I don’t know about you but I am convinced that Global Warming is very “real” and I am also convinced we are not taken this “real” problem seriously enough. I am also convinced that global warming is now not only an environmental problem, today Global Warming is a very “real” socio-economical problem.
One way out of Global Warming is a draconian reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, not a simple task by any means.
There are serious economical and technological factors involved. On the economical side Richard Tol, leading author of the U.N. climate panel, stated that to cut carbon emissions enough to meet the 2 degrees goal set by the industrialized nations, the leading industrial nations would have to slap a huge tax on carbon-emitting-fuels. One that by the end of the century will reach something in the order of $4000 per metric ton of Carbon Dioxide, or $35 per gallon of gas ($9 per liter). According to Tol, the impact of a tax hike of this magnitude could reduce world GDP 12.9% in 2100. Good Luck with that one…
On the technological side of things, at the present moment most of the word’s electricity comes from coal. For two of the biggest emerging economies, China and India, the production of electricity based on coal is about 80%, Ouch!!! And the worst thing is that there isn’t a clean, dependable and most important cheap source of abundant energy that will entice industrialized and emerging economies to make a quick switch from coal based energy.
So what is the solution?
In my opinion one of the solutions is to pour lots of $$$ in R&D looking for technological breakthroughs in energy generation. Unfortunately our beloved leaders are putting the money in other areas that promise little or no chance to solve the real problem. Must have listened to Mr. Paul David Hewson when on the issue of Global Warming he quoted Thomas Friedman’s line “Don’t change your light bulbs – Change your Leaders”.
I also think we need to do our part, we need to be mindful on how use the energy resources that are available to us everyday. Think about it this way: we have a time limit to solve global warming, last time I checked we don’t have anywhere else to live but planet Earth. So it’s still a good idea to change your light bulbs to energy efficient ones.
Think about the future generations and the impact that your decisions will have on them, Please.
Technorati Tags: Global Warming, Carbon Dioxide, U.N. Climate Panel
