by Sophie McAdam at trueactivist.com
At last, an expert just admitted what so many of us were thinking…
The Paris Climate conference (COP21) has now ended, and the media (not to mention popular campaign groups like Avaaz) would have us believe that we, the people, have won. A fantastic deal has been reached; it’s ‘historic’, it’s worth celebrating, it’s cause to pat ourselves on the back. But is that the truth, or do we still need to keep fighting?
James Hansen, a former top climate scientist at NASA, has some strong opinions on the matter. He told Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman during the Paris talks:
“This is a total fraud. We’re not going to reduce emissions as long as we let fossil fuels be the cheapest form of energy. There are lots of countries that want to lift their people out of poverty, and of course they should do that. but everyone would be better off if the price of fossil fuels was honest. It should include its cost to society.”
As we reported back in June, the oil and gas industries are heavily subsidised: these already-filthy rich corporations receive $5.3 trillion US dollars per year globally, and you are paying for it through your taxes. There was absolutely no mention of this injustice during the Paris talks, and yet clearly, it is the single most important thing that needs to change if we are serious about climatechange.
“Are these people stupid, or are they just badly informed?” Hansen asks host Amy Goodman, speaking of world leaders. “Are they just ill-advised?”
(Personally, I’d hazard a guess they are neither: they are simply easily bribed by the enormous power of the fossil fuel lobbyists).
Here’s the thing: The climate deal was only ‘historic’ in that for the first time ever, leaders around the world promised to commit to a goal of net zero: a target of completely cutting the planet’s carbon pollution. This is wonderful news, of course, but here’s the big question: Can we trust them to keep their word? One of our sources, who works for an NGO and would like to remain anonymous, attended the Paris conference. She admitted:
“The deal is essentially weak. There’s nothing concrete. There’s nothing specific. It’s not legally binding. It’s all about watching and waiting now, to see if governments follow up their words with action.”
She added that 197 countries were needed to agree with the terms, and while 195 signed up, the deal still fell short by two. “It’s all about follow-up action now,” she said. “Maybe the issue of subsidising the fossil fuel industry will be looked at in a year.”
The Guardian reports that Barack Obama was playing golf with the head of the World Bank when the deal was agreed. Hansen says of the President:
“I think he really believes that he’s doing something. He wants to have a legacy, but what he’s proposing is totally ineffective. As long as fossil fuels are dirt cheap, people will keep burning them.”
Hansen then proposes a carbon tax, paid by the fossil fuel industry, and that money should be given to the public.
What do you think of his proposals, and how can we pressure governments to do the one thing we desperately need: to end the ridiculous practice of subsidising the fossil fuel industry? Please let us know your comments below, and share this story if you agree we need more than just words from our leaders!
This article (Climate Scientist: COP21 Deal Is “A Total Fraud”) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and TrueActivist.com
I don’t agree with you dr. Hanson. You are not right.
WOOOWWWWW!!! For a teacher you sure are ignorant, or maybe you just need more schooling. Or wait, better yet , you are part of the fossil fuel industry and you are trying to make the truth look like a lie just like all your brothers and sisters that sleep with the top 1%. Either way, YOU ARE NOT RIGHT!! This is the best idea and should’ve been considered instead of these law breaking world leaders playing golf and sucking each other off for money. Any and all fossil fuel companies should be paying waaayyyyy more money in taxes and penalties for destroying our planet and lying to the people for profits. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY!! WHEN WILL ALL YOU MORONS LEARN THAT THIS IS FOR REAL!!!
ames Hansen, a former top climate scientist at NASA.. but the UN knows better.. also its the first time he’s been invited to talk at a climate conference.. WTF
The only way to completely eliminate fossil fuels is to implement a new energy source free of charge. apparently there is one out there and on the verge of release. It of course will put the energy giants out of business so I would imagine there is a huge push on the prevent its release. We need to harness green energy before its too late however even if the transition period is rocky it ultimately will benefit society. I come from oil and gas background and even though I know that this means I may no longer have a job there are more important things that I need to think about like my children’s future.
Is it even possible to have capitalism/consumerism and an agenda on saving the planet? Wars in the the Middle East are for fossil fuel. Oil is the most efficient energy source. Energy drives industry. Industry fuels consumers. I doubt if anyone at the Paris conference suggested that if the US pulled out of the Middle East it would be the catalyst for real change. That’s a legacy. But Obama isn’t a leader. He’s a puppet.
And the fraud continues with Dr. Hanson’s moronic approach to climate change, oh yeah, and geoengineering that’s destroying this planet doesn’t exist right?