Well just as well we've got you to fine-tune the hydrological cycle of the globe, and the level of the oceans, through policy isn't it Mike?

Clown. Do you realise what a caricature of vanity and stupidity you are painting of all warmists?

Technology is making some remarkable advances. These are already helping us to reduce our use of fossil fuels and so reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Twenty years ago, solar cells which converted 15% of solar energy striking them were considered a wonderful advance. To-day, the University of NSW has researched and developed solar cells which convert 40% of sunlight into electricity. Really leading edge technology which, when it becomes commercially available will have the potential of making households completely self-sufficient and generating all of Australia’s electricity needs from the sun at a cost far below that of coal.

What this means is that countries which must now rely on burning coal to generate electricity will no longer need to do so. They will erect solar panel power stations to serve individual towns and villages which are cheaper to build and maintain or, as in Australia, houses will have their own high-powered solar panels and no longer need to buy coal fired electricity from the grid.

Yes, I know the sun doesn’t shine at night but in the USA batteries have been developed which enable households to store sufficient electricity to meet household needs for several days and these will be on sale within a year or two. Competition and new technology will then get to work improving these batteries, making them cheaper and more efficient.

To be continued ...

Continued ...

Electric cars able to travel up to 500 km on a single charge are already available though they are far too expensive for the average car owner. If they stay so expensive few people will use them. But with new battery technology now being developed, the price of electric cars is going to become cheaper than our present fuel guzzlers which use petrol and diesel. Within less than 20 years, electric cars will become the norm and will be recharging their batteries from solar power stations.

But some people think they are living in the 19th century and urge us to stick to being dependent on fossil fuels. But nothing will resist the advances being made by human ingenuity. The future is clean energy from sunlight. Its going to be cleaner and its going to be cheaper. And its already happening!

"But nothing will resist the advances being made by human ingenuity."

Then there's no need for any policy to force adoption of any such technology, is there? People will do it voluntarily because the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Yes? You're contradicting yourself? Oh that's right, logic doesn't matter. Just as well the people developing the advances in technology don't share your intellectual method, isn't it?

Hi Agnostic,

You correctly assert that "nothing will resist the advances being made by human ingenuity." [That's going to come back to bite you :) ]

By the same logic, technology will be developed which can suck the CO2 out of the air, and/or capture it at the smokestack, so in the meantime, what does it matter how much coal we burn ? If it can provide poorer countries with the means to produce the range of infrastructure that we take for granted, as soon as possible, then why not ?

Your statement above would be fully supported by Bjorn Lomborg, I suggest. And fair enough.

Thanks,

Joe

This a long thread for a non-event.