Twenty-Two countries cause 80.38% of worldwide man-made carbon emissions – OR -- When you suspect someone is trying to swindle you, you cease to deal with that person or entity

The message seems to be clear: Earth's climate is rapidly changing as a result of human activity. So how is it that some people are still reluctant to acknowledge it?

According to some psychologists, there are a number of reasons, including the prevalence of deceptive or erroneous information about the topic.

"But you're also getting a lot of misinformation, what we call agnotology — misleading information and false information — from vested interests," said Michael Ranney, professor of education the University of California, Berkeley's Department of Psychology. "And the internet, for decades, has been offering information that is misleading."

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A professor of Education at Berkley University is an unlikely expert on climate change.

We understand that our climate is changing. That is not new. There is substantial doubt that the change is more rapid then before. Modern communications have increased awareness, but it does not follow that changes are more pronounced.

There is also doubt that the change is entirely man-made. We don’t know because other contributing factors have not been studied. That is like trying to draw an elephant having only examined its trunk.   

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) only studies climate change related to human activity. It does not study any other factors such as solar energy so the assumption that climate change is driven by man-made emissions is false. It has some impact, but we do not know how much or if curtailing human emissions will slow climate change. We are making assumptions without knowing if climate change can be affected.

Second, 22 countries cause 80.38% of worldwide man-made carbon emissions ... another 26 countries cause 10.54% ... and the remaining 148 nations, including international air travel and shipping, account for 9.08% of emissions.

What is the point of representatives from 150 nations gathering in Poland when only 22 can have any real effect on emission reductions?

China, currently accountable for 29.51% of emissions, has announced she will continue to increase emissions until 2030. The USA (14.34%) pulled out of the Paris Agreement. India (6.8%) and Russia (4.88%) are not likely to reduce emissions. That is 55.53% of emissions unlikely to decrease.

China, the world’s most populated country has an enormous export market, which has seen its industry grow to become a serious danger to the planet. In just five provinces, which that host most of these industries, more dioxide is emitted than in any other country in the world. As a consequence, Beijing has experienced, in recent years, constant red alerts for environmental pollution.

If you think I am annoyed by some twit from an American university telling me that I need my head read for questioning why we need to gather a couple of thousand representatives in Poland, all on the public dime, you are correct. Most of them have no skin in the game. They gather to party every other year, blame developed nations for climate change and demand we act to stop it.

If you think I am annoyed by the CBC publishing this piece of crap suggesting that we are dolts for not believing the IPCC without critical examination or asking pertinent questions you are correct. When governments and the media strive to stifle honest discussion and debate on any issue, it is because they are not truthful and don’t want to be shown up as the swindlers they are. 

In November 2015 Prime Minister Trudeau announced he was providing funding to developing nations to help them combat carbon emissions:

… $300 million in 2016-17

… $400 million in 2017-18

… $500 million in 2018-19

… $650 million in 2019-20

… $800 million in 2020-21

That is $2.65 billion of taxpayer funds to help nations with negligible emissions. This program should be stopped forthwith. We can use the last $1.45 billion for some useful purpose.

When you suspect someone is trying to swindle you, you cease to deal with that person or entity. We need to pull out of the United Nations. Not just the Paris agreement, all of it. No more membership, no more dues, no more support to any faction of the organization. It is not to be trusted.

John Feldsted

Political Consultant & Strategist

Winnipeg, Manitoba