Why does the Bush Administration continue to drag its feet on global warming/climate change?

Question

Not only is there a vast scientific consensus that global warming is real AND anthropogenic (i.e. human induced), there is a growing consensus that the economic costs of inaction are GREATER than taking action to curb greenhouse gas emissions. This is not a fringe argument - in fact, this economic argument is espoused by Sir Nicholas Stern, former Chief Economist at the World Bank. Using formal economic models, Stern's review estimates that the overall costs and risks of climate change equates to losing at least 5% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared to the costs of action which can be limited to around 1% of global GDP each year by adopting measures aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas levels.

http://www.chemicalprocessing.com/articles/2006/177.html

Answer 1

President Bush actually acknowledged Global Warming is "serious challenge" and we have to develop technologies that reduce or eliminate emissions.

Now all we have to do is convince the small segment of the population that still thinks all the world's top scientists are a bunch of liars. I'm thinking these people are so deluded that we shouldn't even waste our time.

Answer 2

Because they are preoccupied with the fact that while global warming may be real, the cause may not be. It may not be humans, it has been found out the earth has had natural global warming periods. If they made the decision, big businesses would freak out and play the wild card and crush the government because, hey, who controls the government? The people? Maybe during the Revolutionary War. No, big business rules the world.

Answer 3

Your figures are actually far too limited--they don't take into account economic growth from the creationof new industry (e.g. soar power) or the economic effects of consumer spending resulting from increased buying power stemming from decresed energy costs. Nor does it take into accound collateral effects--fro example decreased health costs arising from lessend exposure to pollution, etc.

As to why the Bush administration is dragging its feet--the answer to that is simple--the oil industry is calling the shots on national policy. This is no secret--Bush has even allowed oil lobbyists to falsify government scientific findings to reflect oil company interests by concealing information about climate change.

Answer 4

Any laws directed at trying to curb global warming will originate in Congress - a much, much more accurate question would be, why is Congress wasting their time on a non binding resolution rather than addressing concerns that they can actually do something about?

Answer 5

He doesn't believe scientist because he knows everything about global warming and how it effects the profits of business. Money is more important than lives. Always has been for the most part!

Answer 6

Listen nobody gives a crap about global warming there are more pressing issues like the war and illegal immigration. I got foot and half of snow outside my front door and 15 degrees out doesn't seem like global warming is a real pressing issue wake up concentrate on issues that actually affect us. It's nature it gets hot it gets cold oh my.

Answer 7

For every scientist you have touting global warming as the end of the world I can find one who says the opposite...

I can also find more people who believed that Iraq had WMD's than who believe in this global warming scare..

Even the UN is reaching hard and try to blame global warming on farm animals, and the effect they have on our enviornment..

Of course the whopping 1 degree in global temperature change we have had in the past 100 years is more important to the UN than things like Darfur.. or investigating the oil for food scam...

And What exactly do you want ole Bushy to do about it... wage war on countries who dont recycle? C'mon... make up your mind..

Answer 8

Well it might be because you liberals were saying there was going to be a new ICE AGE in the 70's.

We Republicans are shaking our heads wondering HOW IN THE WORLD you guys can FLIP FLOP on this topic - but that is just what you seem to be doing. Ice Age, Global Warming - WHICH IS IT? Will you change your mind in a few years if you can't get enough votes with your present scare tactics.

I live in Wisconsin and I'm FREEZING! They closed my son's school last week due to the COLD.

Answer 9

Economic forecasting & climate forecasting are only slightly less scientific & less accurate than picking the winners of Kentucky Derbies well into the future. Somehow I have trouble accepting that people can predict the Earths climate 50 years from now but nobody can tell me if it will rain in my town tomorrow.

Answer 10

Economists are not experts on the climate. Do you watch The Weather Channel to get your news on the economy? I don't.