« The monumental achievements of Roland Burris | Roland Burris advocated 'reparations' for slavery »
PrintJanuary 1, 2009
A Global Warming Howler for the New Year
Move over city and highway MPG. Smog ratings - you're yesterday's news. Beginning today, those shopping a new ride in California will face a new standard in town -- something called a "Global Warming Score."
No kidding.
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 1229, a sticker displaying a rank comparing "the emissions of global warming gases from the vehicle with the average projected emissions of global warming gases from all vehicles of the same model year sold in the state" must be affixed to all motor vehicles henceforth sold in the state. These so-called "Global Warming Scores" range from 1 to 10, with 1 representing a vehicle selfishly emitting an excess of 520 "CO2 - equivalent Grams per mile" and 10 given to those altruistically checking in at under 200.
Okay, so CO2 grams emitted per mile would appear a tangible, albeit excruciatingly inconsequentially silly, measure. But just what is a "CO2 - equivalent?"
Well, so as not to burden its citizenry with potentially enlightening science, the Governator's State has conveniently lumped all "Greenhouse gases (ghg) emitted from vehicles includ[ing] carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2), and hydroflurocarbons (HFCs) from air conditioner refrigerant" together into one "CO2 equivalent Value." Pretty slick move -- while CO2 is the least significant of all so-called "Greenhouse Gases," its unique status as chief byproduct of industrial progress makes it by far the most valuable to regulation-hungry eco-maniacs.
But given all its artifice, "CO2 Equivalent Score" lacks the magical connection sought by the legislation's makers. So, having successfully misrepresented an amalgam of gases as one, the next challenge was to label arbitrary output ranges of that arbitrary blend as a vehicle's "Global Warming Score."
To wit, Section 1 of the new Bill explains the convoluted reasoning behind this mind-boggling leap, opening with these deceiving declarations of scientific certitude:
(a) The use of fossil fuels in motor vehicles is one of the primary human sources of global warming gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to a warming effect on the planet.(b) Increasing concentrations of global warming gases in the atmosphere are likely to accelerate the rate of climate change in California.(c) Scientific research indicates that the impact of global warming on our environment will be profound. Global warming will significantly impact the state's air quality, water resources, forests, agricultural regions, coastal regions, and the health of the state's residents.
Considering that all three points are at the very least unproven and recently all but disproved alarmist propaganda, this new mandated metric is neither any less comical nor any more relevant than would be a Dragon Repellant Score.
But Mary Nichols, Chairwoman of the same California Air Resources Board that somehow evaluates each vehicle's Global Warming Score defends the concept:
"This label will arm consumers with the information they need to choose a vehicle that saves gas, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps fight smog all at once. Consumer choice is an especially powerful tool in our fight against climate change."
The second sentence is a scream. But take a look at the actual sticker (Image) - the statistic that Nichols mentions first, and the one of most concern to the consumer the dying industry desperately needs to attract, is nowhere to be found.
Of course, it's absurd to think that today's less than abundant buyer, having been satisfied with the selling price and mileage ratings, will give a rodent's butt about a car's Global Warming Score.
But today's California milestone is a stark reminder that misplaced, even though hilarious, AGW legislation currently in the pipeline has taken on an impetus that even recent challenges to its very foundation will not easily redirect. And it may be years before misinformed Pols (including the President elect) realize they've been duped by self-serving and/or just plain wrong alarmists and manage a strategy reassessment.
Imagine: A car's Global Warming Score.
The very fact that to very many the very concept is not very comical is very disturbing.
Yet the very thought of a car salesman pitching such inanity my way really kills me with laughter.
As does my confidence that all too many misinformed believers (Californian or otherwise) will likely nod, smile, accept, and ultimately proselytize the very same idiocy.
