Tag Archive for 'Climate'

Insurers use Global Warming Alarmism to Raise Rates

rates are now among the long list of things that we can blame on .

Costs for homeowner along the East and Gulf coasts have risen 20% to 100% since 2004, says the Information Institute, a trade group. In the three years through 2006, says the institute, property and casualty insurers registered record profits, topping out at $65.8 billion in 2006. (Despite severe U.S. weather that has caused about $8.9 billion in insured property losses to date this year, it’s too early to forecast 2008 profits.)

Helping to drive these developments is a little-known tool of the world: Computerized catastrophe modeling. Crafted by several independent firms and used by most insurers, so-called cat models rely on complex data to estimate probable losses from hurricanes.

But regulators and other critics contend that the latest cat models — which include assumptions about various changes — are triggering higher rates.
From WSJ, July 1, 2008; Page A1



First ever GHG fees approved by Bay Area Regulators

BusinessWeek and others are reporting that the “First Ever” fees I wrote about earlier today have been approved by Bay Area regulators.

Air pollution regulators in the San Francisco Bay area have voted overwhelmingly to approve new rules that impose fees on businesses for emitting greenhouse gasses.

A spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District says the agency’s board of directors voted 15-1 on Wednesday to charge companies 4.4 cents per ton of they emit.

Experts say the fees, which cover nine counties in the Bay Area, are the first of their kind in the country.

This sets a very dangerous precedent. The regulation not only considers to be “pollution”, but it also calculates fees based on CDE ( equivalent) and on GWP ( Potential). Continue reading ‘First ever GHG fees approved by Bay Area Regulators’



Global Warming Fees Coming to California?

It looks like the are going to start soon…

San Francisco: The Bay Area Air Quality Management District will vote today on a proposal to impose a Greenhouse Gas Fee. The fee applies to () equivalent emissions at the rate of 4.4¢(USD) per metric ton and is expected to initially produce an additional $1.1 million for the District.[1]

It’s all part of a plan that “would increase revenue to enable the District to address increasing regulatory program activity costs, and continue to move toward more complete cost recovery”[1]

Chart of GWP CDE from BAAQMDThe BAAQMD’s website describes “Environmental Justice” (emphasis mine)

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is committed to environmental policymaking and enforcement practices that are fair and equitable to all residents regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, socioeconomic status, or geographic location in order to protect against the health effects of air pollution. [2]

The way the proposal is set up it could effect a lot more than and the other listed . Consider that water vapor is the most powerful . I’m not sure what the “ equivalent” or “ potential” of water vapor is but, imagine a “carbon tax” based on the steam from showers or cooking.

Interestingly the supporters of this measure seem to be concerned with the precedent it will set than with the actual impact it would have on the .

The modest fee — 4.4 cents per ton of — probably won’t be enough to force companies to reduce their emissions, but backers say it sets an important precedent in combating change and could serve as a model for regional air districts nationwide.

“It doesn’t solve , but it gets us thinking in the right terms,” said Daniel Kammen, a renewable expert at the of California, Berkeley. “It’s not enough of a cost to change behavior, but it tells us where things are headed. You have to think not just in financial terms, but in carbon terms.” [3]

  1. Final Staff Report and Draft Amendments to Regulation 3: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/ruledev/3/2008/0300_sr&dr_052008.pdf
  2. BAAQMD.goc - Environmental Justice: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pio/environmental_justice/index.htm
  3. Regulators in California to vote on global warming fees charged to businesses for emissions, International Herald Tribune, May 21, 2008: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/21/america/NA-GEN-US-Global-Warming-Fees.php



Research Causes Global Warming?

It sure seems like just about everything can be blamed on anthropogenic these days. From acne or the end of beer as we know it, to psychiatric illness and smaller brains, it all can and has been attributed to that evil . And of course it’s all our fault for improving our lives through the use of . More specifically it’s all or mostly America’s fault.

As crazy as the alleged effects are, the causes are getting pretty absurd as well. We all know that is the alleged culprit. We are also told that we have to make drastic changes to the way we live - even pay on the we are responsible for. But now we can add research to the seemingly endless list of human activities contributing to . According to Hervé Philippe, a Université de Montréal professor of biochemistry, his own research produces more than twice the amount of than the average American. (44 tons vs. 20 tons respectively).

I did my PhD on nucleotide sequencing in the hope of advancing our knowledge of biodiversity, but I never thought that the research itself could have a negative impact on biodiversity,
he said, during a recent biology department symposium.

The solution?

For universities, he recommends having less frequent international conferences, increasing the use of -conferences, avoiding research on well explored topics, reducing publications and evaluating the amount of produced by research projects

So there you have it: is official caused by hot air from the researchers themselves.

of Montreal (2008, May 7). Research Contributes To , Professor Discovers. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 8, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/05/080507155305.htm



Gore Compares Global Warming Skeptics to Flat Earth Believers

Gore PresentationOn South Park frantically tries to convince people that “Man-Bear-Pig” is real and out to get them - in real life the self appointed Global Savior peddles Man Made & Catastrophe. However, unlike South Park, folks in the “real world” believe him. On Gore’s appearance in the upcoming edition of 60 Minutes he says that being skeptical is the same as believing the earth is flat.

those people are in such a tiny, tiny minority now with their point of view, they’re almost like the ones who still believe that the moon landing was staged in a movie lot in Arizona and those who believe the world is flat,
…That demeans them a little bit, but it’s not that far off,”

I can only hope that one day when humanity regains a little common sense that Gore will be ridiculed and mocked for centuries.

[H/T: Flopping Aces]



NBC Jealous of CNNs Planet In Peril

peril-on-itunes.jpgAfter a week or so of ’s “Planet In Peril” being broadcast nearly every hour, sold on iTunes & Amazon - broadcasts by candlelight in order to go . Of course they did not turn anything else off…

’s halftime
Thank goodness for YouTube, because words alone cannot express the complete lunacy of ’s halftime show Sunday night during the / game. To conserve , the hosts broadcast the show using candlelight. It’s a good thing they conserved all that because the rest of the segment wasn’t quite so . Not only was there a giant plasma TV screen on behind the hosts, the giant plasma TV screen was being used to show the reporter — , who was on assignment (live) from the ARCTIC CIRCLE. But don’t worry, ladies and gentlemen, probably purchased some fancy carbon credits! Read the transcript. (Insiders listen here).

Perhaps both networks should read a little about Global Warming?



Absolute insanity!
Thanks !



Drive an SUV with Impunity

If you have ever noticed that environmental lunatics don’t rally think about anything your not alone. If you drive an SUV you have probably been the victim of some moron at least once screaming obscenities at you for destroying the by driving such a disgustingly large vehicle that consumes so much fuel.

Well we have a solution for you. All you have to do is place one of these stickers on your your huge SUV and all of the tree hugging myopic crazies will leave you alone for ever.EcoSticker