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Fixing environmental problems necessary and doable, says OECD

Posted at 4:20 PM on 05 Mar 2008

It is not only highly necessary but entirely affordable to tackle climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and other environmental problems, according to a report released Wednesday by ~~some wacko environmentalists~~ the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Summed up OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria: Solutions "are available, they are achievable, and they are affordable" -- and they are "considerably less onerous for mankind and for the economy than the alternative of inaction."

sources: Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Bloomberg

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Comments: (5 comments)

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Don't forget about Africa though

Africa might suffer more from the changing climate than any other continent. Especially because of the lack of social safety nets provided by governments. Is there a solution for Africa when they have so much else to focus on - health, poverty, war and hunger? Or are we caught in a Catch 22 with no sustainable solutions? More on this in my blog at http://angryafrican.wordpress.com/2008/03/02/solving-the- ...

by Angry African at 4:53 PM on 05 Mar 2008

I Keep Thinking of the PC

Take the personal computer.

It took off in an instant.

It gave power to the people...the computing power of an Air Force computer from a few years before into finished basement of every American.

You didn't have to force people to buy it.

They wanted it!

Environmental technology will succeed when it's put on a shelf at Sears and people can go in, spend what they would for a 50" LCD/TV and bring it home to make their own energy for a fraction of the cost.

Doing that takes real intelligence, innovation and smarts -- not whining about "The Government" on web 2.0 sites.

by jabailo at 11:27 AM on 06 Mar 2008

Climate Change

Climate Change has had little effect on people. Africa doesn't suffer by higher tempatures of what is it . 7degC. Climate Change has little to do with what man does. I haven't seen any proof. The Lack of a Social Safety net in Africa sucks, the lack of a govenment run Safety net is really good. The US Government is Trillions in debt with our two biggest spenders being drugs and Social Secerity. Acctually the warmer planet should bring more rain for farmers. Africa is reasource rich last time I looked at map. Also geneticly modifidy foods could feed lots of people. And DDT could kill Millaria in lots of places. If African governments and tribal or Islamic rebels would get out of the way. There is a lot of anarchy over there.

by John Schneider at 12:38 PM on 06 Mar 2008

Cliamte change...

...may have little effect on people directly, but it has a huge effect on the environment, which does effect people directly.

by Tasermons Partner at 12:41 PM on 06 Mar 2008

What the hell have you been smoking?

Last I heard, people were dying in Africa due to extreme droughts now. Forget your basic garden variety heat-and-dehydration-related deaths--of which, don't get me wrong, there have been many. But the conflict in Darfur, which has killed over 200,000 people and displaced over 2,000,000, started out as a conflict over water supplies. All told, I wouldn't be surprised if climate change were killing people in Africa faster than AIDS.

If a bunch of Africans don't matter to you, I seem to recall something about Georgia (the U.S. state, not the Eurasian country) currently suffering its worst drought on record... And something about the worst hurricane season on record in 2005, hitting the US with not one, but two intensely destructive hurricanes, from which thousands of people are still homeless.

If you just need more "white people" news to make this feel close to home... Australia has been struggling with a drought that's probably worse than anything in the U.S. or Africa for, what... Three years now? Four? Britain, on the other hand, could use a good drought: They spent a good chunk of last year being bombarded with floods. People died in those, too.

So, yeah. Little effect on people. Keep thinking that.

by Pathos at 10:04 PM on 06 Mar 2008

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