Spring Break
CSU prof. offers solution to climate problem
Natasha Pepperl
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: News
Scott Denning explained to almost 300 CSU and Fort Collins community members Thursday night that simple physics demonstrates global warming is undoubtedly occurring and said a new industrial revolution is a solution to the current climate problem.
Denning's speech -- which was the finale out of more than a dozen speeches throughout the two-day "What We Can Do About Climate Change" event -- focused on solving the current global challenges.
"It's up to all of us to figure out how to solve this," Denning said of the climate problem, which he attributed to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere created by burning fossil fuels.
Denning, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science, said he believes the solution to the climate change ultimately lies in a "new industrial revolution" and that the nation cannot continue on the path it's on.
He explained that a change comparable to the industrialization of America in the 19th century must take place in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Among his suggestions were increasing fuel efficiency, changing coal facilities to natural gas electric plants and an increased dependency on nuclear and wind electricity and solar power.
In particular, Denning said the action that will spur the revolution lies in the taxation of fossil fuels.
By making fossil fuel extremely costly, Denning believes capitalism would force companies to lower fossil fuel consumption and utilize alternative energy sources.
"If high carbon footprint goods and services cost more than greener ones, people will buy them," Denning said, explaining that the price of goods manufactured using fossil fuels would exceed the price of "green" products.
"Enormous fortunes are going to be made and lost," Denning said, noting that this is what occurred during the Industrial Revolution.
Students and Fort Collins community members, who are working to solve the local climate problem, agreed that Denning's proposals were feasible.
Denning's speech -- which was the finale out of more than a dozen speeches throughout the two-day "What We Can Do About Climate Change" event -- focused on solving the current global challenges.
"It's up to all of us to figure out how to solve this," Denning said of the climate problem, which he attributed to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere created by burning fossil fuels.
Denning, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science, said he believes the solution to the climate change ultimately lies in a "new industrial revolution" and that the nation cannot continue on the path it's on.
He explained that a change comparable to the industrialization of America in the 19th century must take place in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Among his suggestions were increasing fuel efficiency, changing coal facilities to natural gas electric plants and an increased dependency on nuclear and wind electricity and solar power.
In particular, Denning said the action that will spur the revolution lies in the taxation of fossil fuels.
By making fossil fuel extremely costly, Denning believes capitalism would force companies to lower fossil fuel consumption and utilize alternative energy sources.
"If high carbon footprint goods and services cost more than greener ones, people will buy them," Denning said, explaining that the price of goods manufactured using fossil fuels would exceed the price of "green" products.
"Enormous fortunes are going to be made and lost," Denning said, noting that this is what occurred during the Industrial Revolution.
Students and Fort Collins community members, who are working to solve the local climate problem, agreed that Denning's proposals were feasible.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Peace Love
posted 2/06/09 @ 9:16 PM MST
The myth of man made global warming caused by man's increase of CO2 emissions has now been debunked for over 2 years by over 800 scientific publications. (Continued…)
Truth Love
posted 2/09/09 @ 9:50 AM MST
800 scientific publications? That's a complete lie - there's not a single peer-reviewed article in existence that disproves global warming.
The scientific community is united: http://www. (Continued…)
Peace Love
posted 2/09/09 @ 1:55 PM MST
Truth Love,
Why are you citing non-scientific, non-peer reviewed, articles that are 5 years old; is it to impress us all with your ignorance.
Get thee to a library. (Continued…)
Gurt
Gurt
posted 8/09/09 @ 1:27 PM MST
enjoy!
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=84E9E44A-802A-23AD-493A-B35D0842FED8
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