Random Thoughts About Global Warming

[Ghoulish Delight]

Interesting news out of Seattle this week.

When Bush was busy not signing the Kyoto agreement, Seattle went ahead and committed to the plan themselves. The results?

Mixed.

While they have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions overall to below 1990 levels, the goal outlined in the Kyoto agreement, those gains are on pace to be wiped out very shortly by continued increases from transportation as population grows. They're unlikely to keep below 1990 levels through 2012, the end-date for the Kyoto protocol measurements.

But still, if they can go it alone and make some pretty significant progress, that bodes well for what might be accomplished if everyone is on board and cities receive support from the feds. It also emphasizes why there is so much focus on the auto industry. Take transportation out of the picture in Seattle and they're doing stellar, every other segment is on the decline in terms of greenhouse gasses. If we can reverse the trend in transportation as well, I think we can really start to see a difference.