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Schroeder Gets a Clue
Germany raises doubts over EU’s Kyoto policy
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Friday Europe should not rush into enforcing targets to curb greenhouse emissions if Russia fails to sign the Kyoto treaty on climate change, warning it could harm industry.
Ya’ think? What was your first clue? (Other than the U.S. is too smart to do it.)
The European Union has set a 2005 start date for measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to fight global warming.
Typical socialists - they think that if they say it often enough, it will become true.
But critics say the Kyoto Protocol’s strict requirements may hamper Europe’s effort to boost its economic competitiveness.
"Europe" and "economic compteitiveness" - does not compute.
EU leaders renewed their commitment to economic reforms to boost competitiveness as well as to the early entry into force of the Kyoto treaty in a joint statement at a Brussels summit.
Notice they "renew their commitment"; might work better if they would actually do it rather than just commit to it.
Russia, whose support is vital to reach a quorum for the treaty to enter into force, has angered the EU by suggesting it may not sign before the 2005 deadline.
What, you thought the Russian bear would roll over and hibernate forever just for you?
"We hope that Kyoto will be ratified, for example by Russia," Schroeder told a news conference. "But if that doesn’t happen, it will distort competition at the expense of European and especially German economy."
Gerry’s putting the German economy ahead of the EU as a whole? I’m shocked, shocked, I tell you. How American.
Without giving a direct answer, he asked: "What happens with the emissions trading system if Kyoto is not ratified?"
What’s the problem, Gerry? If "trading" emissions is a good thing under Kyoto, it should be a good thing without it, too.
EU diplomats say German concerns are shared by Italy, Spain and Denmark. These countries fear that without Russia, the cost of the EU’s emissions-cutting scheme will shoot up.
Appears there’s been a liberal cluebat™ application throughout the non-Frogistan countries. There may be hope yet!
Under Kyoto, the EU must cut its greenhouse gas output -- an inevitable result of burning fossil fuels like oil and gas -- by eight percent of 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.
You could try using less. Or fiddle while Rome burns until the Islamonazis start killing off large numbers of European infidels - you’ll need less then, too.
To help reach these targets, the EU has designed an international emissions trading scheme, due to start in 2005.
"Scheme" - that about sums it up.
Plants in each member state will be granted tradeable carbon dioxide certificates which allow them to generate a set amount of the polluting gas. If a company exceeds its limit, it can avoid a stiff fine by buying permits from someone with a surplus, thus creating a secondary market. Experts say if Russia joins, the cost of traded emissions will drop as Moscow, whose industrial output fell dramatically in the 1990s, will flood the market with emission credits.
I know they’re not related, but "trading emission credits" schemes make me think of a cross between Rube Goldberg and Ponzi.
If I ever write a novel, the hero's name's gonna be Ponzi Goldberg.
If it does not join, countries that have banned "clean" nuclear power, such as Italy, or are phasing it out, as in case of Germany, will face higher costs.
There’s an easy remedy for that, but they’re too dumb to think of it.
Here’s an idea, Gerry, old buddy - scrap the whole thing, since it’s based on wild-ass guesses, and go with something based on actual science. If you even know what that is.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut bskolaut@hotmail.com 2004-03-29
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=29341