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Alabama Policy Institute officials visited Mobile on Monday to warn against efforts to reduce carbon emissions, casting doubt on the view that manmade carbon dioxide is creating harmful global warming and saying controls would harm the economy.
“Do we have an impact? Yes,” said John Hill, director of research for the Birmingham-based conservative think tank. “Is it significant? No.”
Hill said Earth’s climate naturally fluctuates between cold and hot periods, and the planet is now experiencing a hot cycle. He said humans can do little to alter climate.
“The climate is always changing,” Hill said. “Glaciers are always retreating or advancing. Sea levels are always rising or falling.”
Others counter that view.
“That’s against the consensus of most of the scientists who have looked at it,” said Karl Coplan, an environmental law professor at Pace University in White Plains, N.Y., interviewed Monday by the Press-Register “The scientists have it right. The earth is warming, and it’s caused in large part by carbon dioxide.
About 20 people attended the lunch at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel. The meeting was the fourth the institute has held around the state this month. Hill said he hoped attendees would spread the word about the threat to the economy. They also said they hoped to appeal to church leaders statewide to counter what they see as misinformation on global warming.
All sides agree that carbon dioxide limits could raise the cost of electricity or heat generated using fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas. It could also raise costs for other industries that release carbon dioxide, such as cement plants.
One approach to such limits is to cap emissions, give vouchers allowing a certain amount of emissions to industries, and then gradually ratchet down overall output. Industries would find their own ways to cut emissions, and those with surplus vouchers could sell them to those who couldn’t cut emissions as cheaply. A cap-and-trade bill was introduced April 1 by U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass.
Michael Churchman, executive director of the Alabama Environmental Council, said his group is studying the issue. “I would agree with people who say it’s probably going to be expensive,” Churchman said, but added that coal and other fossil fuels have hidden costs consumers don’t pay now.
Higher energy prices would result in savings in other areas, such as human health and environmental improvement, he said.
Alabama Policy Institute officials, though, said any threat from global warming is too insignificant to risk economic harm. Communications Director David Sawyer warned that a cap-and-trade system could more than double electricity and natural gas bills for residents.
“Since when was carbon dioxide considered a poisonous pollutant?” Sawyer said. “To put a chokehold on our economy with the idea of saving the planet is a complete ruse.”
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