Leading Climate Scientist James Hansen on Why He’s Pleased the Copenhagen Summit Failed

[bananas]

Source: Democracy Now!

<snip>

AMY GOODMAN: Finally, what do you think needs to happen right now?

JAMES HANSEN: Yeah, what needs to happen right now—we have this great opportunity this spring, I would say, to have discussions in the House and Senate about what really needs to be done to solve this problem. And it’s not cap and trade with offsets. We can prove that that’s completely ineffectual. What we have to do is put a price on carbon, and the money that’s collected needs to be given to the public, not used for boondoggles, like Congress is taking—plans to take the money from cap and trade that’s collected in selling the permits to pollute and to use that money for things like clean coal or to give the money back to the polluters. That won’t solve the problem. We have to give the money to the public.

AMY GOODMAN: Do you see the Obama administration in any way going in this direction?

JAMES HANSEN: I think it’s possible. There were a couple of encouraging things in Copenhagen. For one thing, Al Gore made a clear statement that a carbon price is a better solution than cap and trade. And John Kerry also indicated that he had an open mind on that question. So that’s why I say the discussions in the next few months are very important, because the way the United States goes is going to determine the way the world goes, I think.

Read more: http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/22/leading_climate_scientist_james_hansen_on

[Chulanowa]

1. Sadly, nothing will get done with the politicians in charge

Politics has always been anti-science, and so long as it gets funding from crazy superstitious establishments, those with a financial interest in denying science, and is elected by the 40% dumbfucks who think the flood story is true, it's not going to change.

[Teaser]

2. nope. don't accept that.

We are not helpless. We are not powerless.

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, bananas.

[wuvuj]

4. Group photo from Copenhagen....