Global Warming Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Gold/Mining/Energy : Global Warming

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: Skeeter Bug who wrote (174)	9/28/2009 5:33:04 PM
From: GST	Read Replies (1) of 185

<even if disaster is around the corner, i don't think people will leave their vehicles or give up industry. i was hoping that GST or yourself would give me concrete evidence this view was wrong, but GST affirmed it and you just simply avoid it (leading to the logical inference you haven't changed much and don't want to admit it).> How people change behavior is worth discussing. I make no effort to conceal the minimal extent to which I have made changes in how I live. Where I do see people change the way they live is where it enters into their economic interests. Cars are an easy place to start to grasp this because so many people have one and drive it. In Europe half the new cars are diesels -- 70% of new cars in France. In Europe you can buy a non-diesel, non hybrid car that gets over 70 miles to the gallon -- VW sells it. But you cannot buy that car in the US. In the US the market for fuel efficient cars is smaller and developing more slowly. We are at the back of the global line as manufacturers introduce new products. Why? Because compared to the rest of the world, gas is dirt cheap in the US. Gas prices reflect oil prices and public policy -- and the US policy is 'filler-up' cheap as you can. I have not done much about my own life so far on a daily basis -- although flying is by far the most carbon intensive aspect of how I have lived my life so far. The planes I flew in for millions of miles spewed carbon that will be in the air affecting the climate long after I die. All aspects of our lives need to be considered -- CR used the example of CFCs where the science pointed out the grave concerns, there was a coordinated public policy response, CFCs were largely eliminated and new CFC substitutes have performed very well, thank you very much. This is a good model, although the complex nature of reducing all greenhouse gases will require far more complicated responses. But none of these responses will be effective without some form of economic reason for people to change their behavior -- at least not on a scale to make a dent.

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next