Quote:
Originally Posted by Jane_Russell  The earth will not be dead and lifeless. If and when we wipe ourselves out, there will be a new start for the earth. An end to one chapter and the start of something new. When people talk about destroying the environment, what they mean is OUR environment. The two are not the same thing.
Jane |
I agree with you to a point Jane, life will go on. Although it's a tad misleading to claim that we are only destroying our environment. We are also destroying the environment of all the countless other species who have the misfortune to inhabit the planet in the same geological time period as 'man'.
Also, Rich it's not really the case that the government is simply trying to make a quick buck out of climate change. If that were true they'd have introduced far more stringent policies than they actually have. Most current climate policies are 'revenue neutral' from the government's point of view i.e. the govt gives back out (in tax breaks etc) as much as they collect. Also, policies such as the EU carbon permit scheme raise little if anything for the government. Permits are distributed freely to firms who they can trade them with each other.
Taxes on petrol and potential road pricing will make the government money but these are not policies aimed specifically at climate change (even though from time-to-time it suits the government to claim that they are).
Matt