2006-12-06
Could an Iraq Pullout Combat Global Warming?
Could a pull out of western troops from Iraq reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus combat global warming? It just might.
I'm not saying that this is necessarily a good idea, as the human costs would be very large. But if the US and other western powers were to pullout of Iraq and let the Middle East fall into a broader regional sectarian war, it would surely drive up the price of oil.
As oil gets more expensive two things happen that are both good from a global warming point of view. First the developed world cuts back on the amount they drive their automobiles, thus quickly and directly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Second somewhere around $4/gal USD (0.80 €/l) many alternative energy sources start to become cost competitive. At least this is the case in the US and given the global economy is probably true in most developed and developing countries.
And who's to say that the obsession with martyrdom by at least a portion of Arab culture might not serve humanity well if it can save the entire world from environmental devastation? Would a million or two war causalities be worth while if it saved tens or hundreds of millions of lives from natural disasters like storms, floods, drought and famine?
All that said, I still think the better solution would be to devote 5% of global GDP to space research, development, exploration and expansion. Perhaps by taxing carbon emissions. IMHO we should really be learning to terraform on Mars not Earth and the best long term solution for religious and social oppression is colonization of a fronter not forced democracy.
I'm not saying that this is necessarily a good idea, as the human costs would be very large. But if the US and other western powers were to pullout of Iraq and let the Middle East fall into a broader regional sectarian war, it would surely drive up the price of oil.
As oil gets more expensive two things happen that are both good from a global warming point of view. First the developed world cuts back on the amount they drive their automobiles, thus quickly and directly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Second somewhere around $4/gal USD (0.80 €/l) many alternative energy sources start to become cost competitive. At least this is the case in the US and given the global economy is probably true in most developed and developing countries.
And who's to say that the obsession with martyrdom by at least a portion of Arab culture might not serve humanity well if it can save the entire world from environmental devastation? Would a million or two war causalities be worth while if it saved tens or hundreds of millions of lives from natural disasters like storms, floods, drought and famine?
All that said, I still think the better solution would be to devote 5% of global GDP to space research, development, exploration and expansion. Perhaps by taxing carbon emissions. IMHO we should really be learning to terraform on Mars not Earth and the best long term solution for religious and social oppression is colonization of a fronter not forced democracy.
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