The world will have to survive without fossil fuels — sooner, rather than…
Mr. CO2
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
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He has expanded through the very air we breathe. He's galvanized activists around the globe to fight him, and stymied the world's political leaders. Meet Mr. CO2: carbon dioxide, the primary cause of climate change.
This documentary may use whimsical animation to personify carbon dioxide emissions, but its message is dead-serious: if we fail to cut the rate of CO2 spewing into the atmosphere, we face a bleak future.
MR. CO2 opens in Copenhagen, where the world's political leaders gather in December 2009 to try and hammer out a new carbon treaty to replace the Kyoto Accord. Joining them are activists and climate scientists, on-hand to press for action. They include Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chair of the International Panel on Climate Change, and Bill McKibben, founder of a movement aimed at lowering atmospheric carbon, who says at the conference, 'we are past the red line, the real debate is between human beings on the one hand, and physics and chemistry on the other.'
Traveling from the Copenhagen negotiations to China, Australia, and the United States, MR. CO2 explores the scope of the challenge. In China we meet Ren Runhu, director of the Lu'An Mine, which producers 55 million metric tones of coal a year. Even though 5,000 miners die in China's coal mines yearly, the industry is flourishing. In his gleaming office-a far cry from the working conditions of the black-faced miners-he explains that coal is just too important to Chinese industry. As Ma Jun, founder of China's Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, points out, if you need more energy, a new coal plant is the cheapest and simpleest short-term solution.
Meanwhile, the world's richest people-North Americans and Europeans-continue to be responsible for staggeringly high per capita emissions.
While the developing world-which faces the most devastation from climate change-presses for a deal, China and the United States thwart efforts that might impinge on their sovereignty. And little wonder: the U.S.'s rise to global economic dominance was built through burning fossil fuels, and China hopes to raise 150 million people out of poverty the same way. Neither has much short-term interest in limiting emissions-and neither do countries like Australia, which export huge amounts of coal to fuel China's energy-hungry industries and power plants.
Featuring climate scientists, activists, coal producers and high-stakes negotiators, MR. CO2 makes clear that there will be no easy answers when it comes to solving the climate crisis. Clean coal is more propaganda than reality, and carbon sequestration and storage carry their own environmental risks.
It seems that-in the short-term at least-Mr. CO2 will continue to have a bright future indeed.
Also available: POST-CARBON FUTURES , a companion documentary to MR. CO2 that looks at alternatives to fossil fuels.
'Mr. CO2 offers a documentary overview of efforts to limit carbon dioxide emissions associated with the 2009 Copenhagen meeting which tried to develop an international carbon treaty to replace the earlier Kyoto Accord. ...it can help to clarify the complex political problems associated with reducing dangerous carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels.' -Science Books and Films
Citation
Main credits
Billy, Yves (screenwriter)
Billy, Yves (film director)
Other credits
Editor, Cécile Coolen; music, Jérôme Coullet, Jeff Magidson, René Aubry.
Distributor subjects
Air Pollution; Atmosphere; Climate; Climate Change; Energy; Environment; Environmental Film Festivals; International Relations; Mining; PoliticsKeywords
WEBVTT
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He\'s invisible-- invisible
but quantifiable.
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Over the past 20
years, carbon dioxide--
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Mr. CO2-- has become
and is set to remain
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a cumbersome
character in a drama
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with a worldwide array of roles.
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A drama shrouded in smoke
which is choking us.
00:01:01.160 --> 00:01:09.470 align:middle line:90%
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December 2009, a few
days before the end
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of the 15th conference
on climate change,
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the atmosphere is as overheated
as the object of discussion.
00:01:17.992 --> 00:01:20.710 align:middle line:90%
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10 years after the Battle of
Seattle at the World Trade
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Organization summit, the
Copenhagen Climate Conference
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marks a new wave of protest.
00:01:28.520 --> 00:01:32.137 align:middle line:90%
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There are over 600 arrests
among the 50,000 street
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demonstrators, a
few hundred of which
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force entry to the
conference, adding chaos
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to the existing confusion.
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Opposite them, the
vast [INAUDIBLE]
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Center Conference Hall
resembles a reinforced camp.
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Yes!
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Fair, ambitious, and binding
deal, that\'s what we need here.
00:02:06.130 --> 00:02:09.460 align:middle line:90%
Make a decision.
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20,000 accreditations
have been granted
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to the recently increasing
number of NGO delegations,
00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:16.712 align:middle line:84%
although most of
them end up being
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removed from the premises.
00:02:17.795 --> 00:02:24.598 align:middle line:90%
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Fair, ambitious binding
deal is the green gate,
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make your choice today please.
00:02:32.038 --> 00:02:36.450 align:middle line:84%
With Copenhagen as a backdrop,
social criticism and ecologist
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issues become one.
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(SINGING) Trees chainsawed,
no strings attached.
00:02:42.260 --> 00:02:45.710 align:middle line:84%
The Copenhagen summit is
of unparalleled scope.
00:02:45.710 --> 00:02:48.920 align:middle line:84%
In late 2009, the
issue of global warming
00:02:48.920 --> 00:02:51.020 align:middle line:84%
appears to have convened
the entire planet\'s
00:02:51.020 --> 00:02:53.390 align:middle line:84%
pertinent scientists,
economic pressure
00:02:53.390 --> 00:02:54.690 align:middle line:90%
groups, and politicians.
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Hundreds of negotiators from
190 countries, the full ranks
00:03:04.310 --> 00:03:08.120 align:middle line:84%
of United Nations staff,
environment ministers,
00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:11.600 align:middle line:84%
foreign affairs ministers,
and political top brass
00:03:11.600 --> 00:03:14.260 align:middle line:84%
stride down the interminable
corridors from meeting
00:03:14.260 --> 00:03:14.760 align:middle line:90%
to meeting.
00:03:14.760 --> 00:03:18.620 align:middle line:90%
00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:21.950 align:middle line:84%
Some 5,000 journalists
are covering the event
00:03:21.950 --> 00:03:24.080 align:middle line:84%
in which stars that
have recently converged
00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:27.677 align:middle line:90%
to ecology steal the limelight.
00:03:27.677 --> 00:03:31.669 align:middle line:84%
We need everyone to be together,
everyone working together.
00:03:31.669 --> 00:03:38.670 align:middle line:90%
00:03:38.670 --> 00:03:41.220 align:middle line:84%
But the real star of
the show is this chap.
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00:03:44.200 --> 00:03:45.445 align:middle line:90%
He hovers over the debates.
00:03:45.445 --> 00:03:48.060 align:middle line:90%
00:03:48.060 --> 00:03:51.100 align:middle line:84%
The climate skeptic spin
and political pussyfooting
00:03:51.100 --> 00:03:52.710 align:middle line:90%
are of great reassurance to him.
00:03:52.710 --> 00:03:56.330 align:middle line:90%
00:03:56.330 --> 00:03:58.990 align:middle line:84%
He can listen to the
scientists\' warnings
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feeling calm and collected.
00:04:02.750 --> 00:04:05.930 align:middle line:84%
Most of what has happened
in the last 50 years or so
00:04:05.930 --> 00:04:08.330 align:middle line:90%
is the result of human actions.
00:04:08.330 --> 00:04:12.020 align:middle line:84%
And on this basis, we\'ve also
made projections of the future.
00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:16.160 align:middle line:84%
We have mentioned, for instance,
that even with the two degree
00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:19.490 align:middle line:84%
rise in temperature we
will have some impacts that
00:04:19.490 --> 00:04:21.120 align:middle line:90%
will be very serious.
00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:24.560 align:middle line:84%
So the world is currently
talking about this two degree
00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:28.400 align:middle line:84%
limit or target, but
it\'s not as though that\'s
00:04:28.400 --> 00:04:32.060 align:middle line:84%
going to provide comfort to
every community in the world.
00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:36.850 align:middle line:84%
There are some communities that
would be very badly affected.
00:04:36.850 --> 00:04:39.230 align:middle line:84%
The still ongoing
aim the conference
00:04:39.230 --> 00:04:42.710 align:middle line:84%
is to ensure that global warming
does not increase by these two
00:04:42.710 --> 00:04:46.750 align:middle line:90%
degrees by the year 2050.
00:04:46.750 --> 00:04:48.790 align:middle line:84%
These additional two
degrees correspond
00:04:48.790 --> 00:04:55.020 align:middle line:84%
to an atmospheric concentration
of carbon dioxide of 450 PPM.
00:04:55.020 --> 00:04:58.240 align:middle line:84%
PPM, or parts per
million, is the unit
00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:00.850 align:middle line:84%
of measurement for carbon
dioxide concentration
00:05:00.850 --> 00:05:02.920 align:middle line:90%
levels in the air.
00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:07.570 align:middle line:84%
Degrees of heat and parts
per million rise together.
00:05:07.570 --> 00:05:10.860 align:middle line:84%
So this 450 parts per
million target, in particular
00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:15.130 align:middle line:90%
the aspiration to reach--
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to limit global
warming to two degrees
00:05:18.630 --> 00:05:23.600 align:middle line:84%
that was talked
about in Copenhagen--
00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:24.830 align:middle line:90%
is aspirational.
00:05:24.830 --> 00:05:27.280 align:middle line:84%
And when you ask
yourself how fast
00:05:27.280 --> 00:05:31.240 align:middle line:84%
you have to run to achieve a
450 parts per million target,
00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:36.130 align:middle line:84%
for example, it turns
out to be heroic.
00:05:36.130 --> 00:05:40.740 align:middle line:84%
And we-- we\'ve achieved
nothing like that.
00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:43.050 align:middle line:84%
And achieving two
degrees warming
00:05:43.050 --> 00:05:45.180 align:middle line:84%
requires something
better than what
00:05:45.180 --> 00:05:48.940 align:middle line:90%
was put down in Copenhagen.
00:05:48.940 --> 00:05:52.960 align:middle line:90%
Mr. CO2, your papers please.
00:05:52.960 --> 00:05:54.970 align:middle line:90%
Name, Mr. CO2.
00:05:54.970 --> 00:05:58.900 align:middle line:90%
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Also known as carbon
dioxide, or CO2 for short.
00:06:06.330 --> 00:06:13.180 align:middle line:90%
00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:20.540 align:middle line:84%
Current atmospheric
concentration of CO2, 390 PPM.
00:06:20.540 --> 00:06:23.510 align:middle line:90%
Growth rate, three PPM per year.
00:06:23.510 --> 00:06:28.620 align:middle line:90%
00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:33.110 align:middle line:84%
CO2 concentration by
2050 at this rate,
00:06:33.110 --> 00:06:38.685 align:middle line:90%
520 PPM, a rise of 3.5 degrees.
00:06:38.685 --> 00:06:43.110 align:middle line:90%
00:06:43.110 --> 00:06:43.760 align:middle line:90%
Signature.
00:06:43.760 --> 00:06:50.910 align:middle line:90%
00:06:50.910 --> 00:06:53.310 align:middle line:84%
But it is at the climate
forum in the city center
00:06:53.310 --> 00:06:57.270 align:middle line:84%
that associations and citizens
gather once again in parallel
00:06:57.270 --> 00:06:59.610 align:middle line:84%
to the negotiations
between states
00:06:59.610 --> 00:07:02.790 align:middle line:84%
to discuss the crux of
the issue with demands
00:07:02.790 --> 00:07:06.390 align:middle line:90%
that are closer to reality.
00:07:06.390 --> 00:07:10.110 align:middle line:84%
And it is in this context
that the NGO 350.org
00:07:10.110 --> 00:07:13.150 align:middle line:84%
highlights the relentless
increase in degrees in PPMs.
00:07:13.150 --> 00:07:17.130 align:middle line:90%
00:07:17.130 --> 00:07:19.560 align:middle line:84%
Global warming
started in the 1980s
00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:23.400 align:middle line:84%
when it crossed the
350 PPM threshold.
00:07:23.400 --> 00:07:25.860 align:middle line:84%
Since then,
consumption has risen,
00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:29.100 align:middle line:84%
production has increased,
there are fewer forests,
00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:30.240 align:middle line:90%
and the figure is climbing.
00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:47.630 align:middle line:90%
00:07:47.630 --> 00:07:49.320 align:middle line:84%
No deal is better
than a bad deal.
00:07:49.320 --> 00:07:52.770 align:middle line:90%
00:07:52.770 --> 00:07:57.540 align:middle line:84%
The target figure, a lost
dream, recurs like a leitmotif.
00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:01.620 align:middle line:84%
People pray at the 350 high mass
with enough personal conviction
00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:04.920 align:middle line:90%
to move mountains.
00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:08.910 align:middle line:84%
And founder of the 350 movement,
Bill McKibben, sets the stage.
00:08:08.910 --> 00:08:13.110 align:middle line:90%
00:08:13.110 --> 00:08:15.250 align:middle line:84%
We\'re dealing with
a present crisis.
00:08:15.250 --> 00:08:20.130 align:middle line:84%
We\'re past the red line, but
the real debate that\'s under way
00:08:20.130 --> 00:08:23.430 align:middle line:84%
is between human beings on
the one hand and physics
00:08:23.430 --> 00:08:26.220 align:middle line:90%
and chemistry on the other.
00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:29.730 align:middle line:84%
That\'s who the
adversary is, and that\'s
00:08:29.730 --> 00:08:34.500 align:middle line:84%
a tough negotiation because
physics and chemistry don\'t
00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:35.850 align:middle line:90%
negotiate.
00:08:35.850 --> 00:08:38.130 align:middle line:84%
They tell you what their
bottom line is right out.
00:08:38.130 --> 00:08:39.990 align:middle line:84%
We know now what
their bottom line
00:08:39.990 --> 00:08:42.150 align:middle line:90%
is, their bottom line is 350.
00:08:42.150 --> 00:08:44.370 align:middle line:84%
When people would say, well,
this is too complicated,
00:08:44.370 --> 00:08:46.700 align:middle line:84%
no one can understand
this kind of science.
00:08:46.700 --> 00:08:48.810 align:middle line:84%
I said, no, it\'s
really not hard at all.
00:08:48.810 --> 00:08:52.530 align:middle line:90%
Think about your own body.
00:08:52.530 --> 00:08:54.690 align:middle line:84%
If you go to the doctor
and the doctor says
00:08:54.690 --> 00:08:58.170 align:middle line:84%
your cholesterol
level is too high--
00:08:58.170 --> 00:09:02.790 align:middle line:84%
it\'s supposed to be
200, and yours is 300--
00:09:02.790 --> 00:09:04.620 align:middle line:90%
you say, OK, I understand that.
00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:07.360 align:middle line:84%
Now is the time I
better change my diet,
00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:10.800 align:middle line:84%
and start taking my
pill, and whatever it is.
00:09:10.800 --> 00:09:13.890 align:middle line:84%
That\'s what we try to
get across all the time.
00:09:13.890 --> 00:09:18.390 align:middle line:84%
We now know the most
important thing about carbon
00:09:18.390 --> 00:09:21.210 align:middle line:84%
in the atmosphere,
how much is too much.
00:09:21.210 --> 00:09:22.860 align:middle line:90%
Where the red line is.
00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:27.043 align:middle line:84%
It\'s no longer hard to figure
out, it\'s all too clear.
00:09:27.043 --> 00:09:31.480 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE]
00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.390 align:middle line:84%
It is the target of
350 parts per million
00:09:34.390 --> 00:09:37.090 align:middle line:84%
that we need to
realistically assure
00:09:37.090 --> 00:09:39.070 align:middle line:90%
only two degrees of warming.
00:09:39.070 --> 00:09:41.510 align:middle line:84%
And that analysis is
pretty strong now,
00:09:41.510 --> 00:09:43.480 align:middle line:90%
it\'s fairly widely agreed.
00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:45.580 align:middle line:84%
So 450 parts per
million may not be
00:09:45.580 --> 00:09:47.710 align:middle line:84%
sufficient to limit to
two degrees warming--
00:09:47.710 --> 00:09:52.570 align:middle line:90%
Three, five, oh.
00:09:52.570 --> 00:09:56.944 align:middle line:90%
Three, five, oh.
00:09:56.944 --> 00:09:57.920 align:middle line:90%
Three--
00:09:57.920 --> 00:10:00.380 align:middle line:84%
The European Union
has the best role
00:10:00.380 --> 00:10:05.330 align:middle line:84%
and has set a 20% or even 30%
reduction in emissions for 2020
00:10:05.330 --> 00:10:08.870 align:middle line:90%
in relation to 1990.
00:10:08.870 --> 00:10:12.110 align:middle line:84%
They are eager to give lessons
with their climate and energy
00:10:12.110 --> 00:10:17.540 align:middle line:84%
package agreed in 2008, and
their albeit regular observance
00:10:17.540 --> 00:10:19.040 align:middle line:90%
of their Kyoto commitments.
00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:22.480 align:middle line:90%
00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:54.740 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:58.520 align:middle line:84%
For Mr. CO2, recognizing his
main suppliers and protectors
00:10:58.520 --> 00:10:59.600 align:middle line:90%
is not rocket science.
00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:02.380 align:middle line:90%
00:11:02.380 --> 00:11:05.500 align:middle line:84%
Two countries between
them, the US and China,
00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:10.400 align:middle line:84%
emit more than 40% of the
planet\'s greenhouse gases.
00:11:10.400 --> 00:11:12.790 align:middle line:84%
These two leading
world economic powers
00:11:12.790 --> 00:11:14.320 align:middle line:84%
have become the
duo to be reckoned
00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:17.590 align:middle line:84%
with at every international
summit with their leaders
00:11:17.590 --> 00:11:19.510 align:middle line:84%
observing and
confronting one another.
00:11:19.510 --> 00:11:25.610 align:middle line:90%
00:11:25.610 --> 00:11:28.550 align:middle line:84%
On the penultimate day of
the Copenhagen conference,
00:11:28.550 --> 00:11:31.416 align:middle line:84%
the heads of state arrived to
try and reach an agreement.
00:11:31.416 --> 00:11:36.550 align:middle line:90%
00:11:36.550 --> 00:11:39.430 align:middle line:84%
Until then, China had
been exempt from observing
00:11:39.430 --> 00:11:41.620 align:middle line:84%
any particular limits,
as it was considered
00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:44.890 align:middle line:90%
to be a developing country.
00:11:44.890 --> 00:11:47.770 align:middle line:84%
But since Kyoto in
1998 the country
00:11:47.770 --> 00:11:51.840 align:middle line:84%
has moved into the
heavyweight category.
00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:55.485 align:middle line:84%
Chinese prime minister Wen
Jiabao arrives in good company.
00:11:55.485 --> 00:11:59.280 align:middle line:90%
00:11:59.280 --> 00:12:02.310 align:middle line:84%
The 6 billion tons of
CO2 that China is now
00:12:02.310 --> 00:12:04.860 align:middle line:84%
emitting every year
have placed his country
00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:07.170 align:middle line:84%
at the head of the world
emissions league table.
00:12:07.170 --> 00:12:22.770 align:middle line:90%
00:12:22.770 --> 00:12:25.170 align:middle line:84%
As for the US,
they\'d always refused
00:12:25.170 --> 00:12:28.380 align:middle line:84%
to ratify restricting agreements
such as the Kyoto Protocol.
00:12:28.380 --> 00:12:31.020 align:middle line:90%
00:12:31.020 --> 00:12:33.480 align:middle line:84%
The Bush administration
even pushed the issue
00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.780 align:middle line:90%
to the top of their agenda.
00:12:34.780 --> 00:12:41.580 align:middle line:90%
00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:43.940 align:middle line:84%
The 5 and 1/2
billion tons the US
00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:46.935 align:middle line:84%
emits every year arrive along
with new President Barack
00:12:46.935 --> 00:12:47.435 align:middle line:90%
Obama.
00:12:47.435 --> 00:12:53.790 align:middle line:90%
00:12:53.790 --> 00:12:55.630 align:middle line:84%
He is admittedly
more well-intentioned
00:12:55.630 --> 00:12:59.350 align:middle line:84%
than his predecessor, but bound
by Congress and the Senate
00:12:59.350 --> 00:13:01.257 align:middle line:90%
he arrives empty-handed.
00:13:01.257 --> 00:13:08.712 align:middle line:90%
00:13:08.712 --> 00:13:14.060 align:middle line:84%
If Barack Obama arrived and said
I\'ve listened to the scientists
00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:17.690 align:middle line:84%
that we paid good money
to go out and research
00:13:17.690 --> 00:13:21.350 align:middle line:84%
these questions, we\'re not
going to cut our emissions 4%
00:13:21.350 --> 00:13:25.430 align:middle line:84%
by 2020, we\'re going to cut
them 40% which science demands.
00:13:25.430 --> 00:13:28.420 align:middle line:90%
00:13:28.420 --> 00:13:30.280 align:middle line:84%
If Barack Obama said
that, then the world
00:13:30.280 --> 00:13:31.780 align:middle line:84%
would have half a
fighting chance.
00:13:31.780 --> 00:13:35.900 align:middle line:90%
00:13:35.900 --> 00:13:38.690 align:middle line:84%
Figures are put
forward, but each party
00:13:38.690 --> 00:13:40.250 align:middle line:84%
has their own
reasons for doubting
00:13:40.250 --> 00:13:42.500 align:middle line:90%
the good faith of the other.
00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:45.080 align:middle line:84%
And the US versus
China confrontation
00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:49.880 align:middle line:84%
continues with their respective
sovereignties at stake.
00:13:49.880 --> 00:13:53.750 align:middle line:84%
We must have a mechanism to
review whether we are keeping
00:13:53.750 --> 00:13:56.660 align:middle line:84%
our commitments and
exchange this information
00:13:56.660 --> 00:13:59.500 align:middle line:90%
in a transparent manner.
00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:01.950 align:middle line:84%
These measures need
not be intrusive
00:14:01.950 --> 00:14:05.390 align:middle line:90%
or infringe upon sovereignty.
00:14:05.390 --> 00:14:09.650 align:middle line:84%
They must, however, ensure
that an accord is credible
00:14:09.650 --> 00:14:13.220 align:middle line:84%
and that we\'re living up
to our mutual obligations.
00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:16.310 align:middle line:84%
Without such accountability,
any agreement
00:14:16.310 --> 00:14:20.350 align:middle line:90%
would be empty words on a page.
00:14:20.350 --> 00:14:22.510 align:middle line:84%
There are those
developing countries
00:14:22.510 --> 00:14:27.070 align:middle line:84%
that want aid with
no strings attached
00:14:27.070 --> 00:14:32.210 align:middle line:84%
and no obligations with
respect to transparency.
00:14:32.210 --> 00:14:34.580 align:middle line:84%
They think that the
most advanced nations
00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:36.140 align:middle line:90%
should pay a higher price.
00:14:36.140 --> 00:14:37.010 align:middle line:90%
I understand that.
00:14:37.010 --> 00:14:46.740 align:middle line:90%
00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:48.530 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:14:48.530 --> 00:15:29.780 align:middle line:90%
00:15:29.780 --> 00:15:33.050 align:middle line:84%
The Chinese accused the US of
making insufficient efforts
00:15:33.050 --> 00:15:36.290 align:middle line:84%
to reduce CO2
emissions, and the US,
00:15:36.290 --> 00:15:39.680 align:middle line:84%
concerned by China\'s
unfair competition,
00:15:39.680 --> 00:15:43.285 align:middle line:84%
wants a guarantee that Beijing
will honor its commitments.
00:15:43.285 --> 00:15:46.260 align:middle line:90%
00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:48.690 align:middle line:84%
Their conflict ends up
in an objective alliance
00:15:48.690 --> 00:15:50.910 align:middle line:84%
to torpedo the
Copenhagen summit.
00:15:50.910 --> 00:15:53.810 align:middle line:90%
00:15:53.810 --> 00:15:55.700 align:middle line:84%
The two most
important countries,
00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:58.100 align:middle line:84%
China and the United
States, desperately
00:15:58.100 --> 00:16:00.500 align:middle line:90%
want more economic growth.
00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:03.170 align:middle line:84%
And up to this point, most
of their economic growth
00:16:03.170 --> 00:16:05.870 align:middle line:84%
has come as a result of
burning ever increasing
00:16:05.870 --> 00:16:09.020 align:middle line:90%
amounts of oil, gas, and coal.
00:16:09.020 --> 00:16:11.330 align:middle line:84%
It\'s going to be very
difficult for those countries
00:16:11.330 --> 00:16:15.140 align:middle line:84%
to continue increasing the
scale of their economies
00:16:15.140 --> 00:16:20.300 align:middle line:84%
while using less in the
way of fossil fuels,
00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:22.565 align:middle line:84%
so this puts political
leaders in a bind.
00:16:22.565 --> 00:16:28.640 align:middle line:90%
00:16:28.640 --> 00:16:32.500 align:middle line:84%
Meanwhile, until the issue is
resolved the ravages of time
00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:35.980 align:middle line:84%
are set to work and
Mr. CO2 is getting
00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:38.770 align:middle line:84%
fat and the increasingly
prolific emissions.
00:16:38.770 --> 00:16:44.930 align:middle line:90%
00:16:44.930 --> 00:16:48.530 align:middle line:84%
This energy is contributing
more than any other time
00:16:48.530 --> 00:16:50.630 align:middle line:90%
to global warming.
00:16:50.630 --> 00:16:54.470 align:middle line:84%
When burnt, coal emits more
than its own weight of CO2
00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:55.920 align:middle line:90%
into the atmosphere.
00:16:55.920 --> 00:16:59.680 align:middle line:90%
00:16:59.680 --> 00:17:01.420 align:middle line:84%
There doesn\'t appear
to be any sign
00:17:01.420 --> 00:17:04.780 align:middle line:84%
of a let up in China\'s fossil
fuel consumption requirements.
00:17:04.780 --> 00:17:09.140 align:middle line:90%
00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:12.740 align:middle line:84%
In 2010, the country
devoured almost half
00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:14.859 align:middle line:90%
of all the coal burnt worldwide.
00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:18.450 align:middle line:90%
00:17:18.450 --> 00:17:21.540 align:middle line:84%
Coal today accounts
for close to 65%
00:17:21.540 --> 00:17:23.314 align:middle line:90%
of China\'s total energy supply.
00:17:23.314 --> 00:17:26.230 align:middle line:90%
00:17:26.230 --> 00:17:29.290 align:middle line:84%
It is a cheap and accessible
energy source even
00:17:29.290 --> 00:17:33.100 align:middle line:90%
in the remotest rural areas.
00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:35.260 align:middle line:84%
What\'s more, the
task of operating
00:17:35.260 --> 00:17:37.210 align:middle line:84%
the smooth running
national policy
00:17:37.210 --> 00:17:40.510 align:middle line:84%
is complicated by the fact
that coal exploitation
00:17:40.510 --> 00:17:43.390 align:middle line:84%
comes under the authority
of local regulatory bodies.
00:17:43.390 --> 00:17:50.710 align:middle line:90%
00:17:50.710 --> 00:17:52.210 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:17:52.210 --> 00:18:30.810 align:middle line:90%
00:18:30.810 --> 00:18:33.060 align:middle line:84%
Coal is also a
source of all kinds
00:18:33.060 --> 00:18:36.220 align:middle line:90%
of local airborne pollutants.
00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:40.980 align:middle line:84%
So the burning of the coal
and the most immediate impact
00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:44.130 align:middle line:90%
is on our own people, on the--
00:18:44.130 --> 00:18:45.760 align:middle line:90%
it\'s damaging the air quality.
00:18:45.760 --> 00:18:49.030 align:middle line:84%
It\'s discharged so
much pollutants.
00:18:49.030 --> 00:18:51.900 align:middle line:84%
So why we continue building
all these coal power plants
00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:54.960 align:middle line:84%
at such speed despite
the fact that there
00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:57.180 align:middle line:90%
are some other options?
00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:59.460 align:middle line:84%
The reason is that
each time when
00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:03.780 align:middle line:84%
we try to decide how to deal
with a local energy shortage
00:19:03.780 --> 00:19:06.450 align:middle line:84%
problem, it always
looks so much cheaper
00:19:06.450 --> 00:19:08.250 align:middle line:84%
to build another
coal power plant.
00:19:08.250 --> 00:19:11.380 align:middle line:90%
00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:13.870 align:middle line:84%
But first and
foremost, coal serves
00:19:13.870 --> 00:19:17.900 align:middle line:84%
to fuel the staggering boom in
the production of iron, steel,
00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:22.120 align:middle line:84%
cement, fertilizer, and
of course, electricity.
00:19:22.120 --> 00:19:27.120 align:middle line:90%
00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:32.460 align:middle line:84%
China gets something like 80%
of its electricity from coal.
00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:34.620 align:middle line:90%
It has no other options.
00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:36.960 align:middle line:84%
China and India
together are planning
00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:41.760 align:middle line:84%
to build 800 new coal power
plants over the next 20 years.
00:19:41.760 --> 00:19:45.180 align:middle line:90%
00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:48.060 align:middle line:84%
Even during the heyday of
the Great Leap Forward,
00:19:48.060 --> 00:19:50.010 align:middle line:84%
Mao Zedong could
never have dreamed
00:19:50.010 --> 00:19:52.350 align:middle line:84%
that such a vast
network of coal mines
00:19:52.350 --> 00:19:53.520 align:middle line:90%
could one day be possible.
00:19:53.520 --> 00:19:56.350 align:middle line:90%
00:19:56.350 --> 00:20:00.820 align:middle line:84%
Since his era production
has increased 60-fold.
00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:05.380 align:middle line:84%
More than 4 million miners work
in 25,000 mines, half of which
00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:06.715 align:middle line:90%
are private and often illegal.
00:20:06.715 --> 00:20:10.240 align:middle line:90%
00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:13.450 align:middle line:84%
This one in Shanxi, 400
kilometers southwest
00:20:13.450 --> 00:20:16.570 align:middle line:84%
of Beijing, is a very
deep showpiece mine
00:20:16.570 --> 00:20:18.460 align:middle line:90%
that operates 24 hours a day.
00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:26.010 align:middle line:90%
00:20:26.010 --> 00:20:28.440 align:middle line:84%
The teams work in
shifts, and it takes them
00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:31.320 align:middle line:84%
over an hour to travel down
to the exploitable coal seam.
00:20:31.320 --> 00:20:38.810 align:middle line:90%
00:20:38.810 --> 00:20:40.935 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:20:40.935 --> 00:21:12.750 align:middle line:90%
00:21:12.750 --> 00:21:16.920 align:middle line:84%
Coal covers the nation\'s
energy needs and even 5%
00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:20.370 align:middle line:90%
of its petrol consumption.
00:21:20.370 --> 00:21:23.020 align:middle line:84%
The conversion process
requires vast quantities
00:21:23.020 --> 00:21:25.690 align:middle line:84%
of water in a country
where the resource is
00:21:25.690 --> 00:21:28.450 align:middle line:84%
lacking with a heavy
cost to the environment.
00:21:28.450 --> 00:21:31.760 align:middle line:90%
00:21:31.760 --> 00:21:35.600 align:middle line:84%
Carbon dioxide abounds,
but production is urgent
00:21:35.600 --> 00:21:39.242 align:middle line:84%
and there is no time
to slacken the pace.
00:21:39.242 --> 00:21:42.206 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:21:42.206 --> 00:22:11.480 align:middle line:90%
00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:14.720 align:middle line:84%
For the foreseeable future,
coal will remain key
00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:17.630 align:middle line:90%
to China\'s independence.
00:22:17.630 --> 00:22:19.910 align:middle line:84%
It is the country\'s
major source of energy.
00:22:19.910 --> 00:22:29.130 align:middle line:90%
00:22:29.130 --> 00:22:32.130 align:middle line:84%
The miners have a tough
job and face danger
00:22:32.130 --> 00:22:35.760 align:middle line:90%
down the mines on a daily basis.
00:22:35.760 --> 00:22:39.150 align:middle line:84%
With nearly 5,000
deaths in 2009,
00:22:39.150 --> 00:22:41.805 align:middle line:84%
the country holds the worst
safety record in the industry.
00:22:41.805 --> 00:22:46.210 align:middle line:90%
00:22:46.210 --> 00:22:49.660 align:middle line:84%
And yet there is no shortage
of prospective miners
00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:52.480 align:middle line:84%
because with a monthly
salary of 200 euros
00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:56.020 align:middle line:84%
they can earn more than
in any other industry.
00:22:56.020 --> 00:22:59.290 align:middle line:84%
But even so, Chinese
miners can no longer
00:22:59.290 --> 00:23:02.350 align:middle line:84%
produce enough to fulfill
the country\'s increasing
00:23:02.350 --> 00:23:04.450 align:middle line:90%
requirements.
00:23:04.450 --> 00:23:06.820 align:middle line:84%
And despite the fact that
China is the world\'s leading
00:23:06.820 --> 00:23:10.530 align:middle line:84%
producer of coal, it must source
the raw material from abroad.
00:23:10.530 --> 00:23:15.210 align:middle line:90%
00:23:15.210 --> 00:23:17.400 align:middle line:90%
Where will the coal come from?
00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:22.230 align:middle line:84%
China\'s coal production is
practically at peak right now.
00:23:22.230 --> 00:23:26.340 align:middle line:84%
China is engaged in buying
future coal supplies
00:23:26.340 --> 00:23:28.590 align:middle line:90%
from Australia and Indonesia.
00:23:28.590 --> 00:23:33.430 align:middle line:90%
00:23:33.430 --> 00:23:36.630 align:middle line:84%
A Chinese presence can be
witnessed throughout Australia.
00:23:36.630 --> 00:23:39.930 align:middle line:90%
00:23:39.930 --> 00:23:42.790 align:middle line:84%
60% of Australian
exports are bound
00:23:42.790 --> 00:23:45.280 align:middle line:84%
for China, which
has recently become
00:23:45.280 --> 00:23:48.910 align:middle line:84%
the leading importer of
Australian coal ahead of Japan.
00:23:48.910 --> 00:23:54.800 align:middle line:90%
00:23:54.800 --> 00:23:58.090 align:middle line:84%
In Gladstone, Queensland,
coal for the Chinese market
00:23:58.090 --> 00:24:00.500 align:middle line:84%
is unloaded from trains
onto conveyor belts.
00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:06.760 align:middle line:90%
00:24:06.760 --> 00:24:10.120 align:middle line:84%
The current capacity of the port
of Gladstone for coal exports
00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:13.060 align:middle line:84%
is well over 80 million
ton, and we\'re exporting
00:24:13.060 --> 00:24:15.010 align:middle line:90%
around 60 million ton now.
00:24:15.010 --> 00:24:18.850 align:middle line:84%
Currently we only
have about 400 ships
00:24:18.850 --> 00:24:22.950 align:middle line:84%
visiting the coal terminal
here, but that will double.
00:24:22.950 --> 00:24:25.307 align:middle line:84%
So there will be
over 1,000 ships.
00:24:25.307 --> 00:24:26.890 align:middle line:84%
I don\'t know who\'s
going to stop China
00:24:26.890 --> 00:24:29.860 align:middle line:84%
doing that for a considerable
number of decades.
00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:33.220 align:middle line:84%
So yes, at this point in time
we certainly see 10 to 15 years
00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.600 align:middle line:90%
of glory in the coal industry.
00:24:34.600 --> 00:24:37.750 align:middle line:90%
00:24:37.750 --> 00:24:40.370 align:middle line:84%
Chinese imports of coal have
doubled over the last two
00:24:40.370 --> 00:24:40.870 align:middle line:90%
years.
00:24:40.870 --> 00:24:43.490 align:middle line:90%
00:24:43.490 --> 00:24:47.030 align:middle line:84%
By 2013 China is
said to be importing
00:24:47.030 --> 00:24:51.290 align:middle line:84%
600 million tons a year,
almost equivalent to total coal
00:24:51.290 --> 00:24:55.100 align:middle line:90%
exports from all countries.
00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:58.190 align:middle line:84%
Australia had been concerned
about the drop in world demand
00:24:58.190 --> 00:25:01.730 align:middle line:84%
for raw materials, but
the Chinese steelworks
00:25:01.730 --> 00:25:05.590 align:middle line:84%
are consuming so much energy
that even during the crisis
00:25:05.590 --> 00:25:08.280 align:middle line:84%
boats left Australian
shores laden with cargo.
00:25:08.280 --> 00:25:11.690 align:middle line:90%
00:25:11.690 --> 00:25:15.560 align:middle line:84%
The future of coal would appear
to be bright, and all the more
00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:18.530 align:middle line:84%
so since brand new
rhetoric has endowed it
00:25:18.530 --> 00:25:21.350 align:middle line:90%
with ecological properties.
00:25:21.350 --> 00:25:23.140 align:middle line:84%
What has to happen
around the world
00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:25.690 align:middle line:84%
is that there has to be
clean coal production.
00:25:25.690 --> 00:25:28.130 align:middle line:84%
And that comes down to
how you treat the coal
00:25:28.130 --> 00:25:30.050 align:middle line:84%
when it goes into
the power stations.
00:25:30.050 --> 00:25:34.070 align:middle line:84%
The concentration has to be
on developing the technology
00:25:34.070 --> 00:25:37.130 align:middle line:84%
to allow us to burn the coal
so that you don\'t have the CO2
00:25:37.130 --> 00:25:39.200 align:middle line:90%
emissions that hang over it.
00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:41.450 align:middle line:84%
Among the whole host of
approaches put forward
00:25:41.450 --> 00:25:43.700 align:middle line:84%
to clean up coal or
to make it green,
00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:46.220 align:middle line:84%
one is particularly
tempting-- the process
00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:50.780 align:middle line:84%
of sweeping carbon dioxide,
as it were, under the carpet.
00:25:50.780 --> 00:25:53.450 align:middle line:84%
The Luan Thermal Power
Plant is the only one
00:25:53.450 --> 00:25:55.400 align:middle line:90%
of its kind in China.
00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:57.790 align:middle line:84%
Ideograms emphasize the
aims of its program.
00:25:57.790 --> 00:26:11.230 align:middle line:90%
00:26:11.230 --> 00:26:12.890 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:26:12.890 --> 00:26:44.110 align:middle line:90%
00:26:44.110 --> 00:26:48.740 align:middle line:84%
Instructions for capturing
and storing carbon dioxide.
00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:52.460 align:middle line:84%
Step 1, capture CO2
emissions at source.
00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:57.590 align:middle line:84%
Step 2, compress the CO2 and
sequester it underground.
00:26:57.590 --> 00:27:02.420 align:middle line:84%
Warning, unfortunately the
process itself will emit CO2--
00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:04.850 align:middle line:84%
the equivalent of 30%
of what is being stored.
00:27:04.850 --> 00:27:08.480 align:middle line:90%
00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:11.960 align:middle line:84%
Presented as a miracle solution,
the underground capture
00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:15.170 align:middle line:84%
and storage of carbon dioxide
produced at the thermal power
00:27:15.170 --> 00:27:17.590 align:middle line:84%
plants has been gaining
ground for about a decade.
00:27:17.590 --> 00:27:20.560 align:middle line:90%
00:27:20.560 --> 00:27:23.710 align:middle line:84%
140 plants all over the
world are currently either
00:27:23.710 --> 00:27:26.620 align:middle line:90%
operational or in a test phase.
00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:29.650 align:middle line:84%
They are mainly located in
the United States and Europe
00:27:29.650 --> 00:27:30.580 align:middle line:90%
or here in Canada.
00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:34.820 align:middle line:90%
00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:37.730 align:middle line:84%
But solving global warming
without restricting our energy
00:27:37.730 --> 00:27:43.490 align:middle line:84%
consumption is an industrial
dream that is not risk-free.
00:27:43.490 --> 00:27:47.510 align:middle line:84%
The primary concerns, and
one of the biggest focus
00:27:47.510 --> 00:27:50.870 align:middle line:84%
of the research efforts
for carbon sequestration,
00:27:50.870 --> 00:27:53.870 align:middle line:84%
is to make sure that the
injection into the ground
00:27:53.870 --> 00:27:54.690 align:middle line:90%
is effective.
00:27:54.690 --> 00:27:57.880 align:middle line:84%
In other words, making
sure it stays there
00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:00.750 align:middle line:84%
for a long, long
time and is safe--
00:28:00.750 --> 00:28:04.160 align:middle line:84%
that if it does leak
that it causes no harm,
00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.670 align:middle line:84%
and that is
environmentally sound.
00:28:05.670 --> 00:28:09.370 align:middle line:84%
In other words, there is worry
about the CO2 leaking out.
00:28:09.370 --> 00:28:13.160 align:middle line:84%
If too much leaks out, it will
not be an effective reservoir.
00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:15.250 align:middle line:84%
There\'s also worry
that if it leaks out
00:28:15.250 --> 00:28:17.630 align:middle line:84%
in too big a concentration
it could be harmful
00:28:17.630 --> 00:28:21.020 align:middle line:84%
because too much CO2
congregated in a place
00:28:21.020 --> 00:28:22.520 align:middle line:90%
can cause asphyxiation.
00:28:22.520 --> 00:28:25.640 align:middle line:84%
We don\'t try to solve
one environmental problem
00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:27.470 align:middle line:84%
at the expense of
causing another.
00:28:27.470 --> 00:28:30.280 align:middle line:90%
00:28:30.280 --> 00:28:31.625 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:28:31.625 --> 00:28:57.430 align:middle line:90%
00:28:57.430 --> 00:29:01.300 align:middle line:84%
Given the level of emissions,
the Chinese coal nightmare
00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:04.810 align:middle line:84%
will not be able to vanish
into the appropriate geological
00:29:04.810 --> 00:29:07.600 align:middle line:84%
layers of the earth
which in China are not
00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:11.350 align:middle line:90%
only rare but also unsafe.
00:29:11.350 --> 00:29:15.050 align:middle line:84%
But China wants to reinforce
its prime position in the world
00:29:15.050 --> 00:29:16.850 align:middle line:90%
economic system at all costs.
00:29:16.850 --> 00:29:26.550 align:middle line:90%
00:29:26.550 --> 00:29:29.200 align:middle line:84%
So Australia produces
a lot of coal,
00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:31.240 align:middle line:90%
it gets exported to China.
00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:33.370 align:middle line:84%
China produces products
with this coal,
00:29:33.370 --> 00:29:37.060 align:middle line:84%
and those products get
exported to the United States
00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:39.910 align:middle line:84%
and to Europe, and all
along this chain people
00:29:39.910 --> 00:29:42.010 align:middle line:84%
have incentive to keep
this system going.
00:29:42.010 --> 00:29:45.250 align:middle line:84%
Because it\'s in Australia\'s
economic benefit
00:29:45.250 --> 00:29:48.430 align:middle line:84%
to sell this coal,
it\'s in China\'s benefit
00:29:48.430 --> 00:29:52.330 align:middle line:84%
to have this cheap energy source
and to be able to sell products
00:29:52.330 --> 00:29:54.850 align:middle line:84%
to the west, and then
the west benefits
00:29:54.850 --> 00:29:56.640 align:middle line:84%
by getting the cheap
products from China.
00:29:56.640 --> 00:30:03.510 align:middle line:90%
00:30:03.510 --> 00:30:06.540 align:middle line:84%
It has been a long time since
the US has enjoyed growth
00:30:06.540 --> 00:30:09.430 align:middle line:84%
in double figures,
but it is the decades
00:30:09.430 --> 00:30:12.640 align:middle line:84%
of high levels of consumption
and its accumulated CO2
00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:14.800 align:middle line:84%
emissions that make
it the main culprit.
00:30:14.800 --> 00:30:20.480 align:middle line:90%
00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:23.880 align:middle line:84%
The number one world
economy devours all energy,
00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:24.630 align:middle line:90%
guzzling greedily.
00:30:24.630 --> 00:30:27.330 align:middle line:90%
00:30:27.330 --> 00:30:30.660 align:middle line:84%
But the same can also be said
of most Western countries,
00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:32.510 align:middle line:90%
and this calls for calculations.
00:30:32.510 --> 00:30:35.690 align:middle line:90%
00:30:35.690 --> 00:30:40.370 align:middle line:84%
When people ask how much carbon
dioxide emission is the United
00:30:40.370 --> 00:30:43.400 align:middle line:84%
States or France
responsible for they
00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:46.370 align:middle line:84%
look at the amount of carbon
dioxide actually emitted
00:30:46.370 --> 00:30:49.970 align:middle line:84%
within the borders of
the individual country.
00:30:49.970 --> 00:30:54.050 align:middle line:84%
But if we think of the things
that we consume in a given day,
00:30:54.050 --> 00:30:57.620 align:middle line:84%
we\'re consuming all of these
goods and services that
00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:59.510 align:middle line:90%
are created somewhere else.
00:30:59.510 --> 00:31:04.170 align:middle line:84%
We get lots of products
from China, for example.
00:31:04.170 --> 00:31:08.120 align:middle line:84%
And so we ask the question,
if we think of how much
00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:11.180 align:middle line:84%
carbon dioxide was released
to make the products that we
00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:17.330 align:middle line:84%
consume, how much carbon dioxide
emissions are we responsible
00:31:17.330 --> 00:31:19.680 align:middle line:90%
for in terms of our consumption?
00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:23.530 align:middle line:90%
00:31:23.530 --> 00:31:25.540 align:middle line:84%
If we look just within
the country of France
00:31:25.540 --> 00:31:29.410 align:middle line:84%
with its nuclear
power and Switzerland
00:31:29.410 --> 00:31:32.020 align:middle line:84%
looks like they don\'t use
very much power at all,
00:31:32.020 --> 00:31:37.540 align:middle line:84%
but each kilogram of
stuff coming into Europe,
00:31:37.540 --> 00:31:41.530 align:middle line:84%
more than one kilogram of CO2
was produced somewhere else
00:31:41.530 --> 00:31:44.140 align:middle line:90%
to make that import.
00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:47.050 align:middle line:84%
These countries tend to be
among the richest in the world,
00:31:47.050 --> 00:31:50.120 align:middle line:84%
and the richest people
consume the most.
00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:53.440 align:middle line:84%
And so if we just look at
raw numbers of CO2 emission
00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:57.280 align:middle line:84%
within the country, China
now emits more carbon dioxide
00:31:57.280 --> 00:31:58.870 align:middle line:90%
than the United States.
00:31:58.870 --> 00:32:02.650 align:middle line:84%
But if we look at the carbon
dioxide for the products
00:32:02.650 --> 00:32:05.710 align:middle line:84%
and services consumed
in a given country,
00:32:05.710 --> 00:32:09.410 align:middle line:84%
the United States is still
responsible for more emission
00:32:09.410 --> 00:32:10.190 align:middle line:90%
than China.
00:32:10.190 --> 00:32:12.880 align:middle line:84%
So China is emitting
carbon so that we
00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:16.270 align:middle line:90%
can consume more products.
00:32:16.270 --> 00:32:20.890 align:middle line:84%
And so per capita China
is much, much better
00:32:20.890 --> 00:32:21.885 align:middle line:90%
than the United States.
00:32:21.885 --> 00:32:24.420 align:middle line:90%
00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:25.950 align:middle line:84%
And neither of
these two countries
00:32:25.950 --> 00:32:29.560 align:middle line:84%
would profit from regulating
their carbon dioxide emissions.
00:32:29.560 --> 00:32:33.990 align:middle line:90%
00:32:33.990 --> 00:32:37.710 align:middle line:84%
I think this shows that if
we just develop strong carbon
00:32:37.710 --> 00:32:40.770 align:middle line:84%
emission controls in the
United States and in Europe
00:32:40.770 --> 00:32:43.710 align:middle line:84%
that that will not be enough
because it will provide
00:32:43.710 --> 00:32:46.830 align:middle line:84%
incentive to produce
even more of our products
00:32:46.830 --> 00:32:49.780 align:middle line:84%
in countries that don\'t
have strong carbon controls.
00:32:49.780 --> 00:32:53.940 align:middle line:84%
And so for example, if China
does not develop strong carbon
00:32:53.940 --> 00:32:56.640 align:middle line:84%
controls that will just
give more incentive
00:32:56.640 --> 00:33:00.370 align:middle line:84%
to make products in China
and export them to the United
00:33:00.370 --> 00:33:01.920 align:middle line:90%
States and Europe.
00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:05.640 align:middle line:84%
And this has consequences
not only for carbon dioxide
00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:10.530 align:middle line:84%
emissions, but also for
jobs because by pushing
00:33:10.530 --> 00:33:15.000 align:middle line:84%
the emissions offshore we also
tend to push the jobs offshore.
00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:18.610 align:middle line:84%
And it makes it much more
politically difficult, I think,
00:33:18.610 --> 00:33:20.380 align:middle line:84%
to get the controls
that we need.
00:33:20.380 --> 00:33:26.200 align:middle line:90%
00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:28.060 align:middle line:84%
The workshop of
the world insists
00:33:28.060 --> 00:33:31.300 align:middle line:84%
on exercising total
freedom to produce.
00:33:31.300 --> 00:33:33.190 align:middle line:84%
China does not
agree to curtailing
00:33:33.190 --> 00:33:36.760 align:middle line:84%
its economic expansion via
a system of controlling
00:33:36.760 --> 00:33:40.760 align:middle line:90%
its carbon dioxide emissions.
00:33:40.760 --> 00:33:42.560 align:middle line:84%
The newfound importance
of the country
00:33:42.560 --> 00:33:47.120 align:middle line:84%
gives it the means to refuse
any internal interference.
00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:49.400 align:middle line:84%
The Copenhagen summit
established the era
00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:53.125 align:middle line:84%
of Chinese power, as the number
one negotiator confidently
00:33:53.125 --> 00:33:53.625 align:middle line:90%
affirms.
00:33:53.625 --> 00:33:56.820 align:middle line:90%
00:33:56.820 --> 00:34:10.699 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.770 align:middle line:90%
And also try to be nice.
00:34:11.770 --> 00:34:15.050 align:middle line:90%
00:34:15.050 --> 00:34:17.739 align:middle line:90%
Next question, please.
00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:20.659 align:middle line:84%
I hope this is
positive and hopeful,
00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:23.600 align:middle line:84%
but what I would like
to know is whether there
00:34:23.600 --> 00:34:26.510 align:middle line:84%
are any circumstances
in which China would
00:34:26.510 --> 00:34:30.260 align:middle line:84%
be willing to have
emission reductions checked
00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:32.850 align:middle line:84%
internationally-- checked,
verified internationally.
00:34:32.850 --> 00:34:36.869 align:middle line:84%
Are there any ways that
that impasse can be broken?
00:34:36.869 --> 00:34:38.719 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:34:38.719 --> 00:35:27.720 align:middle line:90%
00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:30.220 align:middle line:90%
And China is no longer alone.
00:35:30.220 --> 00:35:32.310 align:middle line:84%
It has found allies in
the other major emerging
00:35:32.310 --> 00:35:36.210 align:middle line:84%
countries like India or
Brazil, eager like China
00:35:36.210 --> 00:35:38.730 align:middle line:90%
to preserve their growth.
00:35:38.730 --> 00:35:41.420 align:middle line:84%
Otherwise competing
against the rich countries,
00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:45.380 align:middle line:84%
their economies will be
brought to a standstill.
00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:47.480 align:middle line:84%
So by the end of
the confrontation,
00:35:47.480 --> 00:35:49.940 align:middle line:84%
what has become of the poor
countries, some of which
00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:53.990 align:middle line:84%
are already severely
threatened by climate change?
00:35:53.990 --> 00:35:57.590 align:middle line:84%
Generally what happens
at these things is the US
00:35:57.590 --> 00:36:00.590 align:middle line:84%
and a few others go in and tell
the poor countries of the world
00:36:00.590 --> 00:36:04.010 align:middle line:84%
what the score is and say, we\'re
going to give you some money
00:36:04.010 --> 00:36:05.990 align:middle line:90%
and now shut up.
00:36:05.990 --> 00:36:10.010 align:middle line:84%
And one after another
those countries said, look,
00:36:10.010 --> 00:36:12.590 align:middle line:84%
we deserve and need
some money to deal
00:36:12.590 --> 00:36:16.380 align:middle line:84%
with this-- some adaptation
money and whatever.
00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:20.000 align:middle line:84%
But we also know there\'s not
enough money in the world
00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:23.390 align:middle line:84%
to help us if we\'re underwater,
if all our pastures have turned
00:36:23.390 --> 00:36:24.850 align:middle line:90%
to desert.
00:36:24.850 --> 00:36:30.302 align:middle line:84%
I\'m here to say I am from the
south and I am not responsible.
00:36:30.302 --> 00:36:37.130 align:middle line:84%
I am owed economic debt,
ecological debt, and climate
00:36:37.130 --> 00:36:39.712 align:middle line:84%
debt, and payment
must be done now.
00:36:39.712 --> 00:36:46.030 align:middle line:90%
00:36:46.030 --> 00:36:49.432 align:middle line:84%
We\'re climate debt agents,
work to get the rich polluting
00:36:49.432 --> 00:36:52.348 align:middle line:84%
countries to pay their climate
debt to the countries affected
00:36:52.348 --> 00:36:53.320 align:middle line:90%
by the climate changes.
00:36:53.320 --> 00:36:55.650 align:middle line:84%
And we\'re from
ActionAid Denmark,
00:36:55.650 --> 00:36:58.890 align:middle line:84%
and we demand money
on the table now.
00:36:58.890 --> 00:37:00.780 align:middle line:84%
At the very end
of the conference,
00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:03.720 align:middle line:84%
the poor countries obtain
a promise of $30 billion
00:37:03.720 --> 00:37:07.440 align:middle line:90%
to invest in green energy.
00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:08.970 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:37:08.970 --> 00:37:39.780 align:middle line:90%
00:37:39.780 --> 00:37:43.770 align:middle line:84%
Mr. CO2\'s barefaced
prosperity is intimately
00:37:43.770 --> 00:37:47.960 align:middle line:84%
linked to another issue, the
close relationship of wealth
00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:49.870 align:middle line:90%
to CO2 emission levels.
00:37:49.870 --> 00:37:55.520 align:middle line:90%
00:37:55.520 --> 00:37:58.790 align:middle line:84%
And it was Hugo Chavez who,
intending to provoke his
00:37:58.790 --> 00:38:02.420 align:middle line:84%
audience, highlighted the issue
that climate change cannot be
00:38:02.420 --> 00:38:05.988 align:middle line:84%
fought without taking social
inequality into consideration.
00:38:05.988 --> 00:38:11.470 align:middle line:90%
00:38:11.470 --> 00:38:13.406 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:38:13.406 --> 00:38:54.630 align:middle line:90%
00:38:54.630 --> 00:38:56.420 align:middle line:90%
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
00:38:56.420 --> 00:39:19.230 align:middle line:90%
00:39:19.230 --> 00:39:20.830 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:39:20.830 --> 00:39:49.460 align:middle line:90%
00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:52.940 align:middle line:84%
The relationship between income
and carbon dioxide emissions
00:39:52.940 --> 00:39:57.020 align:middle line:84%
cannot be resolved via simple
state to state accounting.
00:39:57.020 --> 00:40:00.350 align:middle line:84%
Indeed, it calls into question
the whole system of wealth
00:40:00.350 --> 00:40:01.930 align:middle line:90%
distribution worldwide.
00:40:01.930 --> 00:40:05.540 align:middle line:90%
00:40:05.540 --> 00:40:07.370 align:middle line:84%
There\'s a tremendous
amount of inequality
00:40:07.370 --> 00:40:11.180 align:middle line:84%
when it comes to carbon
emissions worldwide.
00:40:11.180 --> 00:40:14.600 align:middle line:84%
So what you have is that
a lot of the emissions
00:40:14.600 --> 00:40:17.540 align:middle line:84%
in different parts of the
world come from the rich.
00:40:17.540 --> 00:40:20.510 align:middle line:84%
But I have to say that
this is the global rich.
00:40:20.510 --> 00:40:25.220 align:middle line:84%
So the global rich might
be just middle class
00:40:25.220 --> 00:40:28.200 align:middle line:84%
in Europe, which means
that more of Europe
00:40:28.200 --> 00:40:31.150 align:middle line:84%
will be involved
in the global rich.
00:40:31.150 --> 00:40:33.890 align:middle line:84%
So it\'s very important
to realize that when
00:40:33.890 --> 00:40:36.020 align:middle line:84%
I rich I refer to
somebody who is
00:40:36.020 --> 00:40:39.350 align:middle line:84%
rich by global standards,
which most Europeans
00:40:39.350 --> 00:40:41.510 align:middle line:84%
or Americans would not
consider themselves rich
00:40:41.510 --> 00:40:42.870 align:middle line:84%
because they think
they\'re middle class.
00:40:42.870 --> 00:40:44.330 align:middle line:84%
But they are actually--
by global standards
00:40:44.330 --> 00:40:45.372 align:middle line:90%
they are consuming a lot.
00:40:45.372 --> 00:40:48.265 align:middle line:90%
00:40:48.265 --> 00:40:50.730 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:40:50.730 --> 00:41:23.830 align:middle line:90%
00:41:23.830 --> 00:41:26.980 align:middle line:84%
We have about 3 and
1/2 billion people here
00:41:26.980 --> 00:41:31.370 align:middle line:84%
who emit less than two tons
of carbon dioxide per capita,
00:41:31.370 --> 00:41:34.780 align:middle line:84%
which is more than
India\'s average.
00:41:34.780 --> 00:41:38.410 align:middle line:84%
And then you have about 2
billion people between 2
00:41:38.410 --> 00:41:41.130 align:middle line:90%
and 10 tons of carbon dioxide.
00:41:41.130 --> 00:41:43.870 align:middle line:90%
10 is the average of Europe.
00:41:43.870 --> 00:41:47.080 align:middle line:84%
And you have more than
700 million people
00:41:47.080 --> 00:41:49.930 align:middle line:90%
above 10 tons of CO2.
00:41:49.930 --> 00:41:53.710 align:middle line:84%
For example, the US is at
20 tons of carbon dioxide
00:41:53.710 --> 00:41:55.670 align:middle line:90%
per person per year.
00:41:55.670 --> 00:41:59.110 align:middle line:84%
The lowest emissions come from
people in Africa, or India,
00:41:59.110 --> 00:42:02.530 align:middle line:90%
or Bangladesh, and some Chinese.
00:42:02.530 --> 00:42:07.150 align:middle line:84%
Then in the middle you\'ll
have Brazil, China, Japan,
00:42:07.150 --> 00:42:09.220 align:middle line:84%
most of Europe,
India-- very high
00:42:09.220 --> 00:42:15.370 align:middle line:84%
emitters mostly
from Europe or US.
00:42:15.370 --> 00:42:21.420 align:middle line:84%
So using that to propose a
different way of distributing
00:42:21.420 --> 00:42:23.850 align:middle line:84%
the job, of reducing
carbon emissions
00:42:23.850 --> 00:42:26.910 align:middle line:90%
to different countries.
00:42:26.910 --> 00:42:29.730 align:middle line:84%
If a country has a large
number of high emitters--
00:42:29.730 --> 00:42:32.100 align:middle line:84%
people emitting
more than 10 or 15
00:42:32.100 --> 00:42:35.340 align:middle line:84%
tons of carbon dioxide per
year-- then it should do more.
00:42:35.340 --> 00:42:38.850 align:middle line:84%
Where if a country has a low
number of high emitting people,
00:42:38.850 --> 00:42:41.760 align:middle line:90%
they should do less.
00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:45.810 align:middle line:84%
So in 2030, if you want to keep
emissions to today\'s levels--
00:42:45.810 --> 00:42:47.370 align:middle line:84%
which is not a very
ambitious target,
00:42:47.370 --> 00:42:49.660 align:middle line:84%
which is equivalent
to something like 450,
00:42:49.660 --> 00:42:52.350 align:middle line:90%
500 parts per million--
00:42:52.350 --> 00:42:56.810 align:middle line:84%
if you wanted to do that,
then what it would involve
00:42:56.810 --> 00:43:01.830 align:middle line:84%
is if every person in the
world had an emissions budget,
00:43:01.830 --> 00:43:06.090 align:middle line:84%
then the maximum
would be about 10.
00:43:06.090 --> 00:43:09.100 align:middle line:84%
The current world
average is 14 tons.
00:43:09.100 --> 00:43:11.050 align:middle line:84%
A move back down
to 10 tons would
00:43:11.050 --> 00:43:15.400 align:middle line:84%
mean eliminating all emissions
above and beyond this level,
00:43:15.400 --> 00:43:17.620 align:middle line:84%
and it is the world\'s
700 million emitters
00:43:17.620 --> 00:43:21.250 align:middle line:84%
with annual revenues in
excess of 30,000 euros who
00:43:21.250 --> 00:43:23.240 align:middle line:90%
are to blame.
00:43:23.240 --> 00:43:28.210 align:middle line:84%
The approach is to come up with
a target for the countries.
00:43:28.210 --> 00:43:31.540 align:middle line:84%
If you want France
to meet its target
00:43:31.540 --> 00:43:34.240 align:middle line:84%
and also take into
account this inequality,
00:43:34.240 --> 00:43:37.150 align:middle line:84%
then it should have the right
policies inside its country.
00:43:37.150 --> 00:43:43.790 align:middle line:84%
Maybe it should tax
flying or big cars more.
00:43:43.790 --> 00:43:48.140 align:middle line:84%
And any policy that we design
to control carbon dioxide
00:43:48.140 --> 00:43:50.420 align:middle line:84%
emissions should take this
inequality into account.
00:43:50.420 --> 00:43:55.220 align:middle line:90%
00:43:55.220 --> 00:43:57.500 align:middle line:84%
The report is in the
hands of United Nations
00:43:57.500 --> 00:44:01.690 align:middle line:84%
heads, but has little hope
of gaining unanimous support
00:44:01.690 --> 00:44:05.390 align:middle line:84%
as targeting each country\'s
wealthy population via a tax
00:44:05.390 --> 00:44:07.730 align:middle line:84%
on consumption
takes on overtones
00:44:07.730 --> 00:44:13.940 align:middle line:84%
of a social revolution in which
no state is willing to engage.
00:44:13.940 --> 00:44:17.310 align:middle line:84%
While waiting to lower the
economy\'s carbon footprint,
00:44:17.310 --> 00:44:20.090 align:middle line:84%
various solutions are in
the offing, but all of them
00:44:20.090 --> 00:44:24.520 align:middle line:84%
involve the need
to price carbon.
00:44:24.520 --> 00:44:46.960 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:49.960 align:middle line:84%
In Copenhagen, Barack Obama
and his representative
00:44:49.960 --> 00:44:51.820 align:middle line:84%
John Kerry were
not in a position
00:44:51.820 --> 00:44:55.030 align:middle line:84%
to make real proposals
backed up by figures,
00:44:55.030 --> 00:44:59.110 align:middle line:84%
but they hope to be
able to do so soon.
00:44:59.110 --> 00:45:02.830 align:middle line:84%
Those who say we will not
pass something are wrong.
00:45:02.830 --> 00:45:05.530 align:middle line:84%
Next year-- I tell
you, next year
00:45:05.530 --> 00:45:08.350 align:middle line:84%
the United States
Congress, House, and Senate
00:45:08.350 --> 00:45:12.370 align:middle line:84%
will pass comprehensive energy
climate legislation that will
00:45:12.370 --> 00:45:14.620 align:middle line:90%
reduce America\'s emissions.
00:45:14.620 --> 00:45:18.100 align:middle line:84%
And although we have yet
to reach a full agreement
00:45:18.100 --> 00:45:22.270 align:middle line:84%
on the method, more and more
businesses and more and more
00:45:22.270 --> 00:45:24.640 align:middle line:84%
legislators are
becoming convinced
00:45:24.640 --> 00:45:28.180 align:middle line:84%
that the only way to meet an
emissions reduction target
00:45:28.180 --> 00:45:29.590 align:middle line:90%
is to price carbon.
00:45:29.590 --> 00:45:36.750 align:middle line:90%
00:45:36.750 --> 00:45:39.670 align:middle line:84%
The United States owes its
prosperity to cheap energy.
00:45:39.670 --> 00:45:43.760 align:middle line:90%
00:45:43.760 --> 00:45:46.700 align:middle line:84%
What incentives are
there to price carbon
00:45:46.700 --> 00:45:50.072 align:middle line:84%
for the country that is the
king of fossil fuel consumption?
00:45:50.072 --> 00:45:58.820 align:middle line:90%
00:45:58.820 --> 00:46:01.140 align:middle line:84%
All the economic
solutions necessarily
00:46:01.140 --> 00:46:04.980 align:middle line:84%
involve emissions quotas and
a fixed price for carbon,
00:46:04.980 --> 00:46:08.520 align:middle line:84%
whether via consumer taxation
or via the financial markets.
00:46:08.520 --> 00:46:12.040 align:middle line:90%
00:46:12.040 --> 00:46:13.840 align:middle line:84%
But the latter
solution is proving
00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:16.871 align:middle line:84%
unacceptable for the energy
sector pressure groups.
00:46:16.871 --> 00:46:23.260 align:middle line:90%
00:46:23.260 --> 00:46:25.690 align:middle line:84%
Those forces that
want nothing to happen
00:46:25.690 --> 00:46:28.660 align:middle line:84%
are pouring everything
they\'ve got into this fight.
00:46:28.660 --> 00:46:32.050 align:middle line:84%
And what they\'ve got a lot of,
among other things, is money.
00:46:32.050 --> 00:46:33.970 align:middle line:84%
Exxon Mobil made
more money last year
00:46:33.970 --> 00:46:36.250 align:middle line:84%
than any company in
the history of money.
00:46:36.250 --> 00:46:39.280 align:middle line:84%
I mean, they\'re well armed
to fight this kind of fight,
00:46:39.280 --> 00:46:42.580 align:middle line:84%
and they\'ve been putting it
into think tanks, and websites,
00:46:42.580 --> 00:46:48.250 align:middle line:84%
and whatever else doing
their best to confuse people.
00:46:48.250 --> 00:46:52.780 align:middle line:84%
In July 2010, eight months
after the Copenhagen summit,
00:46:52.780 --> 00:46:55.170 align:middle line:84%
the Obama administration
and his Democrats
00:46:55.170 --> 00:46:58.390 align:middle line:84%
were forced to abandon plans to
have their energy bill passed
00:46:58.390 --> 00:47:00.900 align:middle line:90%
by the Senate.
00:47:00.900 --> 00:47:05.460 align:middle line:84%
In order to pass comprehensive
energy climate legislation,
00:47:05.460 --> 00:47:07.860 align:middle line:90%
you got to reach 60 votes.
00:47:07.860 --> 00:47:09.610 align:middle line:84%
And to reach those
60 votes, you\'ve
00:47:09.610 --> 00:47:11.950 align:middle line:90%
got to have some Republicans.
00:47:11.950 --> 00:47:16.710 align:middle line:84%
And as we stand here today,
we do not have one Republican.
00:47:16.710 --> 00:47:18.840 align:middle line:84%
Now, obviously everyone
is disappointed
00:47:18.840 --> 00:47:20.730 align:middle line:84%
that we do not
yet have agreement
00:47:20.730 --> 00:47:23.250 align:middle line:90%
on comprehensive legislation.
00:47:23.250 --> 00:47:26.220 align:middle line:84%
We will continue to
work with the senators
00:47:26.220 --> 00:47:29.610 align:middle line:84%
to craft important
comprehensive legislation.
00:47:29.610 --> 00:47:32.670 align:middle line:84%
The US Senate isn\'t paying
attention to the science.
00:47:32.670 --> 00:47:35.280 align:middle line:84%
It\'s paying attention
to Exxon Mobil,
00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:39.820 align:middle line:84%
and to the coal industry, and
to the most narrow and short
00:47:39.820 --> 00:47:44.230 align:middle line:84%
sighted set of ideological
preoccupations.
00:47:44.230 --> 00:47:47.778 align:middle line:84%
It looks like America\'s
political system is pretty well
00:47:47.778 --> 00:47:48.278 align:middle line:90%
broken.
00:47:48.278 --> 00:47:55.470 align:middle line:90%
00:47:55.470 --> 00:47:57.720 align:middle line:84%
And the US attended
the climate conference
00:47:57.720 --> 00:48:01.020 align:middle line:84%
in Cancun, Mexico
in December 2010
00:48:01.020 --> 00:48:02.940 align:middle line:84%
without any
Senate-backed agreement
00:48:02.940 --> 00:48:05.482 align:middle line:84%
on the reduction of their
carbon dioxide emissions.
00:48:05.482 --> 00:48:08.580 align:middle line:90%
00:48:08.580 --> 00:48:10.650 align:middle line:84%
The vitality of
the Chinese economy
00:48:10.650 --> 00:48:14.580 align:middle line:84%
irritates the majority of
the US political class.
00:48:14.580 --> 00:48:17.460 align:middle line:84%
For either country, any
guarantee of goodwill
00:48:17.460 --> 00:48:19.920 align:middle line:90%
would be a step backwards.
00:48:19.920 --> 00:48:23.490 align:middle line:84%
Their interdependence based
on one and the same model
00:48:23.490 --> 00:48:26.820 align:middle line:84%
has established the reign of the
globalization of the economy.
00:48:26.820 --> 00:48:42.660 align:middle line:90%
00:48:42.660 --> 00:48:44.550 align:middle line:90%
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
00:48:44.550 --> 00:49:03.600 align:middle line:90%
00:49:03.600 --> 00:49:07.500 align:middle line:84%
If we simply wait for
the economic crisis,
00:49:07.500 --> 00:49:13.590 align:middle line:84%
for the climate crisis to force
us to change then unfortunately
00:49:13.590 --> 00:49:15.450 align:middle line:84%
we\'ll have the
worst case scenario.
00:49:15.450 --> 00:49:20.880 align:middle line:84%
We will be simply reacting
to one crisis after another.
00:49:20.880 --> 00:49:24.180 align:middle line:84%
And the 21st century
could, in that case,
00:49:24.180 --> 00:49:29.580 align:middle line:84%
be a century of
devastating impacts.
00:49:29.580 --> 00:49:44.770 align:middle line:90%
00:49:44.770 --> 00:49:47.290 align:middle line:84%
During the world
economic crisis,
00:49:47.290 --> 00:49:50.530 align:middle line:84%
carbon dioxide
emissions fell in 2009
00:49:50.530 --> 00:49:53.770 align:middle line:90%
for the first time in 20 years.
00:49:53.770 --> 00:49:56.230 align:middle line:84%
But the desire to
return to growth
00:49:56.230 --> 00:49:59.950 align:middle line:84%
without making any changes
to the workings of the system
00:49:59.950 --> 00:50:02.920 align:middle line:84%
outweighs the desire to come
to an international agreement
00:50:02.920 --> 00:50:05.490 align:middle line:90%
on emissions reduction.
00:50:05.490 --> 00:50:09.540 align:middle line:84%
Mr. CO2 still has a
bright future ahead of him
00:50:09.540 --> 00:50:12.240 align:middle line:84%
unless sustainable
development technologies can
00:50:12.240 --> 00:50:13.710 align:middle line:90%
stop him crossing the red line.
00:50:13.710 --> 00:50:17.280 align:middle line:90%
00:50:17.280 --> 00:50:19.200 align:middle line:84%
Most countries make
the choices that
00:50:19.200 --> 00:50:22.740 align:middle line:84%
avoid calling our lifestyle
into question, an attempt
00:50:22.740 --> 00:50:27.070 align:middle line:84%
to magically make
growth rhyme with green.
00:50:27.070 --> 00:50:29.830 align:middle line:84%
The issue\'s of vital
importance to our society
00:50:29.830 --> 00:50:33.790 align:middle line:84%
and to our planet because the
race against the carbon clock
00:50:33.790 --> 00:50:35.760 align:middle line:90%
has already started.
00:50:35.760 --> 00:51:30.807 align:middle line:90%
Distributor: Icarus Films
Length: 52 minutes
Date: 2010
Genre: Expository
Language: English; French
Grade: 9-12, College, Adult
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
Interactive Transcript: Available
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