accord but some States have gone ahead to reduce their emissions! So this is not for nothing! This summit has already respected the accord previously signed by the participatory countries. It is time for U.S., China and India to be part of the overall global solutions.
I expect greed will win the day. Climate Change is not just a warming effect but "Change" effect. The proposed science behind it is as established as the science behind Gravity. The question is not does Carbon Dioxide absorbs more heat than Nitrogen, because that is material science and is not up for debate. The question is can Human activity introduce so much Greenhouse Gases that it warms the planet. Fraudulent e-mails will not change it, Right Wing ignorance won’t change it, and debates won’t change it. Either human activity is responsible or partially responsible or not responsible at all. Unfortunately the proof will probably kill us all. I personally am not willing to risk humanity over the black goo.
Hi Jack
With all those politicians talking, 40001 tons of emissions!
Grant
Toronto
Sounds like they are making it worse 40,000 tons i wounder if anyone talked about that at the summit. Sounds like a case of DO WHAT I SAY NOT AS I DO.
I expect to hear what we can do to save our planet because global warming is real despite any negative reporting.
Global Warming is less dangerous than all of these people getting together and fabricating some plan to reduce emissions that involves big companies making big profits.
Global warming is a case of follow the money.
Al Gore's investment fund is invested in several green businesses that are positioned to make billions if Obama's Cap and Trade tax is passed.
Al Gore's house uses 20 times the energy of a normal house. Seems that he isn't too concerned about his carbon footprint as he jets around the world in a private jet.
Maybe they will determine how long it will take to to get rid of the pollution they created by flying to the conference!
What do I expect to come out of the global warming summit? That's easy. Nothing but a lot more hot air.
More hot air Jack.
Mark
West Palm Beach
The whole thing is a scam. It is a power play by the worlds rich and powerful to give our sovereignty to the United Nations. Companies like General Electric have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in marketing carbon credits and manufacturing green products.
The one thing most responsible for the glaciers melting is Sun spots on the surface of the moon. It's that simple. So goes the Sun, so go the glaciers.
Maybe if Obama and all the other "important " people stayed
home, they would save enough carbon to offset the pollution of one small country! Don't hold your breath or let out the cow's methane
while waiting...
ClimateGate is nonsense. A "trick" in mathematics vernacular is nothing more than a method. The science is all subject to peer review and is overwhelmingly suggestive that global warming is real. Besides even if they are all wrong, who wants all that crud in your lungs. ClimateGate has an eery resemblence to the effort to discredit the scientists who claimed that cigarette smoking was bad for your health.
It's going to shock you once you realize the potential of this summit.
All these leaders, in cold Copenhagen, talking again about global warming. Best possible result...you got it. More hot air.
Duane
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Scientist have been sneaking out to the North Pole and burying space heaters in the glaciers. Summits, treaties, and governments never accomplish anything. That's why Afghanistan is better off than we are - they haven't had a central government interfering in their lives for decades. They just stick to good old fashioned religion and laisse fair capitalism and they do just fine. No taxes, no regulations, no big government, no EPA, butting into their business - and it's GREAT, Jack.
It looks like some reasonably firm commitments will come from this conference. The facts dictate that something should be done. The noise is coming from people whose greed exceeds their concern for other people.
Jim, Craig, CO
The only thing that meeting will produce is pollution. At leats they should have done it in the US, and give a boost to the local limousine and catering business.
The whole thing is a scam. It is a power play by the worlds rich and powerful to give our sovereignty to the United Nations. Companies like General Electric have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in marketing carbon credits and manufacturing green products.
The one thing most responsible for the glaciers melting is Sun spots on the surface of the Sun It's that simple. So goes the Sun, so go the glaciers.
This summit is absolutely one of the biggest wastes of time and shows a complete lack of common sense on the part of everyone involved. The books on this have been cooked, the equipment providing these so called facts is old, and there is no concrete evidence that global warming has been caused by man. Also with the world economic crisis, do any of us really need to pay for the security, the food the deluxe accomodations that these world leaders are recieving much less the carbon footprint they are themselves putting on the environment in Copenhagen? As per usual in politics, this is a whole lot of hot air with nothing really behind it.
I think its just another dog and pony show. Its all just a novelty right now. There actually might be a couple of countries there that actually care like Denmark itself.
No, there will not be any commitments made here especially from the US and China. The US is the biggest offender and it started offending back in the 20's with its industrial might and continues today with its big SUV's.
China is exploding in its own industrial buildup and does not look like it wants to slow down any time soon. After all its China's turn to exploit the resources of the world just as we did, therefore we have no say.
I see us toying with the idea of actually caring about the environment but I do not see anything earth shakening or significant happening till at least 2040.
The answer is just to easy: Nothng more than a LOT of hot air,the real cause of all warming. Enough to keep my apartment warm all winter saving me a bunch of money.
Alot of hot air.
There's something that can be done easily enough: It will clean up the air and consolidate both heating and electric power. It is easy to get around it; just pretend like it doesn't exist. Everywhere it's cold they could generate electricity and save the heat for heating. Parafins from the very light methane through butane would likely work like a charm. You could use fuel oi or diesell for this by using steam powered generator, or diesel engine. This would bypass power plant for electric and use the same fuel for both electric and heat. What would it take? 1. a small gernerator and an insultated water tank to save the heat. No one would loose, less fuel would be used, and it would be very clean. The exhaust could be saved as heat and clean water. There would be some CO2, but less than now by about 1/2. Plus you could store ice from the wintter for summertime cooling. I bet this sound harebrain, but figure it out, give it a little time to run around your mind. It's almost 100% energy efficient plus much less CO2 from big cental power plants. It won't happen and if brought to light will be torpedoed by big Energy.
Absolutly nothing.There incapable they are all looking out for there own intrests instead of what would benifit there people.We are just incapable
Not much....just more hot air.
A lot of hot air.
Jack, It's a shame that you too have bought into the nonsense spewed by the Flat Earther GCC denialists. There is NOTHING in the emails suggesting the books have been cooked. I've read as many as have been published and there is nothing there.
While I agree the summit seems excessive in terms of carbon footprints being leveled all over the place, nonetheless doing something is better than allowing the corporate polluters, whether allowed by governments or not, to continue to destroy our air and water.
Tell ya what Jack go look at the destruction in hundreds of small towns and villages in China and India due to pollution being allowed to run rampant in order to allow the profits of the polluters to take precedence over human life and then get back to us and tell us once again there is "cooking of the books". Hundreds of miles of waterways in China are so polluted that falling into one is a death sentence.
Jack, I'm a republican who is skeptical about the whole thing. But let's assume the earth is heating up. Do you really think paying a tax to a world global government is going in anyway prevent ice melting on Mt. Everest or anywhere else? This whole thing is a money grab Jack, and a power grab, mostly paid for by the American people. The UN has been nervous about depending on the U.S. government for years and has been trying to create another money stream, well this is it.
Global Warming will go down in history as the greatest scam perpetrated on the human race.
It's more like a Global Sleaze Convention.
Its funny that those who don't believe in global warming also dont know the difference between Holland and Denmark. Copenhagen is in Denmark so its interesting how all those "dutch" christmas presents will be available. Stupid people really expose themselves when they open their mouths, everytime they try to deny climate change.
much ado about nothing? only in the cynical world and those in denial maybe. and those in the media. the Kyoto Protocol was the last time any of this was really taken seriously on a global basis. 140 planes for an event that needs the consensus of 192 nations means that some must be carpooling, or the air travel equivalent. years of denial by a president who made his fortune in petroleum means there is a lot of catch up, our children and their children deserve a respected planet to inhabit and enjoy.
Hahahahaaha. I see everyone thinks the same thing. (A lot of hot air, lol.)
An extra 44,000 tons of CO2 due to hot air.
Jack,
I expect to experience an immediate global warming from all of the Hot Air being dispelled from the summit conference! And then a slow misting of acid rain will begin, reminding us of the waste of time & resources used for this endeavor.
Jack,
I expect several tons of additional emissions to be produced due to the Copenhagen suummit in Denmark. In other words "A LOT OF HOT AIR"
Drew
Jack,
Lots of posturing and photo ops, and maybe...maybe... some meaningful dialog and agreements. It's a vitally important topic. Let's hope for some actual progress.
Jim
Reno, Nevada
Forget about how they traveled to the summit. They are going to try to get our planet well. If you had a sick child, wouldn't you want to do whatever it takes to get it well. The glaciers are sick and not of a political party, but they are trying to tell us something. Stop running this into and do what you can to help too.
We should be one step closer to participating in an international effort to curtail the threat we all face from a warming planet. This is a problem we can't fight alone or with the use of military might. It requires cooperation among countries and our President has the foresight to see that.
I think that a lot of hot air will be produced.
Hey chicken little the sky is not falling, please ask any geoligist if the EARTH goes through any CHANGES like i dont know ice age then warming flooding then drought highs lows . please human caused? CHANGE=ADAPT be brave stop whining show some courage.if it floods move,whould you be happier if an ice age was comming
I expect a lot of hot air and CO2. I guess that means they have met my expectations perfectly.
Why does it matter if there is much ado about nothing? All the emissions we put in the air, all the trees we cut down, all the coal we dig, and all the oil we squirt CAN'T be good for our earth. When its too late and we find out that it is really and truly destroying the earth, where are we going to go???
I hope nothing. Maybe we need to use some of the stimulus money to purchase Al Gore and a few others a thermometer. We are expecting snow here in the South.
All it will do is generate more waste. A waste of paper, energy, and other valuable resources.
The outlook is not good . Probably too little–too late. The hacked e-mails don't affect the preponderance of scientific evidence although they did divert attention from the basic problem.Society should let scientists exercise quality control on scientific evidence.They have been doing so for many years.
JACK...it is much ado...about LESS that the rhetoric by CZAR Gore would lead you to believe....WHERE is TRUTH is this great debacle...WHO knows? HOT AIR is probably the end result and someone else has indicated. This seems to be a very NON TRANSPARENT issue and there are clearly 2 sides to the issue. This is simply another move by the LEFT to get more "control" over our lives and our income to generate more "Tax Dollars" to run stupid programs that benefit nobody and deplete our economic resources so we can be "More Dependent on the Bureaucracy" in Washington who are doing nothing but "Feathering their Own Careers!"
George in Rochester
The Global warming myth is just another tax hike!
although I agree we need to look after the world better, its the people with the most money that are causing the most damage with their constant greed, the rest of us pay the most as to our "means" as we have less to start
and its some good cleaning up the carbon when they are inundating us with too much floride in the water, chemicals in our food and viruses from the skies!
Jack, I expect the United States to take a leadership role and move forward with a committment to drastically reduce GHG. This Climategate issue is nothing more than a concerted effort on the part of thugs to discredit the good science that has been done. In Watergate, the thugs who broke into the DNC were arrested and jailed and the head thug had to resign his office as president. This is not whistleblowing, it is sabotage just before the most important international meeting of the decade.
More hot air.
Ralph – Corpus Christi, Texas
I expect business as usual. The summit will result in the United States leading the way and promising and giving more money than any other country (money we don't have) that will effect US taxpayers negatively more than any other individual in the world continuing to support the hoax of global warming. (But it will give some that "warm fuzzy" they need to feel a part of something) We need to keep our money (US taxpayer money) for OUR real issues (US issues) not pay it out in support of a another false crisis in a poor attempt to look good in the eyes of the world. Many want to come to the US for many many reasons, mostly because we have the best of everything. Then, we are chastised by the world for having the best. We know what is going to happen...more of our tax money spent on something that is wasteful by those that waste the most.
The attendees seem to be more concerned about transferring wealth from haves to have nots than pursuing global warming.
just like the last conference - a whole lot of HOT AIR - Nothing
If there are any questions, I just saw on your station film of Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain on earth slowly melting in December near the summit of the mountain. Why don't they have a virtual meeting and save the 40,000 tons? As an aside, I'm originally from coal country and know firsthand about slurry and water pollution. We used to hear about "clean coal" back in the 70's...that song and dance again. We need to go green yesterday.
Not much at all except a group of well traveled and fed politicans who enjoyed another vacation on the taxpayers dime.
Simply put effectively NOTHING! At this point most countries are looking at their economic status and how to get out of the recession. Bad timing for global warming advocates like the US. In Copenhagen, there is going to be pontification,consensus and agreements that are not binding, but none of the countries that matter like China, India, Brazil etc are going to sign any commitment and risk slowing down their recovery. Some secretly think this recession is America's fault and so should bear the responsibility for stemming global warming for the meantime.
I imagine something like a global ban on smoking!
Jack,
What I expect and what reality will be are two very different things. I expect a real agreement with goals, restrictions, and binding all countries to the agreement... what the reality will be: Kyoto 2.0 lite. Even if it isn't our own Congress (with Inhoffidot leading the way) will find a way to scuttle it so they can keep cashing in from big fossil fuel producers and users. I don't want to use fossil fuels but I don't have much choice. I hope the future will be better than it is now, but hope only gets you so far.
Luwanna Guysville Ohio
NO it is not about nothing. If we as human beings don't start doing more to protect mother earth humans will become extinct and we will all the the dodo birds of past.
Jack:
What will come out of the meeting is what comes out of every formal "leadership" meeting, and it will only increase global warming and that is a lot of HOT AIR !
I expect a lot of hot air coming out of as well as going into Copenhagen!
Wow all the great minds here agree about hot air. What original thinking straight out of the big oil playbook. Remmember cigarettes do not cause cancer neither according to the same play book. I dont remmember this many asthamatics 30 years ago in my youth, these days 1/2 the kids *under 25) seem to have asthma. That yummy carbon loaded with poison sure does everybody a world of good eh.
I expect nothing to happen, as it never does. All of these "summits" and "conferences" are pure show to make the rest of us think that something might actually change. As long as these things are restricted to the private jet and limo set, they can't see the problems, let alone change or fix anything. It's like Congress & health care. Until we take away their coverage and pensions and cut their salaries in half, they'll never understand what the rest of us face every day.
nothing since we all do not believe in it just like Santa Clasue anymore. Bah humbug climate change
The whole theory of global warming was invented by people who
know how to make money and fame from it.
Nothing more than hot air; possibly more than Al Gore.
Hi Jack,
I just copied this from the HR 2454 "American Clean Air and Security Act of 2009"
‘‘PART IV—CARBON MARKET ASSURANCE
‘‘Sec. 401. Oversight and assurance of carbon markets.
‘‘Sec. 402. Applicability of Part III provisions.
‘‘Sec. 1041. Fraud and false statements in connection with regulated allowances.
Sec. 342. Carbon derivative markets.
Subtitle E—Additional Market Assurance
Sec. 351. Regulation of certain transactions in derivatives involving energy
commodities.
Sec. 352. No effect on authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Sec. 353. Inspector General of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Sec. 354. Settlement and clearing through registered derivatives clearing organizations.
Sec. 355. Limitation on eligibility to purchase a credit default swap.
Sec. 356. Transaction fees.
Sec. 357. No effect on antitrust law or authority of the Federal Trade Commission.
Sec. 358. Effect of derivatives regulatory reform legislation.
Sec. 359. Cease-and-desist authority.
Sec. 360. Presidential review of regulations.
It seems to me that the're creating a new way for wall street to do more manipulation. They are actually going to start trading air as a commodity on wall street.
What's wrong with trying to clean things up? It's not like there's another planet ready to inhabit should we screw it up beyond habitation.
They could have done this by video conference and saved Copenhagen the pollution and us the tax money.
San Angelo, TX
Absolutely nothing. Nowadays having foresight seems rare and acting on foresight seems downright impossible. Remember CFCs were a good thing until there was a hole in the ozone layer.
Think of all the things that weren't banned until they were a problem: asbestos, lead paint, leaded gas, DDT, trans fat, etc., etc.
I exspect more of the same old rub the American nose in crap driving our economy into the ground to fill the pockets of politicians.
If you have ever been in a large coal fired power plant then you will damn sure hope something is done to reduce the harmful emissions that spew out of the stacks, having worked in large power plants for over thirty five years I know first hand what comes out of the stacks is very harmful.
As is typical of any European conference, more finger pointing at the US. What Europeans fail to realize until they travel to the United States is that solutions that seem rational for a relatively compact Europe, they make no sense in the wide open spaces of the United States.
Besides that ill-logic, there is also the European holier-than-thou attitude towards the United States as if blaming the United States for all these global ills relieves them of their own guilt over their colonial past and failure to solve without long-drawn out wars the problems of Europe.
Finally, and most damning is the reluctance to focus on where the greatest risk of pollutants in the world now reside and that is the Asia landmass including South Asia. China and India have continually used their need to modernize as to excuse the massive amounts of greenhouse gases that they are pumping into the air every year and excuse themselves from any modernization effort. Maybe placing a little blame where blame is due, and then having them buying US technology might help both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce US balance of payments issues.
As it stands until Europeans stop looking at the US as the problem and take a more realistic attitude towards the global economy, these efforts will only result in US political upheaval and no long term solutions towards resolving these potentially dangerous issues.
Y2K except with the climate
The Summit is just a bunch of lazy countries, that know things are getting worse, but want somone else to pay for it. You have China saying that our comapniess and other nations private companies should give up thier technology rights to other nations how is it right that they should even think about demanding other peoiple property. China always backwards enigineers everyone one elses technology and sell it for dirt cheap on our markets across the world?
I just hope that the world will finally open their eyes and ears and learn the truth about global warming. It's true, when you have a system that over hundreds of millions of years sequester hundreds of billions of tons of Co2 by turning it into coal and oil, which makes the earth inhabitable, then in just a couple of hundred years you release that Co2 back into the atmosphere, only a total moron could think it isn't true. You don't need to be a scientist to figure this out, you just need a working brain!
Dave from NH.
You desperately need to read today's edition of the Los Angeles Times.
The article on the front page is titled "Bottom Line Tops Climate Talks Agenda." Both Europe, Japan, and China have a lot to gain by the current climate talks because they are investing heavily in renewable, green technology. Global warming is already accepted everywhere, except in backward regions of the United States. The rest of the world is already investing in green technology. We can either take the lead in green technology – or turn this country over to the Chinese, who are already opening branches solar and wind turbine industries in this country.
One of the editorials in the Los Angeles Times also refutes the crackpot sciene of the people who are denying global warming. The Times concldes that if the US fails to act "The United States won't just be an internatinal pariah; it will be a menace to humanity."
That's pretty much the way I feel about the GOP which is launching an enormous campaign of public misinformation about global warming. The Republicans want Obama to fail. They want America to fail. They are perfectly willing to destroy this country and the world for the sake of petty party politics. They prove once again that they are unfit to govern.
Jack, can we get an infrared satellite shot of Copenhagen this week? I'm expecting A LOT of hot air.
This summit is nothing but a transfer of wealth and a power grab to further global governance. It's a means to an end and has nothing to do with saving the planet. So, hopefully, nothing will come of it but I'm not sure. They have forged ahead despite the "climategate" emails, all but ignoring the potential evidence of fraud like a child might stick his fingers in his ears and chant, "la la la, I can't hear you." Anyone who says, "Wait a minute, let's take a look at some actual data," well, for one, can't because original data has been destroyed and, two, is called a "denier" and likened to those who believed the Earth was flat. We've heard it said that truth does not shy away from investigation. Do we not want all the cards on the table before we give away the house? And even then, why would that be the answer?
Green Energy conspiracy? What is wrong with you people, Oil rules the today, not Solar. Get a grip.
Probably nothing but more debate.
Let's face it, we won't do anything to start mitigating this until we have to go outside wearing gas masks just to make it to the car.
Remember this is America. We never do anything or get anything done until we have to. Then it is just merely patched up. Ask the folks in New Orleans area about that.
iike you said jack, tons and tons of carbon and from what will be spread around over there should result in lots and lots of methane.
best regards tom
I expect this summit is merely a method for investors prospecting for emerging energy technologies that are less dependent on fossil fuels harvested from foreign soils. Why take it, when you can make it? Saving the planet just sounds a bit better.
People think getting away from fossil fuels threatens independence?...OK pay attention I am only telling you this once.
I have solar panels on my house, so I pay no heat or electricity bill, then I changed my truck over to electric drive, so I charge my batteries from my solar panels and pay nothing for gas and drive for free. So tell me who is more independent? I am saving over $1000/month which I would have given to some greedy oil company for the priveledge of releasing poision into the air.
Suckers, while you all keep paying for your energy. Left or right it doesnt matter, only thing that matters is the money I get to keep in my pocket, and my freedom from any oil crisis.
I think the global warming theory was invented by people who knew
how to turn it into money !
Nothing! If these green fat cats really believed in what they are representing they would not get on these air polluting private jets, creating more auto, noise and trash pollution in a city that I'm sure has its own environmental issues. All just to have a talk about about global warming. I mean really have they heard of Internet conferencing. I wonder how much of an environmental impact this conference is on the city. Maybe next year someone should measure the impacts of ambient temperatures, noise decibels and trash output before and after this conference to see how much of an impact they really have on the environment, then maybe they will stop this forest of a conference. Maybe CNN can find out
What do i expect?
Alot of hot air and a loss of more jobs for Americans.
oh alos jack dont forget another way for wall street to fleece more of American citizens money.
Steve
Middle Island , NY
Judging by the responses on this forum, I'm establishing a 'consensus' of people who don't believe in the Al Gore version of global warming. There. It is settled.
What people do not realize that what we as people do, effects what will happen in the future. This summit is not much ado about nothing. Global Warming is happening but what it is doing has some grey areas. we can start doing what we can to turn around energy waste and having more greener jobs. It is the are we willing to do so that is the question.
Jack, All I ever hear is global warming is a balloon boy trying to make money. Well I have eyes and see it every day to be true. If nothing else it can help green energy.
Jack, do you know why "Greenland" is so named? It was covered with trees when the Vikings discovered it back around 600–700 AD. Must have had some global warming back then too. Probably those high polluting Viking ships.
Chatham, VA
Global warming is the biggest fraud to ever be perpetrated. The science is totally corrupt and manipulated. The lack of sunspots foretells of a significant cooling or ice age. The carbon level and changes always follow, not lead, any changes in temperature, so carbon could not possibly be less relevant – unless you are trying to cam trillions from taxpayers!