Climate Wars: Nick Stern Threatens U.S. With Trade Boycott
Ben Webster
The United States will be banned from selling goods to many countries if it continues to shirk its promise to cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to the world’s leading climate change economist.
In an interview with The Times, Lord Stern of Brentford said that nations that were taking strong action on emissions could start imposing restrictions on “dirty” US exports by 2020.
Lord Stern, who advises several G20 leaders and is one of the key players in the international negotiations seeking a deal on emissions, made his comments ten days before the annual United Nations climate change conference opens in Cancun, Mexico. They reflect the feeling in many countries that a lack of action on emissions in the US is delaying progress in the talks.
…
Lord Stern said that Europe and the Far East (sic) were forging ahead of the US in controlling emissions and switching to low carbon sources of energy. They would not tolerate having their industries undermined by American competitors that had not paid for their emissions. “If you are charging properly for carbon and other people are not, you will take that into account,” he said. “Many of the more forward-looking people in the US are thinking about this. If they see a danger on the trade front to US exports that could influence public discussion.”
Asked what type of US products could face restrictions, Lord Stern said: “Aircraft, clearly, some cars, machine tools — it’s not simply what’s in the capital good, it’s what kind of processes the capital good is facilitating.”
Lord Stern said that a complete ban on some goods was also possible. He said the American people should overcome their historical antipathy to taxation and accept that emissions needed to be controlled either through a tax or a trading scheme.
Full story (subscription required)
Is it possible that the US administration is not yet quaking in its boots at this unsubtle manoeuvere? And we Brits used to be good at the velvet glove concealing an iron fist.
This has no glove, but no plausible fist either. 98% of UK residents have never heard of Stern. Lets keep it that way.
James Delingpole: THE PUBLIC IS NOW SO SCEPTICAL ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING
http://climaterealists.com/index.php?id=6673
The Stern “Boycott USA” rant could piss off various groups in the USA enough to independently boycott UK products. I can imagine various USA radio shock jocks calling for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holiday boycotts of UK beer, etc just to send a message back to Lord Stern.
Man o man. Stern just energized the Tea Party big time. I don’t think American liberals needed that at this time. What a blunder by Stern. Shot the whole US envirnmental movement and their liberal supporters in the foot.
John
Ugh. I suspect LSE wins government contracts. To think my taxes probably contribute to enabling this moron spout his bile. Makes me want to puke.
I wish I could choose to boycott Stern from getting another penny of my taxes. Only I just remembered, I don’t get that choice.
@ur momisugly Smokey (November 19, 2010 at 1:01 pm):
Thank you for a very insightful comment, I enjoyed reading it very much.
STEPHEN PARKERuk says: “Who would you want on your side when the chips are down. the french, indians Chinese, germans italians, and all south americans? Or the english, australians, new zealanders and canadians. It pays to know who your friends really are”
Hold on a minute. The UK didn’t just ban exports from Australia in 1973. They banned exports from New Zealand and Canada too. So it’s the French, Indians, Chinese, Germans, Italians, all South Americans, Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians (and a fair bit of Africa) versus the English. There! that levels it up a bit.
I am somewhat tired of seeing the Brits on this board apologize for this unelected gasbag or any other politician over there. It might be nicer to watch you take real action.
I think you Brits feel a sense of shame where you should really simply divorce yourself from the arrogant power seekers. Americans (forgive the broad brush) tend more to look at politicians with complete disdain, even those we choose to vote for. As a result, I would never apologize for the behavior of the power/fame seekers in Washington any more than I would do so for the nearly identical people of “Jersey Shore”. I wouldn’t apologize because I know they’re at least partially insane, only the insane want fame and/or power over others. In short, I think you guys should stop calling your politicians “lords”… there’s too much implied respect in the title.
Sounds like a great idea. First let’s remove all US military forces and aid for Europe. Then we’ll stop selling those pesky, filthy CPUs manufactured by Intel and AMD. Of course we’ll have to stop buying drugs produced by British concerns and stop selling the ones made in the USA. That ought to teach us a lesson!
Lord Stern started out as plain ole Nicholas Stern, became a civil servant and after living at the taxpayers’ expense for a fair while was rewarded with a knighthood, Sir Nicholas Stern (a form of ‘family credit’ perhaps?). Then PM Brown (Gordy) needed a some stooge to tell everyone how dreadful AGW was and why we should be taxed to save the world. He asked a whole series of economists, but as they were told what answer they had to give, to their credit they turned the task down. Step up our hero Sir Nick! “Delighted to oblige PM. What about a peerage PM?” “Fine” says Gordy. “Arise Lord Stern!” says HM QE, “Didn’t I do this to you not long ago? – Oh Yes, that was a knighthood.” …. sigh.
Great idea! Let’s start with Intel microprocessors, Microsoft software, all Apple products, and any drugs produced by American companies, especially any newly-developed ones.
“Yeah, and we would have gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for those pesky bloggers.”
Whose quote was that?
I’ve long suspected that most economists are cretins pretending their models are scientific. Lord Stern proves it.
“The United States will be banned from selling goods”
========================================
Is foreign aid considered a “goods”?
Paying the bill for the UN, is that a “goods”?
How about bail out money for foreign countries and
foreign banks?
How about military protection? is that a “goods”?
I say fine, let’s cut them off………
@Smokey
Very nice easy explanation, and I would like to add what I think is the biggest problem in the psychology department with today’s hobnob hippies and that is they substitute riches in money, fortunes, and/or fame for being more likable which they in turn substitute for being right.
Most people today have met the odd job that throw around money like crazy, seemingly for no good reason but for thinking it is the right thing to do to be liked and most likely therefor be right. Crazy climatic–suffering from low self-esteem– professors and researchers aren’t any different, they just go above and beyond and over board if they think it will render them some more friends and fans or what ever that think they are totally right. (Behavior wise it kind of funny that it is mostly young people who believe that “older” people don’t behave and act as “young” people. Personally I believe this is why the crazy greenie hippie cultist always gets such a large crowd of “dumb ass” young people.)
James Sexton says:
November 19, 2010 at 12:50 pm
tallbloke says:
November 19, 2010 at 12:33 pm
What is this? the weekly ten minute hate?
=======================================================
Well, you know its just vent. Some of us are given to a knee jerk reaction from time to time, but, we’re tied to our cousins across the pond in more ways than just trade. Britannia and her offspring will always be tied to each other.
Good to hear. I greatly value my U.S. cousins clarity and clear speaking on issues of freedom. We ordinary Brits appreciate the backup you ordinary Yanks have given freely in the past, whatever posturing nonsense our spurious leaders have said.
If I could get into the upper house debating chamber and open a window, I’d cheerfully toss Lord Stern through it into the river Thames.
John Whitman says:
November 19, 2010 at 1:49 pm
British blackmail in the morning, ahhh how rejuvenating with the morning coffee.
The redcoats are coming, again . . . . didn’t they learn the first time?
John
Careful now, we Canucks might just stand with the British you know (Should we change governments during an election where we suffer a complete loss of sanity). Within 24 hours of a threat being detected we can put a fully armed Argus aircraft into the air — with a rifleman at every portal. Beware!
Now pardon me while I finish rolling on the floor laughing at this threat from the Brits.
Quite disappointed at the rather unpleasant Brit bashing (and Euro sometimes too) it does tend to show a certain nationality in a poor light. Would it not be a better idea to target the daft ideas of Stern and not his accidental location of birth?
[Good suggestion. ~dbs, mod.]
Today’s installment of the Cancun Week special is now available at
http://ourmaninsichuan.wordpress.com/
It is the third translation of selected portions of the Chinese book “Low Carbon Plot” and deals with the true national self-interest behind climate politics and finance.
Pointman
John Whitman says:
November 19, 2010 at 2:03 pm
“Man o man. Stern just energized the Tea Party big time. I don’t think American liberals needed that at this time. What a blunder by Stern. Shot the whole US envirnmental movement and their liberal supporters in the foot.”
Indeed. This is perfect!
Heck of a job Sternie.
I wonder if he would rather we spent our money in china after all he is a member of the China Investment Corporation which has invested in GCL-Poly a supplier to the solar industry.
Also the AES coroperation, which has a diverse portfolio of thermal and renewable fuel sources, we provide affordable and sustainable energy in 29 countries. Our workforce of 27,000 people is committed to operational excellence and meeting the world’s changing power need
in fact they seem to be big into the energy market which if its green or “dirty” is getting more expensive by the day.
Infact I think Stern will become very rich from the green religion if he has his way!
A Carbon scammer suggesting that carbon trading should be mandatory. Colour me shocked.
I can see the headlines now ..”Carbon scammer loses underpants as Mexican talks fail”.
Even with the current state of the US economy, may I suggest that it should be a cold day in hell before you start taking economic advice or threats from the Domino States of Europe.
tallbloke says:
November 19, 2010 at 2:33 pm
James Sexton says:
November 19, 2010 at 12:50 pm
tallbloke says:
November 19, 2010 at 12:33 pm
What is this? the weekly ten minute hate?
=======================================================
Well, you know its just vent. Some of us are given to a knee jerk reaction from time to time, but, we’re tied to our cousins across the pond in more ways than just trade. Britannia and her offspring will always be tied to each other.
==================================================
Although my direct ancestors came to the New World in 1632 from England, I feel no loyalty to the Crown or any of the so-called “Nobles”. In fact, several of my ancestors put holes in their armies for good reason. There was a little thing called the American Revolution, you know.
Is Stern the guy who predicted that the population of humans will be reduced to a few breeding pairs in the Antarctic. It this is the case, then US exports won’t be an issue as the breeding pairs will have no need for products from a country that does not exist.
Lord Stern on board!
Lord Stern and carbon dioxide reduction links
Money usually explains the desperation.