Dec 2, 2015, COP 21, Paris

Iconic Climatologist James Hansen appeared at a COP21 press conference, where he issued a strong critique of the anticipated Paris agreement as ‘half-assed’ and ‘half baked’ for once again relying upon voluntary emission reductions. Hansen argued instead for a gradually rising cap and dividend approach to controlling carbon emissions.

“Science tells us we have to actually reduce emissions rapidly. And furthermore, the economic studies show that if you put an honest price on carbon emissions, you would reduce emissions rapidly. But if you don’t have that price on there, you’re not going to reduce the emissions. You will reduce the emissions someplace, but then it keeps the price low so somebody else will burn it.” ~ James Hansen

“The problem is, fossil fuels appear to the consumer to be the cheapest energy. They’re not really cheapest, because they don’t include their full cost to society… and the climate effects, which are beginning to be significant and will be much larger in the future are also not included in the price of the fossil fuels.” ~ James Hansen

Hansen swamped by reporters with further questions for nearly an hour after the press conference.

Report by James George