@b c (bcs89):
Fossil fuel can be called efficient only if we do not include the cost of the destabilized climate when we calculate the cost of fossil fuel.
Whether and how much human activity (such as adding carbon to the atmosphere) contributes to climate instability can be debated. A starting point for public policy ought to be that the reality should match what the general opinion among the people says is acceptable (in terms of carbon release or other impact). A democratic society would limit emissions of various chemicals into the air and water so that the overall amounts do not exceed what most people would agree is OK.
Even though there may be many trillions of tons of carbon in the Earth's crust, we may decide for public policy reasons to NOT allow all of that to be mined and transferred to the atmosphere.
If most people feel that we should slow the rate at which we are releasing carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane, then the rate should be slowed. We should continue our debates about what effect human activities have on the climate and whether such changes are good or bad after we put policy in place that brings actual impacts into line with the will of the people at large.
http://gaiabrain.blogspot.com
Wed Apr 25 2012 11:38:05 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)
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