Originally posted by aldo_14
Someone should tell the G8 that, then.
Even Bush conceded that science generally recognizes that humanity has caused changes in our own weather. If that guy, who stubbornly refuses to go anywhere on climate change can at least agree to that, then we're making some progress. But there has to be a point where these idiots in power figure out that its "bad for the economy" if they don't do something right now rather than its "bad for the economy" if they do.
Plus, there'd be an entirely new industry of R&D and industry building and operating green technology. Job creation, boom industry, and new alternatives can definately substitute whatever is lost.
It just means a power shift....and the people in power don't want to see it.
In Canada we've got the one tonne challenge going and some are definately stepping upto the challenge. My family has consistently been beating that challenge for years before it was ever invented. Our community has two blue boxes at the moment (maybe three in the future?), I use a push lawnmower which I think is both superior to standard lawnmowers and entirely green (uses my muscle power only), our cars are tuned up (pass all government emissions tests with flying colours) as much as possible but I'd really like to see my parents and myself (when I can afford) to buy hybrids (or hydrogen in the future), I'd love to see geo-thermal (available in a city nearby now) and solar power added to our house and if those technologies were available in mass quanities then they would be cheap, renewable, and green.
We probably can't cut out pollution entirely. But we can cut it down to levels where a little extra CO2 is not going to seriously alter the environment. The earth does adapt and is capable of adapting to changes and alterations in the chemical mix that keeps us breathing...but put too much of an imbalance in it and we'll go teetering off the side. I hope we never see that and can convice countries like the U.S. (but not specifically) to cut the emissions levels by 90% then we'll be making progress.
The ability is within our grasp...the technology is there or being developed. It just requires the decisiveness and willpower of our politicians and leaders to enact the changes. Bush is always talking about his ability to make decisive decisions and take the necessary course of action...lets do it.