Good point. But how will we ever justify the need for carbon credits, no more coal, etc. if the world can recover? More importantly, why should we continue to complain about climate change or blaming Bush for the ice caps melting? And don't get me started on how Faux News and the Murdochian plot is set to destroy the environment here in Tulsa.
Because the time frame of that recovery is likely outside of the scope of our survival on this planet. It takes a long time to bind up free carbon into organic matter, then place it in long term storage - what took tens or hundreds of millions of years to store has seen massive release in just 200 years. At the same time we are losing the single most effective carbon binding mechanism on the planet...the Amazon rain forest.
We know for a fact that humans of several varieties have been subject to extinction events on more than one occasion. Homo Sapiens is the one that made it through the 'mine field' to where we are today. Well, plus a little Neanderthal DNA that hitched a ride....can you imagine the social trauma and drama when the first mixed species couple showed up for the holidays...!!?? Our society has issues with mixed races, let alone species. (I don't suppose you have a heavy brow ridge, with sloping forehead...??) But I digress.... How many were related to climate issues beyond our control.?? This one is not beyond our control...well, mostly it probably is now, but it was not to begin with!!
Was listening to Herman Cain the other morning - Wednesday - and he was going on with his normal batch-o-carp, when he said something about how climate change was not "settled science" - his first lie, it is. Then went on to say that over half of the scientists disagree with the science - his second lie, they don't. There are only about 3 who still put up the lies and they are all working at big oil companies. Why would a good, upstanding, upright, honest, Christian man like he so earnestly claims to be....lie??
So, why not remove ANY doubt whatsoever from the discussion and make good on the promise of fusion energy? Problems ALL solved for at least our expected tenure on the planet. No more questions or doubt or complaints possible. We eliminate the need for carbon credits and coal and all that jazz. Well, except for that one nagging little problem that trumps all others. You drifted all around the main issue without touching on it...without the contention/confrontation/discussion of oil versus natural gas versus biofuels, etc, there is no opportunity for movement of money. And when there IS movement of money, there is opportunity to let a little bit (how about 10%??) "stick" to all the hands it passes through. So when there is NO movement of money, there is no opportunity to let a little bit 'stick'.... Nor opportunities for accumulation of power.