Posted on 06/27/2006 8:03:22 AM PDT by Freeport
The German government is about to trigger a new crisis in Europe's flagship climate change policy, the European Emissions Trading Scheme.
BBC News understands the German cabinet is likely to agree a deal under the ETS that will result in a carbon reduction from its industry of only 0.6% by 2012.
Kyoto targets require Germany to cut greenhouse emissions in total by 21%.
The decision will influence other EU countries, including the UK, which still have to settle their own caps.
Environmentalists and climate analysts fear a meltdown of EU climate leadership. Regina Gunther from WWF Deutschland said: "These figures are unbelievable - pathetically unambitious. It is shameful that our environment minister has agreed to this."
Professor Michael Grubb, of the UK Carbon Trust (a government-funded research group), added: "I have been a big supporter of the EU ETS, but hearing the German news I feel more depressed than I ever have done about our ability to tackle climate change.
"I really believed that Europe would lead the way through the EU ETS but now I wonder whether this will ever happen."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
"We will do whatever India and China are doing - NOTHING."
Another kick to Kyoto's nuts...
The point was the money.
She thinks cutting her economy by 21% is not enough. Perhaps 50% would be better? Or maybe 100% if all human and animal activity stops in Germany? Perhaps that is what she wants.
Germany obviously hasn't seen AlGore's movie. Don't the Germans realize that failing to comply with Kyoto will doom the universe and cause Barbara Streisand to launch yet another final tour?
Climate leadership = "We can pretend to control the climate better than you can."
She is right, we must cut our economy by more than 21%! This is our Inconvenient Truth to our democratic power! Shutdown all industry and all human and animal life must stop breathing to preserve our Environment. You have no choice but to elect me President in 2008!
/sarcasm off
Plant more trees.
LOTS more trees.
Make Germany truly green.
Gee, Mr. Wizard! Didn't Germany putting the world through two wars create a sh*tload of noxious emissions? Hmmmm?
(* unless you count death and starvation as production)
"Regina Gunther from WWF Deutschland..."
I hope the Undertaker busts her head from the third turn-buckle.
That's not bad. The did reach 1/35th of their goal. In about 500 years they may reach their goal.
I can't believe that anyone ever expected this joke to happen.
Some people, especially those who buy into the dire predictions regarding global warming, will believe just about anything.
I think the quote was from Orwell, "Some things are so outlandish that no one but an expert could believe them."
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