Climate Change and Low Carbon Prosperity

The pollution from the burning of fossil fuels is extensively accepted to be damaging our whole biosphere and is widely known to be the cause of Climate Change.

Humanity broadly appreciates the problems caused by the pollution from fossil fuels and is now embracing the solutions, from clean renewable energy, to reforestation, to Permaculture food production techniques, to worldwide initiatives repairing ecosystems.

When we put a higher value on the natural world for what it is, compared to what it may be worth if chopped up, mined or replaced. When we recognise the value of ecosystems for its true wealth, we can protect, nurture and enjoy it without feeling the need to destroy them for short-term profit.

Prince Charles eloquently addresses these issues in this speech to the Low Carbon Prosperity Summit at the European Parliament 2011

• For more information on the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability:  Have a look at the princes charities.org Cambridge programme for sustainability leadership
• For a full transcript of the speech: Full Transcript of The Prince of Wales to the Low Carbon Prosperity Summit

This clip is where Prince Charles shows his abhorrence towards climate change deniers and sceptics.

This is a transcript of  Prince Charles showing his abhorrence towards climate change deniers and sceptics.

“Now I have to say, this process has not exactly been helped by the corrosive effect on public opinion of those climate change sceptics who deny the vast body of scientific evidence that shows beyond any reasonable doubt that global warming HAS been exacerbated by human industrialized activity.
Their suggestion that hundreds of scientists around the world, and those who accept their dispassionate evidence – including presumably ladies and gentlemen myself, who rather ironically am constantly accused of being anti-science – are somehow unconsciously biased creates the implication that many of us are, somehow, secretly conspiring to undermine and deliberately destroy the entire market-based capitalist system which now dominates the world!
So I would ask how these people are going to face their grandchildren and admit to them that they actually failed their future; that they ignored all the clear warning signs by passing them off as merely part of a “cyclical process” that had happened many times before and was beyond our control, that they had refused to heed the desperate cries of those last remaining traditional societies throughout the world who warned consistently, CONSISTENTLY of catastrophe, because they could read the signs of impending disintegration in the ever-more violent, extreme aberrations in the normally, harmonious patterns of Nature.
So I wonder, will such people be held accountable at the end of the day for the absolute refusal to countenance a precautionary approach, for this plays I would suggest a most reckless game of roulette with the future inheritance of those who come after us? An inheritance ladies and gentlemen that will be shaped by what you decide to do here in this Parliament.”

The fossil fuel industry

The fossil fuel industry has earnt billions from humanity burning billions of tons with many of us not realising the climatic consequences building up. Now we all understand the problems caused, it is prudent to move as quickly as possible away from dirty fossil fuels and towards a clean energy, prosperous future.

Pollution taxation has been put in place globally, to give tax incentives to all industries that do not pollute. This is a great way of gently ushering business away from a polluting past and towards a clean energy future, without any guilt of a polluting past.

Ultra conspiracy theorists inspired by propaganda spewed out by the fossil fuel lobby continually come up with reasons not to blame fossil fuels for the pollutants the industry is responsible for, so they can continue polluting blinkered to the climatic disasters we are creating.

Here are a few of the conspiracies feeding climate skepticism:

• A campaign put out by Exxon Mobile through the Competitive Enterprise Institute suggests pollution from burning fossil fuels is good for the planet. Watch the video on YouTube Their mantra is “They call it pollution. We call it life.”
• Another campaign put out by Exxon Mobile and Chevron through The Cornwall Alliance who are part funded by Exxon and Chevron suggests anybody who cares for our environment is evil and part of a global conspiracy to destroy the earth and religion.  Watch the video on YouTube
• Another campaign purports that climate change is a scam put out by the global elite, so they can control and tax everyone. Illuminati made up Climate Change
• Another campaign suggests that the whole universe is warming and pollution from burning fossil fuels play no part. The real cause of climate change is planet nibiru or planet x.

Generally it’s a shotgun type approach by the fossil fuel lobby, they spew out as much doubt about the pollution from burning fossil fuels having any detrimental effect in the hope some of the propaganda sticks.

Parts of the older generation feel guilty if they admit sharing the responsibility for playing their part in polluting our biosphere. But guilt isn’t necessary, especially if they didn’t know about the problems being caused.

But now we all know the climatic problems that are staring us all in the face. Now we are all fully aware of the connections between fossil fuel pollution and climate change, this is the time to act. It is ALL of our responsibility to create a healthier, brighter, more robust future for our children.

Excellent further reading:

• A comprehensive explanation to all skepticism both honest questioning and ultra paranoid can be found here. Skeptical arguments answered with Science.
• Read this great Scientific Guide to Global Warming Skepticism  The Scientific Guide to Global Warming Skepticism
• Zero carbon Britain sets out a new energy strategy toward 2030, that is robust, comprehensive and importantly it concentrates on a pollution free future.  Read The Zero Carbon Britain Report 2030
• Greenpeace have worked closely with hundreds of clean energy companies to bring us this great report  Energy Revolution – A Sustainable World Energy Outlook
  
• Download the summary of the Energy Revolution report
  
• Download the full Energy Revolution report

Posted by Michael Horsnell
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