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Steve Goreham of Climate Science Coalition of America on efforts to curb global warming and speed up energy independence.
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Is driving a Prius and imposing a common tax really our answer to making the US energy independent the answer to global warming is it.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Joining us now is the floor is expected to cover of the climate science coalition of America state -- -- welcome back good to see again.
Good morning Stuart -- to be here -- -- these proposals and in particular a common tax to combat global warming combat climate change.
At the regardless of whether we like the tax -- not what do you look what it help -- Well a carbon tax has been proposed by summits actually a tax on carbon dioxide its attacks on hot air.
This proposed been proposed by Thomas Friedman and others as a way -- who first close the budget deficits.
And second to solve the problem of global warming but it probably won't do either.
And -- its attacks on refineries its attacks on.
Industry -- -- tax on utilities.
And it's going to slow the US economy raise the price of gasoline and goods.
Food electricity and so it'll probably reduce federal revenues not gonna help -- all with a budget deficit that's interesting because it's billed as.
-- would doing something.
We're showing the world that we -- tackling this -- this common emissions problem we are doing something.
And it's also billed as a big revenue raise enough for the government I think that's the motivation.
-- in the long run you could say that it reduces government revenues because it slows the economy.
But initially it would be -- gusher of money now would.
Was very attractive.
More than a hundred billion dollars a year.
But the Republicans in the house have already passed a resolution even before a bill has been introduced.
Saying that's a bad idea OK so are you writing it off.
It wouldn't welcome an all gonna get it anyway I is obvious thanks -- all right well I don't know I think it's gonna be raise the problem is not gonna do anything about the climate -- The theory of of global warming says that -- that greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
Capture infrared radiation going out to space and warm the surface of the planets.
But the theory breaks down because water -- is our largest greenhouse gas.
And natural factors cause about 99% of the greenhouse effect so man -- emissions only -- about one part -- 100.
If -- completely eliminate emissions were American affect global temperatures at all I you know I'm sorry I thought that the science we've -- I sold that we humans have been proven to be responsible for this climate change but I I digress one -- for you real fast.
It is my opinion and you tell me if I'm right or wrong.
That fracking widespread use of fracking to extract the natural gas that we've got under America.
Would do more to reduce carbon emissions than almost any other thing that we could do -- -- -- right.
Well and it we have seen a decline in US emissions over the last few years because utilities are now burning natural gas.
Rather than coal.
But but the real big issue is that this is that a tremendous boom for the US economy.
Natural gas production is up 25% in the last ten years and not all.
We're using fracking to remove tight oil from shale.
Oil crude oil production grew 14% last year it's not predict that the US will be the biggest crude oil producer by the year 20/20.
Bob -- of BP.
Says that the US will be energy self sufficient by the year 2030.
And people -- compared.
Fracking and energy to the fall of the Berlin Wall in global politics it's a huge.
-- its -- for the economy -- that assumes that we on going to go ahead with fracking on a much wider scale and we have already and the Obama administration.
That not -- not given the go ahead yet so -- -- prediction from.
Will we well ahead vigorously with fracking for the natural gas and oil will wait.
Well I think we will but you're right the environmental groups and the EPA are now taking an agreement -- It is not really an environmental problem the two issues are a leaking of gas so the vertical shaft and waste water.
But state regulations cover those very very well.
And more than 500000 wells have been -- -- in the last three decades.
And the the examples of water contamination can be counted on one hand with fingers remaining so it's not really -- big environmental issue.
Steve thanks for joining us we appreciate is striking is out on a couple of these issues it's good information explosion follow -- -- back anytime all right back to.
