For those who like economics as their bottom line, perhaps this article by Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman will appeal: http://tinyurl.com/ya9q558.
He even mentions the Sydney dust storms, how’s that for topical?
Won’t it be interesting to see how well the Rudd gov stacks up in Copenhagen, and how well their stand will serve them at the next election?
I’m for a phased shut down of the coal industry, balanced by massive investment in renewables, energy efficiency and public transport, but not by enormous handouts to the Big Coal, either as compensation or as clean coal seed money. We could do it, what do you think?
October 01, 2009 | Ronda Jambe
Not the only Cassandra…
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I think ‘massive investment in renewables, energy efficiency and public transport’ won’t be enough. We need nuclear and possibly geothermal as well.
Comment by Mark Duffett — October 2, 2009 @ 11:42 pm
Nuclear isn’t renewable (is estimated to only last about 70 years if all electricity globally came from it), has enormous external energy costs in its creation and dismantling, and can’t possibly happen quickly enough to be really useful.
Comment by ronda jambe — October 3, 2009 @ 8:39 am
I could quibble with your assertions, but yes, nuclear has some issues. Nevertheless, I repeat: renewables, energy efficiency and public transport will not be enough. Exclusion of the nuclear option is a guarantee of failure.
Comment by Mark Duffett — October 5, 2009 @ 10:57 pm