World Retreats from Energy Alarmism

Washington, D.C., October 15, 2008—Last night, voters in Canada decisively rejected a tax on
energy use aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon tax had
been the centerpiece of Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion’s election
campaign. His party suffered a serious reverse at the polls, losing a
quarter of its seats. Analysts agree the pledge was a significant factor
in the Liberals’ failure to take advantage of the economic crisis. The
last thing the Canadian people wanted was extra costs to their families in
troubled times.

In Europe, the Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski today
vowed to block European Union attempts to impose a new measures aimed at
reducing emissions next month. Sikorski told an EU summit meeting that, “Poland is ready
to veto if there are attempts to force us to accept the climate-change packet
in the next months.” A statement from the leaders of several Eastern
European countries said, “The vast majority of the EU’s greenhouse gas emission
reductions have been achieved by less affluent member states at a very high
social and economic cost, and it should be recognized.”

Senior Fellow Iain
Murray comments, “Once again, Washington
insiders need to pay attention to what’s happening beyond our borders. The
world has realized that the greenhouse gas reductions championed by Al Gore and
his fellow travelers come at a very high price, at both the national and
household level. If we need to do anything to manage the risk that global
warming might become a problem, we need to think of other ways of doing it.”

FEATURED VIDEO: Senior Fellow Iain
Murray’s take on global warming, the developing world and
eco-imperialism here.

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