East Coast states and California may set standards above and beyond the Federal government's.

BBC Story

 

Frankly, from the data and the alarming rates at which glaciers are melting, especially in Greenland, I think we are trying to lock the barn door after all the animals have escaped. It appears that the earth goes through natural warming/cooling phases on a regular basis. By we humans increasing greenhouse gasses, the warming phase has been amplified. Hopefully, we have not pushed it into a positive feedback type of situation where it gets out of control.

 

I'm not as pessimistic as Ralph_dog. I've seen the graphs and you're right that it doesn't look good- emissions have been going up since the start of the industrial age at exponential rates. Even if there is no positive feedback, we could see some irreparable damage done to our planet before it cycles back. But I'm a great believer in technology. The only reason that Malthus wasn't right in his gloom and doom predictions about world overpopulation is that technology has jumped in and filled the breach faster than we crazy humans can mess things up. We are very inventive as a species, and although there are probably tough times ahead, with melting glaciers and rising oceans, in the end, when they open their eyes, people will wise up and put the vast resources of our collective intellect to the task of fixing this mess. I hope.

For now, California and the East Coast states are moving in the right direction, and they're just the trendsetters, or let's hope so. If the federal government won't do their job and at least sign on to Kyoto (not that it would be enough, since the Kyoto goals were low and also excluded developing nations) then the states have to take the lead. So I see this set of proposals as a positive sign. The car companies will have to sit up and take notice, long before the lawsuits all play out, and pay attention to laws that affect a third of the American market.

 

From the BBC article "The Bush administration does now acknowledge that global warming is a problem, and that it is partly caused by human activity."

But thankfully, he has said it quietly enough so that the party faithful remain ignorant. We wouldn't want to antagonize the religous right, after all.

 

Methane released from the glaciers.

 

To me, the incredible irony in this entire global warming nightmare is that alternative energy is the economic opportunity of the century for the US; but with the repubican party in the fossil fuel industry's pocket, change is at a snail's pace, and the US is being left behind.

And just for fun, we get a baldfaced classic bushite lie: that the fossil fuel base is being protected "FOR THE ECONOMY'S SAKE".

 

No offence taken, but need to clarify that not all conservative Christians give the Bush Administration blind approval on all his policies. Speaking for myself (but suspect I'm not alone) this admistration is not taking Genesis 2:15 seriously (i.e. Mankind's responsibility to care for the Earth). An increasing number of Evengical Christians (i.e likely Bush supporters) are concerned about the enviroment and doing something about it. Check out an old thread: Faith & Environmentalism

Regardless of your political or religious beliefs, I can't think of a reason why one would oppose caring for the envirnoment.

Not intended to provoke a flame war and again no offence.

 

I fully agree with this statement.

 

Don't know if any of you picked up on the irony of the states that plan on stricter polution laws than the Bush administration.

Often the Bush Administration opposes a Federal law but recommends each of the 50 states to address an issue they want undermined. Having the states lead on polution laws instead of the Federal government sound like a Bush tactic on a policy they oppose.

 

DF, I appreciate your thoughtful posts. However, you are looking for reason, but zealotry and ideology prevail.

To paraphrase: The Earth is our apple, and god will provide. Even /suggesting/ that the leaves are browning is heresy worthy of torture (since it must be the devil, hinting that god is not watching over us); but at a minimum represents liberal arrogance and an affront to the moral majority.