"Climate Change at the Expense of America's Standard-of-Living"
Don't you think the average family in Europe, Asia, or Africa would want to live in a 3-bedroom house and own 2 cars if they could afford to? And heat their homes when it's snowing outside? And eat a T-bone steak every other night for dinner? And go to see a movie every other week? And maybe take a road-trip and travel once a year? Most would. And if they could, don't you think they would? And don't you think they're still trying?
And why is America's "carbon footprint" (standard-of-living) higher than Europe's?
Because, before Obama and his Czars came to power, the United States had a greater GNP - the average American worked more hours and longer weeks, took less time off (for illness and vacations), and had greater worker productivity. America also had less debt and took less income taxes from it's workers. And America had less "social" programs than Europe too.
(...but, that was BEFORE Obama. We'll see how things go from here. He seems to admire their Socialistic way of doing things.)
China: If the economy of China ever supercedes that of America's (which it might), and their average citizen's standard-of-living soared to that of an average person living in the United States, would the IPCC (the United Nations) and the European Union finally get off our backs?
(Australia has overtaken the USA: Australians now emit 20.58 tons of CO2 per person annually, whereas American’s emit 19.78 tons, almost a 4% difference. Canada meanwhile emits 18.81 tons per person. In sharp contrast the emerging markets of China and India, considered two of the world’s worst overall CO2 polluters, annually emit 4.5 and 1.16 tons per person respectively. Hmmmm...the English-speaking countries are the world's biggest polluters! I wonder why?)
Why do poorer countries always insist on punishing wealthier ones (and are always trying to bring us down a notch)? Why the envy and hate? America was created by the immigration of peoples from Europe, Asia, and Africa (and Mexico) - moving here for a better life...to a country with more freedoms and more economic opportunities.
But the IPCC (the United Nations, which represents everyone BUT the United States) wants us, the American people, to give them money (disguised as environmental - "lower-carbon footprint" - development to fight global warming climate change"). Why should we? We'd just be submitting to a bunch of beggars! It's REALLY all about the money and our standard-of-living that we enjoy (one that they hate and envy).
If Al Core's and Barack Obama's electric bill doubles or triples; and if the price of manufactured goods go up because the Cap and Trade Bill is passed, they can afford it...they're rich! The ministers and presidents and other foreign leaders at the Copenhagen Summit (using limos and private jets) are wealthy with their government's resources. But are you rich? Are you wealthy?
Environmentalists hooted when Ronald Reagan quipped that trees produced more pollution than cars.
But right now, the biggest single source of air pollution in Washington State isn't a power plant, pulp mill or anything else created by man...
...it's a volcano, one of 2,000 around the world.
Mount St. Helens
Since Mount St. Helens started erupting, it has been pumping out between 50 and 250 tons a day of sulfur dioxide...and produces between 500 and 1,000 tons a day of carbon dioxide.
Italy's Mount Etna can produce 100 times more sulfur dioxide than Mount St. Helens - and sits in the middle of a heavily populated area.
Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island churns out 2,000 tons a day of sulfur dioxide when it's erupting.
...but the United Nations (IPCC) nor Al Gore can regulate a volcano, can they? (Personally, I believe Al and his cult following have serious mental issues, but that will be another post.)
Mount Pinatubo
On June 15, 1991 Mount Pinatubo, a volcano in the Philippines, erupted and was one of the largest eruptions of this century. It injected a 20 - million ton sulfur dioxide cloud into the stratosphere to an altitude of more than 20 miles. The climactic Pinatubo cloud was the largest sulfur dioxide cloud ever observed in the stratosphere since the beginning of such observations by satellites in 1978. It caused what is believed to be the largest aerosol disturbance of the stratosphere this century, although smaller than the estimated disturbances from the eruptions of Tambora in 1815 and Krakatau in 1883. Sulfate aerosol formed in the stratosphere from sulfur dioxide in the Pinatubo cloud increased the reflection of radiation from the Sun back into space. Consequently, the Earth's surface cooled in the three years following the eruption, by as much as 1.3 degrees ( Fahrenheit scale) at the height of the effect.
Scientists know that volcanic gas is an important agent of global change.
The concentrations of different volcanic gases can vary considerably from one volcano to the next. Water vapor is typically the most abundant volcanic gas, followed by carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Some gases, such as carbon dioxide, are greenhouse gases that promote global warming, while others, like sulfur dioxide, can cause global cooling, ozone destruction, and polluted air known as volcanic smog or "vog". Studies of volcanic emissions allow scientists to compare volcanic gas output to emissions from man-made sources and to assess the effects of both past and future eruptions on the Earth's climate.
The aerosols increase the reflection of radiation from the Sun back into space and thus cool the Earth's lower atmosphere or troposphere; however, they also absorb heat radiated up from the Earth, thereby warming the stratosphere.
Finally, explosive volcanic eruptions release the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and thus provide a deep source of carbon for biogeochemical cycles.
Studies by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey have revealed the compositions and amounts of gases released from many active volcanoes in the U.S. (California, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, and Hawaii).
As an example, USGS scientists studying the gases of Mount St. Helens have determined that a total of about 2 million tons of sulfur dioxide were emitted between 1980 and 1988. Sensors aboard a satellite detected about 1 million tons of sulfur dioxide injected into the stratosphere during the climactic eruption on May 18, 1980. Another half-million tons of sulfur dioxide were dissolved in water droplets attached to ash particles that eventually fell to earth. The remaining half-million tons were emitted from the volcano during the eight years following the climactic May 18 eruption. Careful study of Mount St. Helens gases using chemical sensors installed in the crater along with airborne measurements of sulfur dioxide revealed periods of increased gas emission prior to four eruptions during 1984-86. These measurements allow important comparisons with sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants and other man-made emission sources.
Gases from volcanoes give rise to numerous impacts on climate, the environment, and people. (But don't blame volcanoes as they only contribute a small percentage to the CO2 as opposed to man-made emissions.)
From the NY TIMES: China Increased Lead as Biggest Carbon Dioxide Emitter
The Chinese increase accounted for two-thirds of the growth in the year’s global greenhouse gas emissions. China’s emissions were 14 percent higher than those of the United States. China’s emissions are most likely to continue growing substantially for years to come because they are tied to the country’s strong economic growth and its particular mix of industry and power sources - China is heavily dependent on coal and has seen its most rapid growth in some of the world’s most heavily polluting industrial sectors.
The average American is responsible for 19.78 tons (but only because Americans can afford nicer homes and own more cars - because they have the highest standard-of-living). Average emissions per person in Russia are 11.8 tons; in the European Union it is 8.6 tons (where most people live in large population centers and use mass-transit such as high-speed trains and subways); China, 5.1 tons (developing); and India, 1.8 tons (developing).
Experts said the new data underscored the importance of getting China to sign on to any new global climate agreement. Neither China nor the United States participated in the current treaty to limit emissions, the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012 and will be replaced by a new agreement to be signed in Copenhagen at the end of 2009.
Eighty percent of the world’s coal demand comes from China, according to the International Energy Agency, which "advises" industrialized nations on energy policy.
...but I doubt the Chinse will give up their energy independence, their cars, or their jobs either.
Please See My Related Posts to "Climate Change"
Copenhagen: Scamming the American Taxpayers with "Climate Change
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2009/12/12/copenhagen-scamming-the-american-taxpaye
Climategate Scandal - "Harry Read Me" File - Cap and Trade Scam
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog5.php/2009/12/01/climategate-s-harry-read-me-file-is-a-mu
Cap and Trade Scam - Al Gore's Fear Mongering on Climate Change
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2009/11/10/obama-s-and-al-gore-s-fear-mongering-on
Obama - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - Climategate
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2009/12/06/obama-intergovernmental-panel-on-climate
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