re: #112 JeffFX

If civilization collapses, “more” may be an infinite understatement. We’ve already used the cheap resources, so it’s a lot less likely for an industrial civilization like ours to rise in the future if we collapse. We need to transition to the hard stuff like nuclear and solar, and keep civilization from collapsing never to return.

First, I want to say that humans should worry much more about the effects of high CO2 levels on humans, not just the climate. I happen to think that (3d) climate models which show little or no net warming from CO2 forcing. (But warmer polar regions and cooler tropics mean that sea level rise is still a major issue.) However, since humans did not evolve to breathe even current levels of CO2, I see it as a major health risk.

Second, America is not sitting still on CO2 control, but “cap and trade” is very bad economics. A tax of so much a ton on CO2 emissions? Fine. But cap and trade gives licenses to existing CO2 emitters then allows them to sell them to others if they reduce their own emissions. So to give just one extreme example, a new hydro-electric dam would need to find indulgences for sale so they could pour the concrete. Once you realize that cap and trade is a get rich quick scheme for existing polluters, it loses its luster.

Which brings me back to JeffFX’s post. The world needs to switch to non-oil sources of energy. (If for no other reason than oil will run out.) I am a big fan of more nuclear power, I have nothing against solar, but I think coal of any flavor is the pits. (Wind power, hydro-electric, and OTEC can all be considered indirect solar. I also like tidal power plants in the few areas where they are efficient.) The US economy is doing pretty good at converting, and in fact the EPA Democratic members of Congress have been some of the biggest roadblocks to wind power installations. (I just read a silly recommendation that wind power turbines switch on at a slightly higher wind speed to prevent harm to bats. Seems to me mounting an ultrasonic whistle on each blade is an even better solution. Might help with bird kills too.)