Climate change leads to blame for hurricanes as summit eyes green profits

According to the Organization of American States, “The creation of carbon markets can involve two environmental risks. One is the risk of replacement of native forests by tree plantations with monocultures, which sequester carbon more quickly. The second environmental risk is financing conservation where no deforestation is occurring, which means forests would have no real value-added in terms of conservation since the forests were protected without payments in the first place.” [Photo US Forest Service, Douglas Firs, by W. E. Steuerwald]Climate change can’t get any crazier, but a little-noticed remark in an Inter Press Service article borders on fantasy. First let me give you some context. The U.N.-affiliated Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change was held in Anchorage this week. Stephen Leahy wrote the article ‘Native peoples sound dire warning.’ I didn’t think you could get more dire than Al Gore; how wrong I was.

Leahy begins his article by blending science, fiction and poetry: “Humanity's hot carbon breath is not just melting the planet’s polar regions, it is disrupting natural systems and livelihoods around the world.” I always like to say anybody can be a writer these days.

But here’s the part that makes me wish for more widespread availability of psychotropic medications: “More frequent and stronger tropical storms and hurricanes are a major threat to the entire Caribbean region, says Cletus Springer, of Saint Lucia and director of the Department of Sustainable Development for the Organisation of American States.

In 2004, Hurricane Ivan devastated Grenada, a small country in the region. "That storm set the country back 10 years," Springer told the summit.

"We should never let those countries that created the problem (climate change) sidestep their responsibilities. Don't let them feel comfortable with their neglect, not for one moment," he urged delegates.

So in an area that lies on the edge of a hurricane belt, with books written about that area’s 500 years of hurricanes, our modern carbon footprint managed to devastate Grenada? How about deforestation, over-grazing and manipulation of landscapes by natives?

I decided to take a look at the OAS website. And there came within my brain a new flash of light. There’s gold in them thar green hills!

There’s a section at the website, ‘Payment for Environmental Services.’ And there’re a whole lot of eyes on getting even more of your American money. OAS said, “Carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation is seen as a global public service, making it difficult to develop effective payment systems. Most carbon transactions involve international buyers and are very competitive, which leads service providers to reduce transaction costs. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) sets an overall agenda for intergovernmental efforts to undertake the challenge posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Convention enjoys near universal membership, with 189 countries having ratified. Under the Convention, governments: gather and share information on greenhouse gas emissions, national policies and best practices, launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries.”

I do realize the political class has communed with the church of Gore to a point where there can be no dialog about climate change (formerly global warming) with alarmist-extremists—not because a number of distinguished scientists, economists and statisticians disagree with Gore (they do), but because pomp media has bought into the plans lock, stock and barrel and so have President Barack Obama and his administration. Some Republicans have followed suit.

But when you hear Obama talk about improving America’s reputation, bear in mind his political party helped ruin it. When Democratic politicians go overseas and blame the US for everything from ticks to tornadoes, people listen. And those same people cannot cut through the muck to see the dollar signs bouncing around in those political class heads.

Meanwhile, in our country where new job losses are announced every day and salaries are cut on a regular basis, we will pay for suspect science that cloaks the real intent—a new economic bubble for some countries in the world and some enterprising green hedge fund managers, with Americans footing the bill. Ask Spain about the net loss of 2.2 jobs for every green job created. And ask your representative where you will find approximately $3,000 to cover your carbon footprint when energy costs and regulations impose a tax that politicos do not want to call a tax.

Oh, and a note about the impassioned writer from a tag at the end of his article: “Stephen Leahy's trip to Alaska was financed by the United Nations University and Project Word, a U.S.-based media NGO.” Sounds like it’s already profitable to be green. I hear Anchorage is nice this time of year.

Climate change leads to blame for hurricanes as summit eyes green profits by Kay B. Day