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Dec. 11th, 2009
The Plots of COP15
Dec. 11th, 2009 01:44 pmThe generically-named 15th Conference of the Parties (aka the Copenhagen climate change talk) is now ongoing. It's important to note that there are several significant goals being pursued related to climate change negotiations (at the conference and elsewhere), some of which are not primarily motivated by a desire to mitigate climate change:
1. Arrange a massive transfer of wealth from rich countries to developing countries to invest in renewable energy infrastructure. Hopefully, such countries would be able to leap-frog a fossil-fuel powered electrical grid in the same way as many skipped straight to cellular telephone infrastructures. The reason for this is simple: There's a need for economic growth, and most of the potential for rapid growth is in developing nations. However, if that growth comes with significantly increased demand for oil, prices will spike again, bringing the world economy to its knees. (Additional objective for poor countries: Try to get this amount of investment to be as high as possible. Talk about "climate reparations" and pretend that whatever foreign aid comes out of these talks has anything to do with social justice.)
2. Put some price, any price, on carbon dioxide emissions. That might help reduce emissions directly, but the more significant goal is creating a financial market based on carbon emissions. That allows the financial sector to better invest in / reward companies that improve their energy efficiency. It also allows Goldman Sachs et al to create the next gigantic speculative bubble to replace the housing bubble. (Additional objective for the financial sector: Keep the public focused on anything but that last point.)
3. Cut global greenhouse gas emissions. (Additional objective for rich countries: Try to get put as much of the burden of cutting emissions as possible onto poor countries, don't strive for equality in the near-term (or ever), don't let the poor nations know about your plans in that regard. Additional objective for environmental and anti-poverty activists: Demand emissions cuts in line with the recommendations of climate scientists, don't get too depressed that nothing of the sort has even a remote chance of happening.)
1. Arrange a massive transfer of wealth from rich countries to developing countries to invest in renewable energy infrastructure. Hopefully, such countries would be able to leap-frog a fossil-fuel powered electrical grid in the same way as many skipped straight to cellular telephone infrastructures. The reason for this is simple: There's a need for economic growth, and most of the potential for rapid growth is in developing nations. However, if that growth comes with significantly increased demand for oil, prices will spike again, bringing the world economy to its knees. (Additional objective for poor countries: Try to get this amount of investment to be as high as possible. Talk about "climate reparations" and pretend that whatever foreign aid comes out of these talks has anything to do with social justice.)
2. Put some price, any price, on carbon dioxide emissions. That might help reduce emissions directly, but the more significant goal is creating a financial market based on carbon emissions. That allows the financial sector to better invest in / reward companies that improve their energy efficiency. It also allows Goldman Sachs et al to create the next gigantic speculative bubble to replace the housing bubble. (Additional objective for the financial sector: Keep the public focused on anything but that last point.)
3. Cut global greenhouse gas emissions. (Additional objective for rich countries: Try to get put as much of the burden of cutting emissions as possible onto poor countries, don't strive for equality in the near-term (or ever), don't let the poor nations know about your plans in that regard. Additional objective for environmental and anti-poverty activists: Demand emissions cuts in line with the recommendations of climate scientists, don't get too depressed that nothing of the sort has even a remote chance of happening.)
