Comments on: BBC on Pielke’s Analysis of the UK Climate Change Act http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:36:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: tomfid http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952&cpage=1#comment-12169 tomfid Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:34:04 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952#comment-12169 It's odd to claim that a goal is beyond some technical capacity to deliver, because the problem is not merely technical. The unstated assumption I presume is that lifestyle (and expectations of material growth therein) is non-negotiable, in which case it's quite possible that there is no technical solution. In that case, the question is whether the current political incapacity to deliver change that might perturb lifestyle will ultimately lead to grave regrets, and if so what to do about it. In any case it seems silly to worry about the details of 2050, given the vast uncertainties. It’s odd to claim that a goal is beyond some technical capacity to deliver, because the problem is not merely technical. The unstated assumption I presume is that lifestyle (and expectations of material growth therein) is non-negotiable, in which case it’s quite possible that there is no technical solution. In that case, the question is whether the current political incapacity to deliver change that might perturb lifestyle will ultimately lead to grave regrets, and if so what to do about it.

In any case it seems silly to worry about the details of 2050, given the vast uncertainties.

]]> By: Paul Biggs http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952&cpage=1#comment-12154 Paul Biggs Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:51:26 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952#comment-12154 No surprise that the IPCC lead author Terry Barker disagrees with Roger Pielke Jr - the IPCC seemingly being immune to careful, objective, alternative analysis: "[His] proposals are diversionary.." We have a new name for Pielke Jr - not sceptic, or delayer, but 'diversionary.' Still, congratulations to Pielke Jr for getting a rare alternative view onto the BBC website via Roger Harrabin of the 'Cambridge Environment and Media Project.' No surprise that the IPCC lead author Terry Barker disagrees with Roger Pielke Jr – the IPCC seemingly being immune to careful, objective, alternative analysis:

“[His] proposals are diversionary..” We have a new name for Pielke Jr – not sceptic, or delayer, but ‘diversionary.’

Still, congratulations to Pielke Jr for getting a rare alternative view onto the BBC website via Roger Harrabin of the ‘Cambridge Environment and Media Project.’

]]> By: Parse Error http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952&cpage=1#comment-12150 Parse Error Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:11:43 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952#comment-12150 Governments seem very much like young bachelors. Based on some simple calculations they decide that working overtime and cutting out frivolous expenditures will allow them to afford something they desire. A few 100 hour workweeks living off one pack of ramen noodles per day later, they will inevitably call out sick and run up a pizza and beer induced credit card debt. Every strategy looks so good on paper, but there are so many factors which paper cannot even begin to take account of. Governments seem very much like young bachelors. Based on some simple calculations they decide that working overtime and cutting out frivolous expenditures will allow them to afford something they desire. A few 100 hour workweeks living off one pack of ramen noodles per day later, they will inevitably call out sick and run up a pizza and beer induced credit card debt. Every strategy looks so good on paper, but there are so many factors which paper cannot even begin to take account of.

]]> By: jae http://cstpr.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952&cpage=1#comment-12146 jae Thu, 12 Feb 2009 04:08:36 +0000 http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/prometheus/?p=4952#comment-12146 "The task (of cutting emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050) is already staggeringly huge and, as we have seen, well beyond our current political capacity to deliver." This understatement says it all. Anyone who is not imbibing in some type of illegal drug knows that this goal is SHEER MADNESS and could never happen, short of Divine Intervention. It ain't just beyond the political capacity to deliver, it is beyond the TECHNICAL CAPACITY to deliver. These people are smoking illegal substances and are not part of the real world! What really worries me is that Obama and his merry band of hand-picked crooks, er, men may may be smoking that same drug! “The task (of cutting emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050) is already staggeringly huge and, as we have seen, well beyond our current political capacity to deliver.”

This understatement says it all. Anyone who is not imbibing in some type of illegal drug knows that this goal is SHEER MADNESS and could never happen, short of Divine Intervention. It ain’t just beyond the political capacity to deliver, it is beyond the TECHNICAL CAPACITY to deliver. These people are smoking illegal substances and are not part of the real world! What really worries me is that Obama and his merry band of hand-picked crooks, er, men may may be smoking that same drug!

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