\"Stop emitting greenhouse gases altogether...\"

[FarmRanger]

The trouble with the global warming crowd is that instead of putting money into researching better more efficient energy sources, they want to subsidize old expensive inefficient technology that can't possibly supply all our energy needs, but do add billions of dollars to our collective energy bills.

If and when we get better energy sources, (in spite of the buckets of money we're subsidiing outdated technology with) we'll then have the blight of thousands of bird chopping windmills covering the landscape.

It doesn't make any kind of economic sense, especially when the energy we don't use here is going up the non-scrubbing smokestacks of uberpolluting Chinese factories at discount prices because of our decreased demand for fossil fuels.
And then we wonder why we can't compete with them, just look at Ontario's recent auditor report which emphasizes the tens of billions of extra cost needlessly added to energy bills in that province, and I'm sure they're not alone in that respect in Canada.

Is it just me, or is this western folly on an unprecedented gargantuan scale?

[grassfarmer]

I agree Hamloc that there isn't a replacement for fossil fuels at the moment. It may come along - human ingenuity is a great thing. Meanwhile wouldn't you agree it would be prudent to maximize use of the renewable sources that we have just now to extend the fossil reserves we do have or to preserve as much as possible for roles where there may be no replacement energy source?

burnt, don't know what a "prog screamer" is but I really do want an answer to the question I asked - what is your solution to depletion of the finite fossil fuel reserves?

[FarmRanger]

grassfarmer, I agree that human ingenuity is a wonderful thing, but why aren't we putting our efforts into researching new technology. Instead we put hundreds of billions into old inefficient tech.

Are there too many people with too much influence making too much money from old tech subsidies? I sometimes think that "scam" isn't a strong enough word to describe what's going on.

[oneoff]

And still everyone ignores the contribution of say 7 or 8 or 9 billion mouths (and only potentially going up from there).

No sense in not looking at root contributors. Nor the entitlement to jet set half the way around the world in the name saving those at sea level while forgetting that shivering in temperate and colder climes is just fine for those in their comfy quarters and tropical vacation hideaways.

Hide those wood supplies. They will come in handy.

[grassfarmer]

Absolutely FarmRanger, way too many in the "old technology" field having almost complete control of Governments and Government agendas re alternative technology. That is a huge obstacle to overcome.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

I agree, AGW is a complete scam. But that doesn't change the fact that fossil fuels are finite. I would really like to believe that AGW was invented to help preserve fossil fuels for future generations, and needed a more immediate excuse to justify it. But I highly doubt it, more about money.

As for alternative energies, They will expand and replace fossil fuels when they make economic sense. Either because ff get so expensive, or the alternative gets cheap enough. Regardless of what governments might try to force upon us.
The only viable solution I see at this point is nuclear, probably with Thorium.

[riders2010]

You know reading all this stuff there is so much bullshit. I ve decided I m willing to do my part from now on no more pork and beans before bed. I get such bad gas it's unreal. I m cutting that crap all out. Now am I going to get a credit somehow for that? I m sure it lowers the temperature about 2.38764 degrees in my immediate surroundings?

[grassfarmer]

AF5, alternative energies will expand when they make economic sense - but we have to be careful how that is judged. Economically the cheapest way to produce power may be the worst for the environment, but it is only really cheaper if you are prepared to overlook or not calculate the cost of that environmental damage.

In terms of Governments encouraging alternatives there are options that have not been used much in north America but have been used elsewhere.
Solar power generation in Germany is one example that has led to almost every farm having barn roofs covered with panels. The key to it's expansion was a change that made energy companies buy the surplus power generated on farm at the highest price going into the grid pool (because it came from renewable resources). Contrast that to much of Canada where excess power produced on a farm from renewable resources would be paid for at the lowest rate going into the grid pool. If we are serious about reducing fossil fuel use, reducing pollution from it and increasing use of renewables we need to make changes like this.

And before anyone says it would lead to higher cost to consumers just look at the Alberta "free enterprise" model. The bidding system where the supply is stacked for each supply hour from lowest cost to highest cost then they all get paid what the highest cost was bid in at. That is as crazy as the wastefulness of the oilpatch.

[samhill]

The cancellation of Thorium reactor research makes me wonder if oil industry was the reason. More research would seem warranted in this day. But I'm poorly educated nuclear physicist, so my critique is not of consequence, still I wonder.

http://energyfromthorium.com/about/

[burnt]

I'm wondering the same, samhill.

Could be done small scale, multiple sites, reducing transmission and interdependency issues...

Who knows what goes on behind closed doors?

Like in the wind and solar movement in Ontario - it is being propagated by the most vile and corrupt people in the world.

And surely not for the good of the comon folks.

And to think that it is all being piggybacked on the false premise that CO2 is actually harming us.

CO2 production is merely the "smokescreen" (I know, poor analogy) behind which a whole bunch of enviro*****s are are making huge fortunes on the abject ignorance of millions of uninformed and ignorant serfs.

[foragefarmer]

Some very good points being made on here, but it's truly amazing that there are posters on here denying that climate change is happening.

The leaders of a 195 countries don't seem to agree with the Agriville climate expects. These leaders, have access to all the latest scientific data and studies, have signed the Paris Accord realizing that climate change is a serious issue, and efforts have to made to reduce emissions. Every year temperatures around the world are rising and 2015 will go one record are the warmest year on record.

I guess some of you guys haven't noticed the temperatures as of late here in western Canada, if any of you are still here. Very normal , eh!

[sumdumguy]

Forage, there is not one bit of scientific proof that carbon is the cause of increased temperatures. Carbon is in fact more beneficial being the staff of green life and therefore food. Sorry Bud, this scam has been completely contrived by the United Nations that is now controlled by Eastern poor countries to extort Western wealth.
IMHO

[bucket]

Forage

Was listening to the weather the other day and the record high for some days in December still goes back to 1928.

Do I think climate is changing ... maybe...do I think Canadians are responsible? Absolutely not.

And I don't think we should be paying for the rest that might be creating the problem.

As much as I hate all the trucks on the highways hauling what should be on rail it would only make a small difference environmentally.

Big difference on the highway budget though.

[samhill]

I seem to remember last winter as abnormally cold and if the world was cooling, then we would really have a problem.

[Oliver88]

Paris conference will have a larger carbon footprint than some small countries.

It is nothing more than a transfer of wealth between countries. Unfortunately the drama teacher has pledged to give away another $3 billion without any measurable benefit.