Guest Post by Ed Duffek, Tea Party Patriots Truth in Science Committee
“Inside the Green Bubble”
My vague expectations in attending this Conference were to learn what –if any–progress has been made in green, clean energy industries in CA, as well as how these activities relate to the sad state of business and the economy of our area. Also I hoped to hear what the future holds for real growth in the vitality of our State.
To summarize this 2-day meeting, I will start with my impression that the 1,500 attendees were uniformly of one mind even though they came from different nations and inclinations. In evidence were government employees, academics and socially inclined groups. All speakers were greeted with great enthusiasm— “feelgoodism” was in the air. A rowdy cheer was prompted by the announcement of victory over Prop 23.
The main substance of this event was the discussion of R20 and the signing of “the first ever Charter for Regions of Climate Action.” (It is important to note that the term Global Warming is no longer a preferred buzzword. We’ll be hearing Climate Action and Climate Change instead.) The concept of R20 was conceived in Copenhagen in 2009 and the plan is just getting started. It involves a worldwide effort to share new approach to a “clean environment.”
The real villain is now Climate Change, which must be controlled in order to eliminate severe weather such as floods, droughts, sea level changes, hurricanes, disappearing shorelines, etc. This will be accomplished by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and by going to low carbon policies. Their approach will be regional rather than national to avoid conflicts and inaction by large powers. The plan considers CA a sub-nation ready to act independently from US and other governments. The vision involves full cooperation between developing and more developed countries.
And who pays for all this? The plan is to appeal to public and private resources as well as the venture capital of the world. The promise is that everyone will profit in a big way. At the same time, there will be enormous savings in energy, water, raw materials since all will be used in a more conservative way. New technologies are necessarily part of R20 and are sure to come.
To be noted, all these proposals, plans and goals were presented in a superficial, qualitative and descriptive way without the benefit of numerical analysis or data. The one verifiable topic came from Dr. Art Rosenfeld who spoke about white roofs on buildings.
Science and technology were not present in the talks; opposite ideas or questions were absent and debate was not obvious. Any improvements in current means of energy production were ignored in favor of upcoming but unproven processes, like biomass and biofuels. Missing also were financial details and how much investment will be required throughout the world. It appeared that joblessness, slow growth and uncertainty about our economic/financial future were not a concern.
In view of the severity and complexity of current problems in the world, we are of the opinion that the expectation of a complete transformation of the civilized world to a “green” economy without climate problems is beyond reality. The only distant vision at this time is a transfer of wealth like no one has ever seen.
See Ya in Shangri La…
