Copenhagen & Economic Growth - You Can't Have Both

[4dsc]

I want to point out that a massive discrepancy exists between the official pronouncements emerging from Copenhagen on carbon emissions and recent government actions to spur economic growth.

Before and during Copenhagen (and after, too, we can be sure), politicians and central bankers across the globe have worked tirelessly to return the global economy to a path of growth. We need more jobs, we are told; we need economic growth, we need more people consuming more things. Growth is the ever-constant word on politicians' lips. Official actions amounting to tens of trillions of dollars speak to the fact that this is, in fact, our number-one global priority.

But the consensus coming out of Copenhagen is that carbon emissions have to be reduced by a vast amount over the next few decades.

These two ideas are mutually exclusive. You can't have both.

Economic growth requires energy, and most of our energy comes from hydrocarbons - coal, oil, and natural gas. Burning those fuel sources releases carbon. Therefore, increasing economic activity will release more carbon. It is a very simple concept.

http://www.chrismartenson.com/print/33022

Its obvious that this person is comparing apples to oranges but that's how some people make conclusions..

[HeresyLives]

1. Of course we can.

We just can't do it by belching carbon into the atmosphere.

[The2ndWheel]

2. If carbon was the cause, that might be true

Unfortunately carbon is just a symptom.

I just have a difficult time understanding how access to limitless energy is going to decrease our impact on the planet. Sure, we call it clean and green, but that's like saying Exxon's own definition of the words reasonable and profit are accurate.

[blindpig]

3. Capitalism and Nature

You can't have both.