The Guardian’s Leader today is predictable.
Climate Change is happening (something I agree with), it is an urgent problem (something I don’t) the US is the world’s largest polluter (sigh) and Kyoto is the way forward (double sigh).
I’m with Lomborg on this one, that technology will save us. Not so much adaptation, more that pretty soon we’ll have non-fossil fuel energy production in an efficient manner and at reasonable cost. Covering the coastline with windmills is not the answer. Pebble bed reactors might be more sensible. Or a swift look around the world at the advances in solar technology….that would show you that we are, at most, a decade away from being able to power a household from the roof area of that household (that’s something that would actually make Lomborg a pessimist BTW).
Just in case any readers might think that I’m just armchair generalling here I would note that I am professionally involved in the process. I’m aware that the hydrogen economy is not a power source, it’s a power storage and release system, yet still one of the things that will provide cheap and reliable transport without the use of fossil fuels. We supported (yes, with our own money) part of the research that led to the most efficient electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells. No, we have no patent or claim upon that material.
What we don’t need is some new over-arching treaty determining what people can do. What we do need is research and development into the technologies that don’t use fossil fuels. I’ve done my bit. That’s OK, you can just send money to show your appreciation.