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Consequences of the failure of the Hague Environment Conference.
The spectacular failure of the environment conference at the Hague was only to be expected. In fact the history of the world illustrates the sheer futility of dialogue to resolve any
meaningful dispute. It shows that over the course of thousands of years humans have developed a lamentable record whereby lasting change arrives only as a result of violent example.
No mercy.
This becomes all the more poignant when we realise that nature is a potent adversary. It is quite capable of dealing us a deadly blow from which we might never recover. The plain fact
is that if we abuse the planet for very much longer that day may not be too long in coming. A flesh and blood adversary may show us mercy - nature - if antagonised, will grant us none at all!
Below are two important considerations to emerge from the Hague Conference.
Economic ruin.
A prominent German insurance company has stated that disasters resulting from global climate changes will eventually contribute to the complete meltdown of the world economy. For
instance it may soon become difficult if not impossible to obtain insurance or funding for businesses or home loan purchases in vulnerable regions. The sweeping nature of recent disasters mean that wide areas of the
globe could quickly become insurance blackspots. Uncovered damage to businesses and homes would lead to catastrophic economic failure across the world! A situation with no winners but only losers!
Carbon Sinks - Why it could misfire.
Industrial countries want to trade carbon credits as a means of avoiding their responsibilities towards the environment. Part of this plan involves the planting of new forests to absorb
carbon dioxide - a prime cause of global warming! A good idea but unfortunately with significant pitfalls. The first is that some scientists estimate that carbon dioxide levels are so high that plants and trees are
becoming saturated to the extent where they are releasing carbon dioxide back into the environment. Since it takes some time for this saturation to occur the nightmare scenario is of a sudden release of carbon
dioxide - perhaps through major forest fires - resulting in truly dangerous levels of carbon dioxide escaping back into the atmosphere.
As they say: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
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