The Methane Disaster Bubbling in the Arctic

[Bill USA]

21. we need a larger commitment to ways of reducing GHG emissions in a shorter timeframe than 20 years

Waiting 20 yrs for hybrids & PHEVs to reach 20% to 25% of the fleet yielding about 10% to 13% GHG reduction for light vehicle transportation certainly won't do it.

We need a much bigger commitment to countering GW - and for ways that produce results in LESS THAN 20 years.

As far as transportation goes, the one area where it's possible to achieve quicker results, a rapid increase in biomass (i.e. renewable) methanol to be added to the ethanol we currently produce is needed. Also, incentivising manufacture and sale of cars with engines that can take advantage of ethanol's and methanol's high octane and thus get better mpg than with gasoline. With renewable fuels and higher efficiency engines using alcohol from biomass, this will produce GHG reductions for the light transportation sector in a shorter time period.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/112756853

But we still should keep pushing hybrids and PHEVs for those who can afford them. In time, this will eventually lower the prices on these vehicles - though this will not occur as quickly as we would like.

Subsidize mass transit - making it more attractive to more people.

Greater efficiency in all appliances.

Incentivise the building of more efficient commercial and residential buildings.

More investment in Wind and solar power to increase rate of adoption of these technologies.

Greater efficiency in buildings and industrial operations can produce approx a 25% reduction in GHG emissions.http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/sgradeck/DOCS/Building%20GHG%20reduction.pdf


Actually, we may have already reached a point where it's too late to hope to rein in global warming. But it seems obvious we need to try.