Who cares? I do, as do many of the people I know. I would think those with children, breathe the air, use electricity, drive, eat fish, drink, and so forth would be interested also. What is being discussed is not preservation of the environment for the environment's sake, but the sustainability of living conditions for the human species and whether or not we are altering the Earth's ability to sustain human life and our existing cultures.
Also, I don't think much of their actions have inflated prices for oil. The weakening dollar, credit crunch cause by the sub-prime mortgage fallout, and increased global consumption has impacted the price of fuel far more significantly than any environmental legislation.
Lets face it, the populations of India and China are now saying they want to drive their cheap to repair gas guzzling jeeps and so the scales of economy are taking a bite at wasteful nations like the US. (Yes, wasteful - why else does the US maintain some of the lowest CAFE standards globally? Why else does such a small percentage of the global population consume such a disproportionate amount of global resources?)
As to the higher prices in the UK being a factor, there are others too. Compare per capita rates of vehicle ownership, public transportation usage, and travel distances and you will see other trends. Why is it the US, with 48 contiguous states, relies on individual vehicular and air travel? Where are the developed mass transit systems and the railway systems that a land-based nation like the US could develop for efficient travel?
Of course, lets get back into economies of scale - China is building coal plants at a phenomenal rate. If I recall, they are near or have exceeded what took the US its entire span to develop. Do you really believe that CO2 levels are not influenced? Do you really believe this has no impact on our environment?
Consider gas pressures then. As the proportion of CO2 increases in our atmosphere, the pressure of that component will force more CO2 into the oceans. With these increased levels, the CO2 reacts with the water molecules and produces H2CO3, carbonic acid. Ocean acidity increases.
From chemistry lets move onto biology. Many oceanic entities can only survive in specific ranges of pH. As acidity increases, environmental stresses increase and organisms die. These include organisms at the bottom of the food chain, which then can threaten food sources which we harvest. The carbonic acid can also effect certain hard-shelled organisms, softening the shells and leaving them vulnerable to predators.
Of course, lets fall into the classic myth that it is environment versus economy and quality of life. Ignore the boom-collapse cycle of wind and solar industries in the US as we let the Production Tax Credit lapse, while other nations see a strong and healthy economy rise out of converting to producing these devices (and improving their national security by promoting energy independence). Ignore changing climate issues that are occurring.
After all, as long as you can throw your trash into your neighbor's (or my) yard to preserve your air-conditions home with pristine manicured green lawn (who's run off leads to algae blooms, eventual oxygen depletion, and finally fish/aquatic life die offs and starvation of other people and yourself), why should you care? Be like the corporate raiders who buy out a company, fire everyone, and gut it for your personal gain - because that is the world we want. Self-centered and self-absorbed. Keep believing that you are man, you are not part of the environment, and that the meat- and gasoline-fairies use magic to bring what you need to market. Screw your neighbor, screw your children - think only of yourself and your quality of life.
This is why I hate reading stories about environmentalism and issues of sustainability - it reveals just how arrogant, ignorant, and egotistical people really are.
So enjoy the future you made as economies of scale overwhelm you. China and India want their turn at consuming resources at the same rate as the US - so for those in the US get ready to pony up. Our entitlement is about to end.
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