by J.R. Holmsted
On Saturday, 195 countries approved the Paris Agreement. Put simply, the deal seeks to limit the rise of temperatures and greenhouses gases, while putting wealthier nations on the financial hook to help developing countries with climate change challenges.
What does that even mean? Well, coal and oil are the bad guys that produce most of the greenhouse gases. What do developing countries rely heavily upon? Those darn bad guys.
So what do we do? As good stewards of this planet, we (the rich countries) have been taxing the hell out of our citizens to switch to renewable energy sources. Ya know, like wind and solar. Which is great and all, but pricey.
So while the agreement doesn't say everything the developed nations' money would be used for, one could hazard a guess that renewable energy sources will take a chunk of it. Because hey, the kids may not always have clean water or go to school past the 5th grade, but dadgummit they WILL have electric car charging stations to lean on.
The French Foreign Minister wept at what he described a "historical turning point" while protesters rallied beneath the Eiffel Tower, denouncing the deal as too weak. Leaders across the globe applauded and Democrats patted themselves on the back for supporting such compassionate measures from their cozy, fossil fuel dependent mansions.
Meanwhile, people grounded in reality might be reacting a little differently, reminding me of an old episode of The Flipside with Michael Loftus:
Right on, Michael, right on.
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