Slump May Limit Moves on Clean Energy

[groovedaddy]

Just as the world seemed poised to combat global warming more aggressively, the economic slump and plunging prices of coal and oil are upending plans to wean businesses and consumers from fossil fuel.

From Italy to China, the threat to jobs, profits and government tax revenues posed by the financial crisis has cast doubt on commitments to cap emissions or phase out polluting factories.

Automakers, especially Detroit’s Big Three, face collapsing sales, threatening their plans to invest heavily in more fuel-efficient cars. And with gas prices now around $2 a gallon in the United States, struggling consumers may be less inclined than they once were to trade in their gas-guzzling models in any case.

President-elect Barack Obama and the European Union have vowed to stick to commitments to cap emissions of carbon dioxide and invest in new green technologies, arguing that government action could stimulate the economy and create new jobs in producing sustainable energy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/world/25climate.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

[ixion]

1. what a stupid, near-sighted article

gas is down, and suddenly the green movement is off. The economy is suffering, and we've got trillions to hand out to banks, but can't seem to find the money to fund green energy projects that would create jobs and cleaner energy sources in one fell swoop.

Nah, you know, because oil is "cheap" now, let's all go back to driving Hummers. :eyes:

How freakin' stupid is that? :wow: :crazy:

[groovedaddy]

2. Probably sourced in the desires of the fossil fuel industry! n.t

[Nihil]

4. Written for their target audience ...

... stupid people who only care about themselves ...

[kestrel91316]

3. On the bright side for the environment, dead-broke Americans won't

be buying anywhere near as much cheap plastic crap from China as we used to. There is a green advantage to the death of uber-consumerism.........