ECONOMISTS DEMAND KYOTO RATIFICATION


A group of academic economists wants the Australian government to "to stop undermining international efforts to tackle climate change and ratify the Kyoto Protocol without delay". Professor Peter Dixon demands even tougher action:

"We've been most concerned to protect our sales of coal," he said.

"Of course, we will lose a considerable amount of sales of coal whether we sign or whether we don't in the end because in fact, the main part of the solution to the greenhouse gas problem will be reductions in worldwide use of coal."

The Germans apparently haven't gotten the word on the need to reduce coal consumption: they plan to build 15 new coal-fired power stations by 2012 (because worldwide coal supplies are plentiful).

Meanwhile, Americans have been subjected to a "Coal is filthy" campaign:

Featuring misleading claims about pollution from coal-fired electrical generating plants, and a CleanSkyCoalition.com Web site, it urged citizens to tell government officials, "No more filthy coal plants."

But the coalition wasn't another gaggle of environmental pressure groups, like those listed on the Web site. It was a cabal of natural gas companies, led by Chesapeake Energy of Oklahoma. Their goal wasn't really helping Americans get "clean skies" and "live longer." It was fattening corporate wallets.

It's really disappointing to learn there's deception associated with the global warming debate.