DIRTY ENERGY PROP IS MORE DENIAL

Prop. 23: strongest effort yet at climate change denial
Thomas Elias, September 1, 2010 (Long Beach Press-Telegram)

"The Texas oil companies behind Proposition 23 don't call it an attempt to deny the existence of worldwide climate change…[But putting] AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, in abeyance until unemployment levels drop to 5.5 percent or lower for a full year, amounts to getting rid of the world's strongest effort to do something about climate change.

"…[At] Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park…you will see not a single one of the many glaciers that gave the overlook its name…[In] the Scottish highlands…some botanical gardens now feature…tropical plants normally associated with places like Hawaii, Costa Rica and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico…[In the last 15 years, Greenland has become] much greener and far less icy…[and California hydrologists] forecast a future of steadily reduced flow in many California waterways…"

Multiple valid studies vs. 1 discredited study (click to enlarge)

"…[Deniers] say no one has proven all this has anything to do with modern civilization and its production of greenhouse gases...[E]ven if there were really no proof - and the vast majority of the world's leading climate scientists has repeatedly said [it is]… - doing what we can to avoid making things worse would still be the responsible thing to do…That's the aim of AB32, which mandates rolling back California's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels within the next 10 years…Proposition 23 would stop that…

"…[O]pponents of AB32…[say it] is a "job killer"…[but] present no evidence..[except a study] whose methodology and ethics have been roundly discredited…[A] report by the state legislative analyst warns of higher energy costs and resulting job losses...[but] did not even look at potential benefits of using renewable energy sources or the jobs created by the fight against global warming…"

Multiple valid studies vs. 1 discredited study (click to enlarge)

"…[Texas-based oil refiners] Valero and Tesoro (which sells its gasoline in California under the Shell and USA brands)…put Proposition 23 on the ballot and [fuel it]…[It is more] oil company resistance to clean air measures of all types. Refiners and automakers have fought every anti-smog law California ever passed.

"…[T]he California Business Alliance for a Green Economy…noted that in May of this year…its member companies had active online postings for 7,500 new job offerings…[and said] California leads the nation in hiring for ‘green’ jobs, a phenomenon that could end abruptly if Proposition 23 passes…[With the defeat of Proposition 23] California will once again assert itself as the world leader in the search for both clean air and renewable energy."