International “Law” at Work | All American Blogger

Today’s adventure begins in Poland. Providing further evidence that Polish jokes aren’t entirely off-base, “[t]he UN Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland this month is set to begin negotiations that will lead to a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen next year. Developed countries are expected to commit to cutting emissions drastically, while developing countries agree to halt deforestation.”

“Expected” by whom? Total morons? What developed country would ever voluntarily “drastically” attack its own businesses (and thus its own lifeblood: tax revenues)? And what developing country would intentionally agree to restrictions that put further economic pressure on its impoverished citizens? Predictably, environmental activists at the UN Climate Change Conference blasted the U.S. and other “rich” countries for refusing to commit to drastic emissions reductions. (Still think the environmental movement isn’t anti-capitalistic?)

Sure, some countries may eventually sign just to receive kudos from the Left. But who’s going to enforce this agreement?

Straightening the Hockey Stick Blade « The Air Vent

Amazingly, the one consistent thing in Mann 08 is that the net of almost every single one of the math effects and several other oddities is a demagnification of historic temperatures and the extraction of an unprecedented temperature rise in recent times.

Climate Progress » Blog Archive » The first green Secretary of Commerce

Barack Obama has chosen cleantech and climate superstar Bill Richardson to be his Secretary of Commerce.

Transition talk: I'm just a Bill | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist

Despite his ties to fossil fuels, Richardson has been bullish about capping carbon and investing in renewables. As governor, he made New Mexico the first state in the country to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, a voluntary carbon-trading marketplace. He signed executive orders in 2005 and 2006 to put in place plans to reduce state emissions, and joined with other governors to form the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative.

In March 2007, he signed a bill requiring the state's large electric utilities to get 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020. He signed four other clean-energy bills in April 2007.

On the campaign trail, Richardson called for cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2020 and 90 percent by 2050; cutting oil demand 50 percent by 2020; raising fuel-economy standards for automobiles to 50 miles per gallon by 2020; and drawing 50 percent of electricity from renewables by 2040. He also wrote a book about his energy vision, Leading by Example: How We Can Inspire an Energy and Security Revolution, which was released in October 2007. Enviros were less excited about his plans for "clean coal" and his support for all manner of biofuels, but hailed his overall plan.