Posted in action now, climate on Jan 24th, 2009
The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we’re contributing to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe.
Barack Obama
Posted in climate, leadership on Mar 30th, 2008
A reduction in domestic emissions would slow the pace of global emissions increases, no matter what happens elsewhere.
US Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. EPA, April 2, 2007
We need to profoundly revise all of our taxes and charges. The aim is to tax pollution – notably fossil fuels – more, and tax work less.
Nicolas Sarkozy
Posted in climate on Feb 20th, 2008
On Earth Day I made a commitment to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. And I asked for a blueprint on how to achieve this goal. In concert with all other nations, we simply must halt global warming. It is a threat to our health, to our ecology, and to our economy. I know that the precise magnitude and patterns of climate change cannot be fully predicted. But global warming clearly is a growing, long-term threat with profound consequences. And make no mistake about it, it will take decades to reverse.
Bill Clinton, 1993
Posted in climate, energy addiction on Jan 28th, 2008
The automobile is our worst polluter of the air. Adequate control requires further advances in engine design and fuel composition. We shall intensify our research, set increasingly strict standards, and strengthen enforcement procedures — and we shall do it now.
We can no longer afford to consider air and water common property, free to be abused by anyone without regard to the consequences. Instead, we should begin now to treat them as scarce resources, which we are no more free to contaminate than we are free to throw garbage into our neighbor’s yard.
Richard Nixon, 1970
Posted in action now, climate, general on Dec 21st, 2007
It is often necessary to make decisions on the basis of information sufficient for action, but insufficient to satisfy the intellect.
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), German philosopher
