By Paul Chesser, Washington Times‘
The global warming alarmists’ bell has been answered, but that is not good enough for environmentalists. State by state they not only are convincing elected officials to address climate change, but they are also placing their own advocates in positions that will push policies on a snoozing populace like smart growth, subsidies for renewable power sources, fuel surcharges, and higher taxes on electricity.
How? Through the savvy efforts of a nearly undetectable organization called the Center for Climate Strategies, which is developing plans for greenhouse gas reduction for several states. The “service” provided by CCS costs its client-states next to nothing, because liberal environmentalist foundations foot the bill instead.
The Harrisburg, Pa.-based group was created by another Keystone State nonprofit called the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. By its own description, PEC has advocated for ecological protections for more than 30 years.
CCS has finished its work in both Arizona and New Mexico, and has also assisted the climate policy process in several other states, including California. It currently is guiding policy decisions in North and South Carolina, Minnesota, Montana and Washington state. CCS advisers are currently trying to get the attention of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, and undoubtedly others.
So environmentalist advocates are overtly funding, while covertly orchestrating, global warming policies in the states. It’s a cheap process but in the end will cost a bundle. Why isn’t anyone putting heat on their elected officials about it?
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By Doron Levin, Bloomberg July 10
If one of the more extreme responses to global warming comes true, driving a sports car anywhere but on a racetrack might be relegated to history’s dustbin. Fast, powerful cars within a few years may be outlawed in Europe, an idea that has been raised ostensibly because Ferraris and Porsches produce too much carbon dioxide. For those who abhor sports cars as vulgar symbols of affluence (along with vacation homes, furs and fancy jewelry), such a ban could be a two-fer: Saving the planet while cutting economic inequality.
Who are these people anyway who decide on behalf of everyone what car is proper to drive? In the U.S. they’re members of Congress, which is considering fuel-efficiency standards that will affect vehicle size. In Europe, it’s the ministers and parliamentarians of the European Union, which wants to limit how much CO2 cars can emit as a proxy for a fuel- consumption standard.
Many ardent environmentalists are convinced that the planet is in peril. Why can’t they be just a bit cautious, humble or skeptical in their advocacy of reduced energy consumption, which in turn must mean reduced global economic growth?
The main reason I’m wary of Al Gore’s call for radical, immediate reduction of worldwide energy consumption is that he’s way too sure that the human race is on the cusp of catastrophe. With no credentials of his own, Gore relies on scientists who insist we must hurry because we’re approaching a point of no return.
But how about other scientists, ones who aren’t sure we’re on the brink? Richard Lindzen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a leading climatologist, says that even if nothing is done to limit CO2, the world will heat up by 1 degree Celsius, or a couple of degrees Fahrenheit, in the next 50 to 100 years.
I have a hunch that a ban on sports cars won’t be enacted soon in Europe, largely because the Italians love their Lamborghinis, the British their Bentleys and the Germans their Porsches. But this won’t be the last time that anti-consumption crusaders come disguised as guardians of the Earth.
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