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Subject: CLIMAT CHANGE (part 1: the sources) Date: 15 May 2008 By: Lucas Bates I was rather surprised that the European Commission could state (Jan 08) that the climate change will cost every European 150 Euros extra per year. This amount will mainly be used to obtain CO2 rights in other countries. In addition there will be a major increase in energy costs due to the so called “Eco-taxes”. The earth warms up, that’s a fact, and even very fast to earth’s norms. 20 years ago there was a major disputes between scientists on what was happening. The Russians stated that we were going to a new ice age and the Americans stated that we would go to a new tropic age. Now they agree that there is a 90% chance that the humans could be a major factor in the warming up. That we have an impact is logical. We quadruplet our population and considering that every human generates approximately 5 KW heat per 24 hours, generates methane gases as we eat, burp and produce gasses. The increase of animals needed to feed all those people causes an even increase in methane. But we also had to generate the industry, heating and transport to feed and house them all. But what is the real story on the predictions and thus the cost (tax) predictions. 25 years ago, we had a major warning by the ecologists :”there was a hole in the ozone-layer and we were all going to die due to the increased Ultra-Violet radiation.” Extra taxes on fridges, cooling systems and aircos with a law to replace all cooling gases was the only solution. 15 years later they concluded that this hole as regular and repetitive and that there was no increase in UV. Our data on the weather on our earth is to young to make valid predictions and even valid conclusions. Weather monitoring started , in Belgium, only in 1840. 170 years of limited information is very little data in a multi million year complex weather system, to be able to obtain any statistical value. For governmental financial reasons, the human being is considered the main factor while data from permafrost at the poles, data from the solar cycles and activities, data from rock samples in desserts and so many others are not even discussed. No, our governments, under the umbrella of the EU tells us that 150 Euro is the answer. These 150 Euro and all other taxes are not the answer. There is no money for real research. All governments state the we have to invest in solar and wind energy. Here in Spain , with over 300 days of real sun, it is a possibility but in Northern Europe , it won’t do the job. Wind energy: yes, useful but, very limited again (no wind or to much wind and it has no use) But there is a major problem with these types of energy : we can’t store them. Our storage capacity is approximately 150 mAh per cm3. Storing enough energy to be able to function a microwave oven for one hour needs a battery of 16 liters (dm3). The requirement for a small house (without heating) needs a volume of 2 cubic meters (m3). Since we can’t store the energy, those unpredictable energy sources are only a help but the suppliers must be able to provide the entire requirements at all times. Are there alternatives ? Yes !! Belgium and Netherlands (and many other countries) have to much manure. Now it happens that manure the perfect source is to create methane gas, that can be used to run a car and other machines while being clean. So we solve 2 problems at once. Northwest Europe has a very predictable almost continues form of energy: tide-currents. Only Netherlands has the intention to use this system (if the ecologists don’t stop it with the argument that the fish will get lost) Nuclear power. What people have against it, I don’t know. Yes, we have the nuclear waste, but we have this under control and a lot less than the amount of CO2 and dust we now blow uncontrolled in the air. And about risks: we had, up to now, no accidents in western Europe that endangered us. And I certainly don’t understand the Belgium politicians. They will close the Belgium nuclear power-plants and make themselves fully dependant from France that will build additional nuclear power-plants to provide that additional power requirement. (but they covered the risk in buying chares in the France energy sector. That is their eco-solution) Water dams won’t be of a big use in the low lands as Belgium and Netherlands but a very important asset in the mountain area’s. So , Europe, as well as the US, China or any country can use a standardized solution while the politicians (specially the green parties) are enforcing those. Every region has to investigate it’s energy potential and use the extra taxes to use these extra, endless , clean and cheap forms of energy. Lucas Bates. Next time: transport.