Important admissions from an alarmist

But the cycle of storm and drought is as old as the Earth itself. Redding had seen winters of roofbeam-snapping snows and of shorts-and-T-shirt warmth long before anyone had even heard of the greenhouse effect. If the weather were predictable, we wouldn't have to spend so much energy trying to forecast it.

The scientific foundation of global warming is sound, most climatologists say, and its long-term implications are alarming.

Some odd stuff from the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Achim Steiner

Q: What impact will falling oil prices have on this plan to invest in a greener economy?

A: Well if you believe that climate change and global warming is a hoax then you should celebrate that oil is only US$60 per barrel.

If you even believe half of what we know is going to happen in the next 60-80 years, your first reaction should be: what a tremendous opportunity this is.

We were able to operate in our economy when oil was $100 per barrel, now its $60, let's use this $30-$40 dollars we have gained and invest it in a more diversified, cleaner-fuel economy instead of going back to putting our foot on the pedal and driving our cars faster.

The original assumption was that at $60 or $70 a barrel, solar and wind energy technology become perfectly competitive.

Now what did we see the big energy companies do?

They sold off their solar and wind energy businesses and as the Arctic was melting, began dreaming of drilling for oil there. This is not rational.

Q: Why is not rational?

A: Because it is a short term interest that accrues to a few people who are mortgaging the future of the next generation.

Can you explain to me, to my son and my grandsons why an oil company should today make billions in net profit which is two-thirds more than what we would need to spend as a global community on shifting away from global warming?

It's not as if oil companies are drilling in a more beautiful or intelligent or cleaner way. It's the same oil, from the same oil wells, in the same market.

And these companies can, in a sense, privatise a profit that we as a community, if we could use some of that, could finance the transition to a cleaner energy economy.