How to flummox a wingnut on climate

[kristopher]

You can't very well push for carbon capture and storage plants if you don't admit there is a problem. So while the coal industry might fight the admission in the arena of general public opinion, when it comes to pushing their useless technologies (CCS is rated as a very poor way to address climate change) they have no choice but to admit the obvious. They are, of course, spinning the need for CCS as stated by the IPCC. But they are very clear in acknowledging the IPCC as " the pre-eminent body on climate science".

I wouldn't expect this to cause climate deniers' heads to explode, but it might at least create a little ringing in their ears....

From the World Coal Association website

Coal & the Environment
Coal, like all other sources of energy, has a number of environmental impacts, from both coal mining and coal use.

Coal mining raises a number of environmental challenges, including soil erosion, dust, noise and water pollution, and impacts on local biodiversity. Steps are taken in modern coal mining operations to minimise these impacts.

Continuous improvements in technology have dramatically reduced or eliminated many of the environmental impacts traditionally associated with the use of coal in the vital electricity generation and steelmaking industries. Viable, highly effective technologies have been developed to tackle the release of pollutants - such as oxides of sulphur (SOx) and nitrogen (NOx) - and particulate and trace elements, such as mercury. More recently, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) have become a concern because of their link to climate change.

There is now growing recognition that technology developments have to be part of the solution to climate change. This is particularly true for coal because its use is growing in so many large economies, including the largest and fastest growing countries such as China and India.

http://www.worldcoal.org/coal-the-environment /

Carbon Capture & Storage
Carbon capture and geological storage (CCS) technology is the only currently available technology that allows very deep cuts to be made in CO2 emissions to atmosphere from fossil fuels at the scale needed.

Failure to widely deploy CCS will seriously hamper international efforts to address climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the pre-eminent body on climate science - has identified CCS as a critical technology to stabilise atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations in an economically efficient manner. The IPCC found that CCS could contribute up to 55% of the cumulative mitigation effort by 2100 while reducing the costs of stabilisation to society by 30% or more.

CCS will be needed across a number of sectors that need to tackle CO2 emissions, including fossil fuel power stations (coal, gas and oil), steel, aluminium, cement and chemicals.

http://www.worldcoal.org/carbon-capture-storage /

[villager]

1. generally, just using the word "flummox" should do it

;-)

[snagglepuss]

3. LOL. Flummox caught my eye as well. Flummox will flummox them everytime.

:rofl:

That said the OP makes a good point.

[mercuryblues]

2. I usually

just tell them that if they don't believe greenhouse gases are dangerous go to their garage, turn on their car and sit in it a few hours then we will talk about it.

Now, You know the gases are different and I know that, but you would be surprised how many deniers STFU and change the subject real quick....