Want to Stop Climate Change? Take the Fossil Fuel Industry to Court

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/article/179459/want-stop-climate-change-take-fossil-fuel-industry-court


Demonstrators gather during a protest against the Keystone XL Pipeline outside the White House on Sunday, November 6, 2011, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In November 2013, American climate scientist Richard Heede, of the Colorado-based Climate Accountability Institute, published a paper with a revolutionary thesis. After nine years of researching the energy industry in dozens of countries, he concluded that nearly two-thirds of the world’s carbon dioxide and methane emissions dating back to the dawn of the industrial era were the responsibility of just ninety companies. Heede called them the “carbon majors.”

Not surprisingly, the biggest players were publicly owned fossil fuel corporations like Exxon-Mobil and Chevron, along with state-held or nationalized energy monopolies in countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia. Just five investor-owned companies—BP, Chevron, Conoco-Phillips, ExxonMobil and Shell—produced enough fossil fuel to account for 12.5 percent of human-generated CO2 since 1854. Seven of the carbon majors are cement manufacturers, a particularly noxious, carbon-intensive industry. The eighty-three energy producers on Heede’s list extracted, refined and marketed the oil, gas and coal that have powered modern civilization. Along the way, they started the process that will ultimately cause our climate system to crash.

Heede’s paper, published in the journal Climatic Change, is arguably the most provocative piece of scientific research in the climate field in years. However, except for a dismissive reference in a New York Times blog and a small piece in the Los Angeles Times, the major American media outlets ignored it.

But the lawyers didn’t.

[Sherman A1]

1. Interesting

Although the fossil fuel industry has not only battalions of lawyers they have have lobbyists working with elected officials that might make this a bit difficult to accomplish, yet an interesting idea.

[nationalize the fed]

2. Did the author drive to work?

Cook meals with fossil fuels?

More divisive bullshite. Sure. Lets throw more good money after bad and sue everyone that's fed the public and their never ending thirst for more fossil fuels. If people would have demanded change years ago- like when the first Arab Oil crisis hit- there wouldn't be anything to write about. If the people didn't buy these fuels guess what- no one would sell them. It's the un/under educated public's fault.

Meanwhile, solutions exist RIGHT NOW. Why not channel energy that would go to enriching lawyers towards actually making change tomorrow?

Here's an existing solution from Honda:

Honda Introduces Solar Hydrogen Station on Saitama Prefectural Office Grounds (3/2012)

FCX Clarity Used in Electric Vehicle Testing Program to Serve as Mobile Electric Generator

TOKYO, Japan, March 27, 2012 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled a Solar Hydrogen Station on the grounds of the Saitama Prefectural Office...

... Since the FCX Clarity uses a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce power with zero CO2 emissions, with its new outlet, the vehicle will be able to serve as a zero-emission mobile electric generator....


(similar equipment from Honda CA facility)

...This is the first installation in Japan of a total system to produce, store and dispense hydrogen with ZERO CO2 emissions. A high pressure water electrolysis system, uniquely developed by Honda, produces hydrogen. With no mechanical compressor, the system is nearly silent and highly energy efficient. Using Solar and grid power, the system is capable of producing 1.5kg of hydrogen within 24 hours...
http://world.honda.com/news/2012/4120327Solar-Hydrogen-Station/index.html

Sit around and waste time and money suing and demonizing people. Or make real change. Which one to choose.

[Champion Jack]

3. Great news! Hit 'em the only way they understand ....in the wallet.