Excessive Hot Air Emissions

Nothing like a good game of one-upmanship to get something done about all that carbon dioxide being spewed into the air. With Germany slated to take over the rotating EU presidency, the government is trumpeting a new initiative to lower emissions by 30% come 2020. Not that meager 20% cut that the EU called for last month. No indeed, the Germans are going to do better.

Problem is, the pre-Merkel government set in motion, also by 2020, the complete phase-out of all German nuclear power plants. Michael Glos, the economics minister, laid into the environment minister on that one, noting that the Social Democrat was too enamored of a leftist anti-nuclear ideology. Atomic power doesn't emit carbon dioxide, and it would provide plenty of electricity, but the environment minister won't allow it. Bad things, those electrons and protons, especially when no one knows quite how to dispose of the debris.

In fact, Mr. Sigmar Gabriel is convinced that his country can lead the way on emissions reduction by using energy more efficiently and turning to renewable energy. Sounds lovely. Sounds like nothing that's been invented yet. Sounds like something not physically capable of being done at this time. Is that a pie he sees up there in the sky?

The nuclear power plants in some EU states are highly suspect, largely because they were built by the former Soviet Union which was not famous for quality control. A recent leak of radioactive water from a plant in the Czech Republic has really boosted Mr. Gabriel's argument, but Mr. Glos has his point as well. It's either dangerous nuclear power or less power, because the technology to lower CO2 just does not exist at this time. Given a choice between sitting in the dark or turning on the lights, the average EU citizen would take the brighter option. As the average EU citizens is doing the voting, the more politically astute politicians know which side they should take.

In the end, look for Germany to do what all the other EU countries are doing. They will talk up the whole emission reduction game, get some feel good quotes in the newspapers, and act surprised that emissions are rising along with a growing economy. Then the EU will fine everyone for going over the limit. Does wonders for the atmosphere, doesn't it?