Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Governor “Moonbeam” Jerry Brown has just signed what might amount to an economic death sentence for California, by signing California up to the bleeding edge of international green agreement lunacy.
According to Reuters;
May 19 California and leaders of 11 states and provinces signed an agreement on Tuesday to limit their output of heat-trapping greenhouse gases 80 to 95 percent by 2050, a goal they hope will help prevent runaway climate change.
The target, which is based on a 1990 benchmark, will allow the individual governments, which collectively represent more than $4.5 trillion in GDP and 100 million people, to tailor reduction plans to fit their regional needs.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/05/19/climate-change-agreements-idUKL1N0YA26Q20150519
What could make less sense? California is already haemorrhaging business and jobs to Texas, thanks to skyrocketing energy prices and rampant green tape. The obvious thing to do is more of the same, right?
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Here are the 12 doomed states/provinces (all of west coast): http://www.ucsusa.org/press/2015/california-governor-and-international-government-leaders-sign-ambitious-climate-agreement-495
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 19, 2015) — California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. and the leaders of a dozen North American, South American and European governments that together represent 100 million people agreed to take joint action to dramatically reduce their global warming emissions.
The 12 initial signers of the “Under 2 MOU” agreement today include California, Oregon, Vermont and Washington; British Columbia and Ontario, Canada; the Brazilian state of Acre; Baden-Württemberg in Germany; Jalisco and Baja California, Mexico; Catalonia, Spain; and the country of Wales. More governments are expected to join in the coming months leading up to the United Nations climate conference in Paris in December.
The leaders agreed to promote policies that would either reduce total emissions by 80 to 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 or achieve a per-capita annual emissions target of less than 2 metric tons by 2050. The goals are designed to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial levels—a goal that the world’s scientists say is necessary to avert runaway climate change.
Wales?
Country?
Well, it has football and Rugby Union teams, the latter pretty good. Probably other sports, certainly at Commonwealth Games.
But it is part of the UK [like England, Scotland (at time of writing), and Northern Ireland].
I guess they have been signed up by their Assembly, which is confident that – if it all turns to rat-shiiite, well, England will pick up the tab.
As England always has done, pretty willingly. If only for easy access to the scenery!
And, anyway, Wales has a pretty good set of hydro-electric plants, and used to have Wylffa – a nuke station that closed [possibly just politically incorrect . . .], so exporting the nearby aluminium smelter jobs.
Wow.
Join the dots.
Auto
Boy(o?), your post triggered a memory.:) I went on a school trip, around 1970 I think, to Trawsfynydd – the other, other nuclear power station in Wales. Long gone now.
Wylfa is still running with one reactor though but that’s closing this December. Amazed it lasted this long – 44 years. Looks like Ynys Môn is about to either descend back into the times of Welsh mythology or embrace the new Global Warming mythology. Either way, there will be Harps and tenders of the Sacred Groves. 🙂
“Eric Gisin
May 19, 2015 at 4:24 pm
The goals are designed to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial levels—a goal that the world’s scientists say is necessary to avert runaway climate change.”
To avert runaway climate change?? *GULP* What an idiotic article. The age of stupid is really upon us.
BTW, I hope you realise I am commenting on the article, not your post of it. 🙂
British Columbia hopes to ca$h in selling hydro power to the US. At the same time BC drivers are crossing over the border to fill up with Yankee gas and avoid the carbon tax.
It’s not just their gas tanks it’s their filled gas cans too!
And keep in mind that Florida is full so do not come here.
… and jam-packed with alligators.
Not nice at all. Definitely one to avoid.
Yes, stay away. If you must visit, the safest place is in a pond, canal or river, after dark.
http://myfwc.com/media/310203/Alligator_GatorBites.pdf
Don’t forget the Burmese pythons:
Up to 100,000 pythons are estimated to be living in the Everglades, and more than 1,500 thrill-seekers, amateurs and skilled hunters who flocked to the event from across the country caught only 68.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/big-but-nearly-invisible-in-the-wild-officials-give-up-on-evicting-pythons-from-everglades/2014/03/16/58cab268-aa37-11e3-8599-ce7295b6851c_story.html
An example Alligator …
Also contains the luckiest and bravest cat on Earth and a collection of humans that are either home grown morons or just visiting from California …:)
Tom:
Florida is 8th among U.S. states in population density. It has a ways to go however to catch up to the northeastern states that are ahead of it in density. Look at some of the New England states and New Jersey. And Jeff is probably right about the alligators.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_population_density
……and real estate websites for Florida seem to show plenty of property for sale there.
Yes and we do not want to become as dense at the northeastern states. We like our open spaces and we love our alligators, especially when they scare you’all northerners away.
Here is a little article I wrote years ago when I was running a golf website. Enjoy.
DANGERS IN PARADISE
Golfers Beware! Golf in Florida can be a dangerous game. These are some of the dangerous things you should know about and beware of.
Animal Dangers
1) Snakes – Several varieties of poisonous snakes flourish in Florida. A general rule of thumb is, never walk into grass higher than your ankles. If you MUST search for that 50-cent ball in the shrubs and underbrush, at least take a 5 iron (7 will do for the longer hitter) and beat the area to scare off any snakes lurking about.
Our rules on snakebite are simple:
• If you take a risk and get bit, we continue to finish the round.
• While we do not assess a penalty stroke for slow play due to swelling, others may. Check your local rules.
2) Gators – Gators are said to be stupid animals, but then, they are not the ones out in the hot sun chasing a little white ball around. These living, breathing symbols of Florida inhabit virtually every lake, river, stream, pond, swimming pool and bathtub in the state. It is alleged that after a heavy rain even the gutters are full of them. Most gators are shy and will avoid humans. However, large males and new mothers can be aggressive. Small and medium sized gators can sprint up to 30 miles per hour over short distances.
Gator tips:
• Never think you can get close to one safely, especially if you have worn your alligator golf shoes.
• Never go near or reach into tall grass or plants by waters edge and never try to play a ball that is near a sleeping gator.
• The penalty for taking an unplayable lie is one stroke; the penalty for getting caught by a gator is becoming their lunch.
• It is against the law in Florida to feed or harass alligators. Just enjoy them from a distance.
3) Fire Ants – See that guy over in the other fairway doing a crazy dance? He’s not doing the Tarantella — he just stepped on a fire ant hill. These nasty, swarming little creatures will make you wish you had never seen or heard of them. They will attack by the thousands in seconds if you disturb them. Many courses now have local rules for a free drop if on or near fire ants. Pray that you are not allergic to their venom. The welts, puss sacks, itching and scars are bad enough for those who are not. If fire ants get on you, do not run to the nearest lake and jump in. (See paragraph 2 above).
Weather Dangers
1) Lightning – Florida, where summer thunderstorms develop almost every afternoon, is the lightning capital of the world. If you hear thunder, it’s time to call it a day on the golf course. Nothing attracts lightning more than a solitary figure in the middle of a large open space extending a metal rod into the air. This is not a time to prove you are macho. People really do die on golf courses from lightning strikes. Throw out the myth that a golf cart with its rubber tires will protect you. Golf carts do not have enough metal to provide the necessary “Skin Effect” which, by the way, is the true reason most vehicles protect us. Ask any physics teacher.
Lightning tips:
• Do not be fooled by the distance to the dark clouds. Lightning often happens ahead of the storm in fairly clear skies. The proverbial bolt from the blue as they say.
• There is no penalty for heading to the clubhouse when lightning is around. The beer tastes much better when you are alive.
2) Heat – Florida is called the Sunshine State for a very good reason. Not only do we get a lot of it, it’s very intense due to our lower latitude. Add in a high humidity level and you consistently get a heat index well over 100 degrees from May through September. Get rid of all your fancy, name brand, heavy, dark $50 golf shirts. Something light-colored and airy is much better. Wearing a nice golf hat is good, but pith helmets are out. Take in generous amounts of fluid before, during and after a round of golf. Drink a large glass or two of water about half an hour before you tee off and always drink two or three cups at every water stop, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Supplement that with a Gatorade or Powerade from the cart girl during the round. This will allow you to handle the heat and stay comfortable during the round. Afterwards, another large glass of water and you should be able enjoy those adult beverages in the clubhouse without distress.
Skin Dangers
1) Sunburn – The sun is almost directly overhead in summer in Florida. It is very intense with UV indexes usually around 10, making sunburn times only 6 to 20 minutes. A good sunscreen is advisable if you are going to out on the course between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Don’t forget to apply it to the back of your neck, your ears, behind your knees and around the ankles. Try using a dry oil, one that feels like it evaporates so that there’s no lingering oil to make the club grips slippery. Use at least an SPF 6 dry oil except for the nose and lips where an SPF 30 should be applied. The number 6 allows you to get a tan, the number 30 keeps you from looking like Rudolph.
2) Golf Socks – You know, those ugly tan lines you get around your ankles from playing too much golf in shorts. This non-discriminating skin condition affects all golfers regardless of their handicap (although it is said to be less noticeable on those that spend a lot of time in heavy rough looking for their ball).
Golf Socks Tips:
• Minimize the effect by tanning your feet and ankles at the pool or beach prior to golf season.
• Wear the shortest socks that are comfortable.
• Never allow your boss to see your golf socks. He may guess why you have so many one-day bouts with the flu.
• Accept the inevitable and live with it. But for heaven’s sake, get rid of those black socks when you’re playing in shorts.
“Florida is 8th among U.S. states in population density.”
What is that rank when corrected for non-livable wetlands?
Is that all Tom? Don’t come to Australia then…lol…
To amplify Patrick’s comment on Australia read Bill Bryson’s “Down Under”
Climate change might be proof that most people rally don’t do their homework or can stand up for whats right against a mob or tribalism. Will you jump off the bridge if all your friends do Governor?
apparently so. glad this blog exists
The governor knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s not a useful idiot but he is useful to some. It’s going to be very interesting how close to the brink we go before retreating back to sanity. Judging by what Western Europe is going through the US still has a ways to go. I wonder what it will take to become a lesson learned.
Good weather, poor transportation, poor water distribution, highest taxes, “stupid government”; the result of an economy controlled by “liberal democrats”. Watch them fall over the cliff….
It won’t happen. The UK has survived a string of idiotic Labour governments and is still a developed country. There is just too much killing in an advanced economy for a failure correction mechanism to work effectively. Instead life just gets slowly worse without ever reaching a final crisis.
Is any of these numbnuts going to be held responsible when the hypothesis of CC is proven wrong once and for all? More than likely not, they will sail into the sunset with their pension intact and will say “Tough S$%#@” to all and sundry.
I doubt the negative can ever be “proved”. Winning battles is the best we can do – the war is being lost… on visible time scales. Cooling MAY save us but then we will have to face the dire consequences of negative GW. GK
Hey Vermonters, plenty of room over here in NH. Please just leave whatever socialist tendencies you might have there.
Bill & Bernie will be right over.
Hassan???
I would rather spend my money on something real and tangible, like carbon credits, that ephemeral fluff like food, clothing, shelter, cars, gas. Oh, wait…
California and leaders of 11 states and provinces signed an agreement…………….Signatories of the agreement were Acre, Brazil; Baden-Württemberg, Germany; Baja California, Mexico; Catalonia, Spain; Jalisco, Mexico; Ontario, Canada, British Columbia, Canada; Wales, and the U.S. states of Oregon, Vermont and Washington.
I am on the case to identify just exactly how or who authorized anyone here in Vermont to do that – email just out to my neighbor and friend, a fine Republican Senator.
If I understand correctly a 5% to 20% cut over the next 35 years against a 1990 base is unbelievably trivial and should have almost no measurable impact on economic activity. The same is true of all mature developed economies where the price of energy is already driving easy efficiencies in consumption.
All the “easy” efficiencies were found years ago. Considering the fact that CA’s economy has grown in the 25 years since 1990, a 5 to 20% cut from that level would be a 15 to 30% cut from current levels.
CA will achieve it’s reductions by driving off 5 to 15% of it’s population and impoverishing those who remain. The same way those other “mature developed” economies did.
AB32 already requires a 25% cut in CO2 by 2020.
In April Brown ordered that, by 2030, greenhouse-gas emissions be cut 40% below 1990 levels.
Im confused with the wording ,but I think today the agreement was to cut 80-95% of CO2 by 2050.
Meaning Ca could only produce 5-20% of the CO2 we produced in 1990.
We will harness moonbeams to charge our EVs and lunar cell homes.
Will you be allowed to exhale?
Hey everybody, maybe California is on to something, a pig just flew by my house!
Well according to Trenberth, Flannery, Schmidt, Trenberth, Solomons etc his actions on co2 emissions cannot make a scrap of difference for thousands of years. So who does he really believe?
Anyhow until 2040 the EIA tells us that over 90% of new co2 emissions will come from the developing countries like China, India etc. By contrast developed countries will nearly flat-line over that period. IOW we could all live in caves until 2040 and it wouldn’t make a scrap of difference to the climate, temps or co2 levels. Just more stupid BS from the extremists.
According to the Reuters article California intends to reduce its CO2 emissions 40% by 2030.
I predict the unemployment rate in Caligornia will increase 40% by 2030.
I predict the number of businesses in California will decrease 40% by 2030.
I predict real estate values will ultimately fall by 40% by the year 2030.
I predict Leonardo DiCaprio will move 40% of his mansions out of California by the year 2030.
runaway… climate change…
What?
A runaway constancy?
I think, meanwhile some blockheads mix up climate change with climate catastrophism.
I’m not sure if that is an 80 to 95 percent reduction compared to current emissions or what. The article doesn’t clarify. It only says it is “based on a 1990 benchmark.” Does that mean 80 to 95 percent below 1990 emissions? In any case, Governor “Moonbeam” will be dead before 2050, but that certainly won’t stop him from taking credit now for his good intentions to save the planet, whether the target is ever achieved or not.
It sounds like the 40% reduction by 2030 target is going to have a more immediate effect. I live outside California in a Western state that has already benefited from California’s less-friendly business climate. So it will be fun to watch these new progressive initiatives cause California to regress even further. It will also be educational. But will the people of the Golden State ever learn from this, or will they keep on shooting themselves in the foot by continuing to elect far-out progressives?
California would be better off to be taken over by the Mexican gov.
Illegal immigration solved!
I’ve been trying to organize a movement to give CA back to Mexico. So far Mexico has refused the offer.
Spelling error?
California surrendering their economy to ‘Taxes’
if your think that is bad, consider this!
19 May: Business Green: Jessica Shankleman: Investors worth $25tr reveal plan for tackling climate change
New online platform aims to show how investor groups are measuring greenhouse gases and decarbonising their portfolios
***(LINK)The new online platform has been produced by the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change in Europe, Ceres Investor Network on Climate Risk in the US, the Investors Group on Climate Change in Australia and New Zealand and the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change, which combined represent many of the world’s largest institutional investors…
The launch comes as businesses prepare to meet in Paris this week for a major Business and Climate Summit, designed to show politicians that much of the corporate sector wants ambitious action on climate change…
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, who will be attending the Business and Climate Summit in Paris this week, said she was encouraged by the initiative.
“Ahead of the UN climate change conference in Paris, cities, regions, companies and investors must continue to increase their active participation in the global efforts toward a low emission, highly resilient world,” she said.
“Over the next 15 years some $90tr are likely to be invested in infrastructure world-wide. Investments that are de-risked and green will be crucial for ensuring we do not lock in a high emission future but instead unlock a healthy and prosperous one that delivers the twin aims of climate stability and reliable development for the poor and the needy.”…
http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2409175/investors-worth-usd25tr-reveal-plan-for-tackling-climate-change
***above links to Investor Platform for Climate Action page with sponsors at bottom, including UNEP Finance Initiative:
About UNEP Finance Initiative:
Founded in 1992 in the context of the Earth Summit in Rio, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) was established as a platform associating the United Nations and the financial sector globally. The need for this unique United Nations partnership arose from the growing recognition of the links between finance and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) challenges, and the role financial institutions could play for a more sustainable world…
Banking, insurance and investment, the three main sectors of finance, are represented and brought together in this unique partnership…
UNEP FI has contributed to the launch of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and has developed the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI)….
Mission Statement
UNEP FI’s mission is to bring about systemic change in finance to support a sustainable world, and is highlighted in its motto, Changing finance, financing change.
Motto
Its motto Changing finance, financing change reflects a vision of a sustainable world economy that needs to be supported by a sustainable financial system…
http://www.unepfi.org/about/
Hey, if you can access it from Al Gore’s Internet Device it must be good.
I hope they will let us know what stocks they are selling, so the rest of us can buy them up cheap.
This is NOT going to be good for TEXAS.
With those jobs, comes “Californians” … the same people who put “Moonbeam” in office, and DESTROYED California … complete with their “Turn Texas Blue” bumper stickers.
Texas should take the jobs, and implement a no immigration policy from Cali-for-nut-land. I’m telling you, they will bring the same idiocy with them that has resulted in the economic, environmental, and otherwise catastrophy that is California today.
As a Texan …. I’m sad for my old home state. Lucky for me, I don’t live there anymore.
I know a couple of extremely liberal Californians that moved to Utah in the early 90’s. By 2000 they were genuflecting to Regan, calling Orrin Hatch a bleeding heart because he was civil to Ted Kennedy, and getting all upset because they had to work late and would miss their reserved time at the shooting range.
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/150805200900-0-1/s-l1000.jpg
Mark, don’t worry. Everything is A-OK.
We are at the end of the end. Which paradigm will change first?
1) Public and politician have their ‘Green Scam Epiphany’: Green scams do not work. Only solution to reduction CO2 emissions to let say 40% is a complete conversion to nuclear power and draconian measures such as banning tourism air travel. Public and politicians will not support CAGW Stalinism. Anti CAWG parties are elected. End of public/politician support for CAGW.
2) There are no Fiscal Magic Wands Epiphany. Fiscal ‘can’ cannot be kicked further down the road. Deficit spending eventually leads to economic chaos, riots, and protests. CAGW is abandoned as public money is required to pensions, health care, roads, schools, public employee salaries, social security, developing country aid, defence, and so on. There is no surplus money to be spent on green scams that do not work (significantly reduce CO2) and regardless reducing anthropogenic CO2 has zero effect on climate and almost no effect on atmospheric CO2 levels. End of public/politician support for CAGW/green scams
http://notrickszone.com/2015/02/04/germanys-energiewende-leading-to-suicide-by-cannibalism-huge-oversupply-risks-destabilization/#sthash.8tE9YRDj.PSllYaQF.dpbs
Economic growth does not support future promised entitlements. Government pensions, health care, old age security, and so on. Real cuts will be forced. Germany consumers are now paying three times more for electricity that the US. High energy costs will mean less money for consumers, more expensive goods, more jobs shipped to Asia, and so on. Bad thing, not a good thing.
Note the green scams are not going to significantly reduce US CO2 emissions and will have almost no effect on world CO2 emissions. Difficult choice, continue wasting money on green scams that do not work or use money for government expenditures which tax payers want and need.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Money-Runs-Out-Affluence/dp/0300205236
“William: €500 billion is $750 billion US”
Um, I think someone needs to update their data, or check a financial report every few years or so.
Exchange rate got down to $1.06 per Euro recently, although it is now back closer to $1.10
Many experts are predicting parity before the year is out, and lower after that.
BTW, the last time the exchange rate was at or above $1.50, was in 2009, for about five minutes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro#/media/File:EUR-USD.PNG
“Just the facts, sir.”
-Not Joe Friday
Your comment is correct. I converted pounds when I should have converted euros.
Regards,
William
Much of Germany’s industry consumes Russian gas.
Since Putin made a deal with Xi to send this unwanted CO2 gas to China, Germany will get its wish to be ‘green’. And extremely poor.
I‘m surprised no one has made an issue of Eric’s choice of personal pronoun in his title, so leave it to me:
California surrenders
theirits economy to Texas (and climate worries)Yea, I used to like Gov. Brown during his first term of office, but Cal was still pretty dreamy in those days, and I was still at least somewhat under the twin spells of naïveté and idealism.
Those were the days…
In British English since California is an entity comprised of many people their is used. It is not improper to do likewise in American English although the use of a singular pronoun is accepted whereas in British English that would be deemed wrong usage.
California is a state – a single entity, ‘its’ is correct. Californians may surrender their economy …
Reblogged this on Sierra Foothill Commentary and commented:
The Governor has an problem, the citizens of California are not acting like we have a climate crisis. Today, 55 percent of hybrid and electric vehicle owners are defecting to a gasoline-only model at trade-in time — the lowest level of hybrid loyalty since Edmunds.com began tracking such transactions in 2011. More than one in five are switching to a conventional sport utility vehicle, nearly double the rate of three years ago. This does not support Gov Brown’s CO2 reduction goals.
Nor does it support the goal of not funding Islamist extremism, the long forgotten best reason to favour energy efficiency (in sensible ways) and nuclear power.
Please remember that a small but politically significant fraction of all fuel purchases indirectly goes to fund schemes for Islamic world conquest. This applies even if the specific fuel you purchase isn’t from the Middle East.
Wasn’t that the reason to kill the Keystone pipeline? To prevent funding the Extremists in Alberta and Canada? Much better to buy your oil from the Middle East where everyone loves you. Every dollar you send to the Middle East is a dollar for Peace. Obama knows best.
A better response would be to increase production here in the states.
This is what happens when science, economic analysis, logic, reason and common sense is replaced with leftist dogma.
Even IF the entire US were to adopt Obama’s CO2 targets of a 30% CO2 by 2030, according to IPCC’s own ECS inflated estimates, this would only reduced global temps a paltry 0.03C by 2100….
Since California’s economy is about 17% of total US GDP, California’s contribution to reducing global warming would be around 0.005C by 2100, assuming IPCC’s ECS assumptions are correct, but we know they are substantially overestimated.
5 one-thousandths of a degree C….by 2100…and the economic repurcussions to Californians will be devastating: loss of competitiveness, higher energy costs, higher unemployment, bigger state budget deficits, higher prices for ALL goods and services, decreased corporate profitability, many companies will leave California, decreased tax revenue, lower standard of living, etc.
We’re witnessing the death of reason.
California sucks, then you die.
The only way to do this 90% reduction is to stop all automobiles. HAHAHA. My family lived in California way back in 1845. We named mountains and towns after ourselves. HAHAHA.
Fought the Spanish government, too. HAHAHA.
And all of us fled the last one to leave was in 1985. I left in 1970. California is one huge parking lot UHI. No wonder they are roasting to death there.
Oh, it is going to freeze again here in upstate NY this week! Wow.
It is 34 F right now in Central Ontario and my heat is on. Good luck to us all.