Kerby Anderson

Yesterday, I talked about the president’s pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions. I also argued that we aren’t going to reach that goal by walking, riding bicycles, and turning down our thermostats. His goal will require massive costs and disruption that they try to dismiss. I called it climate denialism.

Another reason why that goal won’t be achieved is due to what I call climate confusion. This administration is focused on the wrong areas. Less than a quarter of all the CO2 produced comes from “getting around” and “keeping warm and cool.” Those are chapters in a recent book by Bill Gates. Recently, I quoted from him because he is a climate change activist who has written a book about How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. Even if you concede the point that we need to reduce greenhouse emissions, all you have to do is read his book to see how monumental the problem is and how most of the focus by the administration is on the wrong areas.

Nearly a third of all greenhouse gases are emitted from “making things.” That would be the manufacture of cement, steel, and plastics. In order to make steel, you have to add just the right amount of carbon. One ton of steel produces 1.8 tons of carbon dioxide. To make cement, you need calcium from limestone that also has carbon. One ton of cement emits one ton of carbon dioxide. And you probably know that plastics are formed from carbon in oil and other fossil fuels.

What he calls “plugging in” (electrical generation) accounts for another 27 percent. Nearly two-thirds (coal-36%, natural gas-23%, and oil-3%) of the world’s electricity comes from fossil fuels. Yes, you can get carbon-free electricity from nuclear power, but the environmental activists oppose that form of energy.

We are not well served by an administration that engages in climate denialism and suffers from climate confusion.