'This Is Nuts': Poland Announces 'Radical Acceleration' of Gas Fracking at UN Climate Summit

[unhappycamper]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/11/20-2



Poland fires Environment Minister at height of UN climate talks in order to push development of shale development

'This Is Nuts': Poland Announces 'Radical Acceleration' of Gas Fracking at UN Climate Summit
- Jon Queally, staff writer
Published on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 by Common Dreams

Poland is turning out to be a host of ill-repute when it comes to seriously addressing the crisis of fossil fuel-driven global warming.

Already under fire for choosing to host a global coal conference alongside the UN climate talks, known as COP19, in Warsaw this week, the Polish government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk has doubled-down on flouting the international call for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by firing Environment Minister Marcin Korolec in the middle of the talks and replacing him with a man closely associated with the nation's gas fracking industry.

As Reuters reports:

Korolec will be replaced by Maciej Grabowski, former deputy finance minister responsible for preparing shale gas taxation.

"It is about radical acceleration of shale gas operations. Mr Korolec will remain the government's plenipotentiary for the climate negotiations," Tusk told a news conference.

[Nihil]

1. They are blatantly laughing at the helplessness of the 99.9%.

[GliderGuider]

2. And just yesterday I was all embarrassed about being Canadian

Stunning PR. In case anyone misses the point, this can be taken as a statement of intent coming from all large and medium-sized industrial nations.

Jobs win, the planet loses. Burn, baby burn.

[hatrack]

3. But don't worry, 'cuz if you have enough money . . .

. . . you'll never die!

[Ghost Dog]

4. Even if you have to live on the yacht,

for security.

[kristopher]

11. Statement of intent by all large and medium industrial nations?

That is pure rubbish, GG.

[GliderGuider]

12. That's the way I interpret it. Either that or it will be taken as a green light by others. nt

[hatrack]

13. Well, Japan, Canada, Australia, Poland, and that's just this past two weeks

The U.S. hasn't exactly been covering itself with climate glory since Copenhagen disintegrated, and China gets to sit with the G77, so it's pretty safe to say that they won't be on board with cuts any time soon.

Per UN Estimates, percentage of total anthropogenic emissions by country :

Japan: 4.04%
Canada: 1.82%
Australia: 1.34%
Poland: 1.06%
US: 18.27%
China: 23.5%

http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/SeriesDetail.aspx?srid=749&crid=

Of course, those are 2008 numbers and have certainly shifted some since then. Even so, these six countries are (were) responsible for 50.03% of anthropogenic CO2 emisssions and, well, things kind of tend to add up in the end.

[quadrature]

5. welcome news

cut the Russians out of the deal.
what's not to like?

[Nihil]

6. "what's not to like?"

The unwelcome smell of a recurring troll?

[NickB79]

7. Is Polish gas somehow better for the environment

Than Russian gas?

I guess what's not to like is the extra methane leakage and polluted groundwater that fracking for gas entails vs. the more conventional wells that the Russians operate.

Climate change doesn't give a flying fuck about national borders or political parties and their leaders.

[quadrature]

8. good question... is there something wrong, with Poland taking care of themselves?..nt

[GliderGuider]

9. If it's at the expense of the rest of life on the planet, yes there is. nt

[kristopher]

10. A path of more coal, gas and nuclear is Poland's answer to AGW.

A commitment to Business As Usual.