Without these advanced technologies, major reductions in future emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases will result in higher prices for electricity and natural gas along with reduced economic growth.

But the irreproachable software programmers, bureaucrats and politicians at the IPCC and UN promised us that this wouldn't happen. Of course we should take their word preferentially over power industry experts any day.

This is exactly the track we need to take.

Rather than stiffle the economy, new construction with better technology will help in a big way.

Global Warming is here. The consequence are chronic with rising sea levels and ever increasing humidity levels leading to ever larger storms and increased precepitation events.

New Orleans is just the first American city that has suffered.

Miami, New York, LA, Boston, Baltimore, Savannah are just some of the cities along with most of the state of Florida that will be under water due to rising sea levels and monster storm surges.

More over, as the Arctic progressively melts, there will be a shift in precepitation events.

What will happen when the US Grain belt dries up?

Who do you think is going to pay for that?

This is exactly the track we need to take.

Rather than stiffle the economy, new construction with better technology will help in a big way.

Global Warming is here. The consequence are chronic with rising sea levels and ever increasing humidity levels leading to ever larger storms and increased precepitation events.

New Orleans is just the first American city that has suffered.

Miami, New York, LA, Boston, Baltimore, Savannah are just some of the cities along with most of the state of Florida that will be under water due to rising sea levels and monster storm surges.

More over, as the Arctic progressively melts, there will be a shift in precepitation events.

What will happen when the US Grain belt dries up?

Who do you think is going to pay for that?

I see a lot of innovative talk and and conversation about the possibilities of future technologies. But, I see no action being taken with all of this. This is nothing I haven't read before, over and over again. It's time to implement these technologies and put them to non-theoretical use. Research this, research that .. enough already, im tired of reading about could-be's.

I agree that technology will be the biggest factor to reduce emissions. But, despite what the market-worshipers will tell you, the market -- if left on its own -- is not good at rapidly developing new technologies. Development would be slow, if at all. Markets look towards three things: short-term, least risk, and easy. That's why you see most technological and medical breakthroughs coming through research that's either partially or fully government-funded. What the markets are good at improving existing technology or processes. That's why you see pharmaceutical companies coming out with new version of the same drug every year. Yet another antidepressant or allergy medicine that's supposed to be slightly better than all the others. What a great contribution to society.

This is where government has to play a role -- and a big role.

"This is where government has to play a role -- and a big role."

Yesss...Just look at what a GREAT job the Federal
Gov has done with the monies given to them to maintain Veterans Hospitals not to mention the
Highway "Trust Fund".

We all know what a great job central Gov't planning
does....just look at North Korea, Cuba, and the former USSR for examples.

"Yesss...Just look at what a GREAT job the Federal
Gov has done with the monies given to them to maintain Veterans Hospitals not to mention the
Highway "Trust Fund"."

YAWN. Take your Rush Limbaugh talking points elsewhere. The fact of the matter is in regards to environment and safety issues, the federal government must always lead. Market forces can be harnessed, but the government must do the harnessing.

"YAWN. Take your Rush Limbaugh talking points elsewhere"

LOL I'd be willing to do just that if you'll give
up your Al Gore impressions.

Why is it, oh exalted one, that you can foist your
ill considered opinions on me, but I'm supposed to
take mine elsewhere?

Also, in typical fashion, instead of addressing the
points....you attempt to demean me by lumping me
with an overweight windbag.

Who do you think you are; GORE VIDAL?? ROFL

The fact of the matter is in regards to environment and safety issues, the federal government must always lead. Market forces can be harnessed, but the government must do the harnessing.

Having worked on Jimmy Carter's oil shale program in the 1970s, I have seen first hand how market forces saved us from an environmental disaster being pushed hard by government. Carter was hoping to overcome the reality of market forces by throwing lots of taxpayer money at an untenable technology. Oil shale development would have been one of the biggest environmental disasters to ever hit the planet.

Had it not been for lower oil prices brought on by Reagan's policies - much of the western slope of the Rockies would have been laid to waste by every liberal's favorite president - James Earl Carter.

"Having worked on Jimmy Carter's oil shale program in the 1970s, I have seen first hand how market forces saved us from an environmental disaster being pushed hard by government."

Market forces (i.e. rising price os crude oil) will probably cause oil shale to become viable and attractive for companies. Ironic how market forces may lay waste to the western slope of the Rockies, eh?

Besides, you're talking about a bureaucratic program. I'm talking about government leadership via changes in tax structure and regulations (yes, the word you hate so much). The market adapts according to changes in taxes and regulations.

Do you think the air would be cleaner today if we simply left it to the "free market?" LOL. Yeah, right. Heck, cars used to not have seat belts in them fourty years ago. The "free market" didn't want to add to the production costs.

People who think the free market solves all ills are not only misguided -- they're crazy.

A few more examples of the government leading on environmental issues-

Using nuclear weapons to stimulate gas well production in northeast New Mexico
http://www.wadenelson.com/gasbuggy.html

Filling the other corner of New Mexico with nuclear waste
http://www.wipp.energy.gov/

Rocky Flats, Colorado
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Flats

Deforesting Vietnam with napalm....

etc....

Mark,

Anyone who has traveled much or studied history knows that wealthy, capitalist countries tend to be relatively clean, and poor socialist and communist countries tend to be highly polluted.

There is a clear connection between big government and pollution, but feel free to keep your head in the haze of Lenin and Marx' vision of utopia.

"Anyone who has traveled much or studied history knows that wealthy, capitalist countries tend to be relatively clean, and poor socialist and communist countries tend to be highly polluted."

LOL...are you kidding me? Europe, as a whole, is generally much cleaner than here. Canada is much cleaner than here. Even some Latin American countries are cleaner than here.

India and China are pretty dirty, but that's because government doesn't enforce many regulations. China, in particular, has pollution standards "on the books" but is very lax at enforcing it.

Please tell us, Patrick, how the free market would have cleaned up the smog problem on its own.

Mark,

I have no idea where you consider to be "here" but if it is that dirty I suggest you move. BTW - The EU is very capitalist last time I checked, as is Canada, as are many Latin American countries.

Always bizarre conversing with you.....

Capitalism keeps things clean because free people who live comfortably choose to live in a clean environment with clean water and air. People leave dirty places and inhabit clean places. Businesses which like having customers also like having a pleasant environment. The corporation I work for spends billions on environmental research and methodology for exactly that reason.

Because we all have to live here. Your faith in idiotic government bureaucracies like the UN is completely misplaced.

"The EU is very capitalist last time I checked, as is Canada, as are many Latin American countries."

I'm sure most of the right-wingers on this blog will disagree with you here. Oznop, do you think Europe, Canada and Latin America are capitalist?

Heck, Latin America has moved very far to the left in recent years.

You're really making yourself look silly, Patrick. And naive.

Mark,

I too am starting to suspect your age. As someone who is from Europe, regularly flies there on business and has personally started several businesses there on European venture capital, I can assure you that most of the EU are gung-ho capitalists. Same for Canada.

The vast majority of South Americans live in Brazil, which is also very capitalist. I realize though it is difficult for liberals to believe that South America is larger than the domain of the their hero Hugo Chavez, who is working hard to destroy capitalism in Venezuela.
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20000501faessay48/juan-de-onis/brazil-s-new-capitalism.html

Europe, as a whole, is generally much cleaner than here. Canada is much cleaner than here. Even some Latin American countries are cleaner than here.

REPLY: Cleaner? You mean like in Rome, Istanbul and in Athens, where pollution levels are among the highest in the world??? Ya know Mark, the door is always open. No one is holding you here in the U.S. and A. If you feel those places are cleaner due to their socialist agenda, you can always leave here and go to your utopia, where taxation, regluation, and islamisation are rampent. I am sure you would love it there. My guess is, after a year of it, you will be begging to come back!

I'm sure most of the right-wingers on this blog will disagree with you here. Oznop, do you think Europe, Canada and Latin America are capitalist.

Europe: Eastern Europe, Yes, (excluding Russia where the old guard is silently lurking in the shadows) In Western Europe, captialism exists, but is in danger of being supressed by the EU and it's onerous regulations and taxations.

Canada: Yes, because they have followed the American model for years. It's only recently they have swung in the other direction an leaned toward following the European (leftist) models.

Latin America: It depends on where you go. Many a country depend on tourism (AND WARM TEMPERATURES) to flourish their econoomy. In places like Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti, where you have had socailist dictators running the show for decades, absolutely not!

SAVE THE PLANET FROM HOT AIR. MUZZLE A LIBERAL!

Global Warming is here. The consequence are chronic with rising sea levels and ever increasing humidity levels leading to ever larger storms and increased precepitation events.

New Orleans is just the first American city that has suffered.

Miami, New York, LA, Boston, Baltimore, Savannah are just some of the cities along with most of the state of Florida that will be under water due to rising sea levels and monster storm surges.

REPLY: THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!!!! Hey, Andrew! Yesterday in P-Burgh. August (yes, that's AUGUST -- SUPPOSEDLY SUMMER) 19, 2007, High Temperature 64 degrees F. Today's predicted High Temperature, 68F. How about putting a clamp on it, already!

SAVE THE WORLD FROM HOT AIR. MUZZLE A LIBERAL!

Scanning the actual report, my version of a summary.
The industry will spend billions of government money discussing the perfect, reactor, coal fired generator, reclamation procedure etc though 2050.
Any actual improvement will be implemented by ad-hoc people and companies - working around the industries roadblocks.
i.e. no construction is forcast before 2030
i.e. hybrid vehicles have nothing to do with them
i.e. no New reactors, simply extend the current licenses
i.e. research coal fired plant cleanup using new technology, but no plans to take the worst current offenders out of the loop

Quickly; 20 people needed something to do so they wrote a paper promising nothing. And somehow producing great results miraculous great results if we keep the funding coming. ( Aren't summer seminars wonderful ? )