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Climate Protection Jeopardized By Financial Crisis & Recession

Posted by: Irvin Dawid

20 October 2008 - 5:00am

The worldwide credit crisis will affect the ability of the developed world to tackle climate change. Businesses in Europe and U.S. are asking for delays in meeting emission reductions mandates notwithstanding the drop in oil prices.

"The global financial crisis is threatening efforts in the U.S. and Europe to fight climate change.

In Europe, industries and some national governments are pushing back against the European Union's goal of cutting greenhouse-gas emissions 20% by 2020, arguing that the midst of an economic crisis isn't the time for costly new taxes on fossil-fuel consumption."

"Europe's auto makers are seeking to delay by three years the continent's planned introduction of mandatory carbon-dioxide emissions controls on new cars."

"In times of economic downturns, members [of Congress] are extremely reluctant to add burdens to the economy, and we're going to confront that problem," says Rep. John Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee."

Full Story: Climate Effort Could Be Stalled by Credit Crisis
Source: Wall Street Journal, October 16, 2008
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Short of erasing existing political and jurisdictional boundaries, citizens and officials need to develop the capacity to work across boundaries according to the "problem-sheds" of the land and water issues we face in the 21st century.
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