The real discussion about carbon dioxide

We’ve seen a fair amount of commentary over my recent CNN appearance, which makes my point exactly: the debate over the science of climate change is keeping us from moving on this issue.

Let me be clear on two things:

1. Discussing whether CO2 will be regulated is a moot point. We know that CO2 emissions will soon be regulated, be it via Congress or through the U.S. EPA.

2. ACCCE supports federal carbon management legislation, as we’ve said before and outlined here in our climate principles.

We shouldn’t focus on whether carbon dioxide will be regulated (it will), or if ACCCE could possibly support regulation (we do). The conversation now should be about how we’re going to reduce CO2 emissions.

We’ve made great strides in curbing emissions, and I know we can do it again. And with so many great minds focused on the task at hand, I’m confident we’ll come up with a balanced energy approach that meets our demands, encourages job creation and protects the environment.

Comments

[Susan Cummings]

Obama is dropping the ball on opportunities that this country has, not only with energy resources, but for jobs. The problem with the Left White House, is they believe we, Americans need them to hold our hands, and they are the only ones that have the answer. When, in fact, it's quite reverse.

[MWood2009]

Since CO2 is the problem, why aren't we all dead. After all don't we all exhale CO2. Why hasn't the earth been destroyed after 2,000,000 years of CO2 emissions. Furthermore, please explain how they can predict global warming when they can't even get the 5-day weather forecast correct. The reality is that if you look at the last 100 years of data, the warmest period was between 1940-1945. Currently the earth has been cooling down. It's all cyclical in spite of man's attempt to pollute the atmosphere. Our earth is very resilient so cut me a break...The problem is that the environmental leftists have taken this debate away from the actual scientific data which can debunk their Global Warming theory. Now you want to regulate it by instituting a Carbon Tax which will destroy our industrial base as well as our way of life, returning us to the lifestyle of the 1800's. After all, if you destroy our society by ruining the industrial base, then you eliminate Global Warming since the only profession left will be farming. Woops. That wouldn't work either since we'll need muzzles for all of our belching cows instead of for the people who believe that Global Warming is for real. Therefore, rather they wait around for the Carbon Tax, we should put a stop to this nonsense by once and for all disproving the Global Warming myth.

[randy]

There is no such thing as clean coal. This is just union propaganda.

[Bill Gordon L. Stafford]

Carbon Dioxide is a heavy gas and is used to snuff out difficult fires where water would exasperate the condition such as laying down CO2 and foam on airplane, oil or electrical fires. If there is indeed an excess then Plant life will abound.

[phil holbrook]

Carbon Dioxide's effect on Global Warming is anything but a moot point.

I have recently updated my climatic website which explain the earths above surface physics.

Physical interactions of [water+ice] phases with sunlight are the first order control of the earth’s climate.
http://www.globalwarmingcycles.info/index.html explains the genetic sequence that couples atmospheric albedo with the enormous oceanic thermal inertia.

Contact; phil@GlobalWarmingCycles.info for more information.

[Jud Lindsay]

We don't have 100 years of atmosphere CO2 levels data. I think we only have abit over 50 years.

We are putting CO2 into the atmosphere, no question. Question is, what are the effects. Wouldn't it be nice to grow sugar cane in Siberia? it very well might be. I am not being flippant. I said that to make the point that Chicken Little is out and about with a new message about global warming and the message is negative. However, Chicken Little does not really know what is going to happen in the future and neither does anyone else on this planet no matter what the IQ is.

That is why I am looking to someone off the planet for help.

[AntonioSosa]

Thinking people all over the world are realizing that man-made global warming is a hoax that threatens our future and the future of our children.

The mainstream media is hiding facts, for example, the fact that, speakers at a conference on climate change are making the case that global-warming alarmism is politically motivated, has nothing to do with science, and could affect the well-being and sovereignty of the U.S. http://behindtheplug.americaspower.org/2009/03/the-real-discussion-about-carbon-dioxide.html#comments

In agreement with those at the conference, more than 650 international scientists dissented last year over the man-made global warming claims. They are more than 12 times the number of UN scientists (52) who authored the media-hyped IPCC 2007 Summary for Policymakers. http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=2674e64f-802a-23ad-490b-bd9faf4dcdb7

Additionally, more than 31,000 American scientists have signed onto a petition that states, "There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate…" http://www.petitionproject.org/index.html

"Progressive" (communist) politicians like Obama seem determined to force us to swallow the man-made global warming scam. We need to defend ourselves from the UN and these politicians, who threaten our future and the future of our children. Based on a lie, they have already wasted billions and plan to increase taxes, limit development, and enslave us.

If not stopped, the global warming scam will enrich the scammers (Gore and Obama’s Wall Street friends), increase the power of the U.N. and communists like Obama, and multiply poverty and servitude for the rest of us.

[Megan from ACCCE]

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

It’s clear that many of you have questions and opposing views related to climate change. What’s clear to us here at ACCCE is that Congress is really getting focused on this issue, and one of the most complicated environmental issues of our time.

As more members of Congress become educated on this issue, they want to know the industry’s position. So here it is: technology is evolving and we’re confident that it will allow coal to continue to play a major role in America’s energy future. The meshing of technological possibilities and congressional interests makes the formation of ACCCE a timely one.

Take a look at our 12 climate principles to learn more where ACCCE stands on the issue of federal carbon management.

[Witch Doctor]

If a tree falls in the woods does it make a noise? We don't know for sure, I agree, so lets cut them all down.

If we pump more greenhouse gas into the air does it cause the greenhouse effect?
We don't know for sure, I agree, so let's keep injecting more of it into the atmosphere.

We don't know for sure, so let's do it!

An while we are at it, let's go back to days of mystics, magic, alchemy and merge it with science, to explain the unknown will of the gods.

Lets dust off faith based science lost so long ago in the dark ages.

[Mercury Rising]

I live in NW MN and thanks to clean coal, doctors recommend locals don't eat fish more than twice a week.

But they're crazy, I classifiy mercury as more of a spicy condiment like hot sauce.

[wvalady]

I am concerned about the attasck on coal that is being waged by the Obama administration. "Coal is West Virginia" has been the slogan adopted by our state for years. The coal industry does not build electric generating plants. The electric generating industry does. If the Obama administration is successful in eliminating coal as a vital component in the electric generation industry, thousands of West Virginia jobs will be threatened or eliminated.

The electric companies contract the construction and maintenance of their coal fired plants out to several related trade unions. Among these are boilermakers, laborers, insulators, carpenters, assbestos abatement workers, concrete finishers, electricians, steelworkers, river transportation workers as well as coal miners. The carbon cap legislation could have devastating effects on oue state as a whole and bankrupt us all.

I believe that the premature condemnation of coal will be a mistake that our state and the entire nation will be a knife in the heart of our economy that we will not be able to overcome.