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GThe folly of ‘magical solutions’ for targeting carbon emissions

The folly of ‘magical solutions’ for targeting carbon emissionsSetting unattainable emissions targets such as in the UK is not a policy — it’s an act of wishful thinking, argues one political scientist.
guardian.co.uk 31 july 09
“…………………..What is missing from the debate over targets and timetables is any conception of the realism of such proposals. If a proposal is not realistic, it is not really a policy proposal but an exercise in symbolism, a “magical solution.”…………..
…………………outcome is highly problematic for those who actually care about the substance of climate policy proposals.

…………The U.K. targets are a perfect example of what happens when symbols become disconnected from reality. To achieve a 34 percent reduction from 1990 emissions by 2022…………….ritain would have to achieve the equivalent of deploying about 30 new nuclear power plants in the next six years, just to get part way to its target. One does not need a degree in nuclear physics to conclude that is just not going to happen…………………..

…Emissions reduction has its own simple arithmetic. In the context of modest economic growth, emissions are reduced when energy efficiency improves and/or when energy supply is decarbonized. A direct approach to efficiency and expansion of low-carbon energy is much preferable to the indirect approach enshrined in current policies. A low carbon tax (priced as high as politically possible) could be used to raise funds to invest in technological innovation and deployment.

Guardian Environment Network: Guardian Environment Network: The folly of ‘magical solutions’ for targeting carbon emissions | Environment | guardian.co.uk

August 1, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1