The "Children and Grandchildren" Report #1

Inspired by Kevin Rudd’s assault on sceptics, in which he said:

“It is time to be totally blunt about the agenda of the climate change skeptics in all their colours – some more sophisticated than others.

“It is to destroy the CPRS at home, and it is to destroy agreed global action on climate change abroad, and our children’s fate – and our grandchildren’s fate – will lie entirely with them”

ACM will present on an occasional basis, a round-up of the mawkish and emotive references to children and grandchildren in relation to climate change or global warming. So without further ado, here is the first edition:

Travel Daily News International – 12 November 2009

Launching the third World Travel Market World Responsible Tourism Day, Fiona Jeffery, Chairman of World Travel Market, said: “December’s climate summit is vital to more than just our industry. It’s essential for the future of our children and our grandchildren.” (source)

Hillary Clinton – US Department of State Remarks at APEC Singapore – 11 November 2009

But under any circumstance, Copenhagen is not the end of the process. It is part of our larger collective commitment to hold ourselves and others accountable, to speed the transition to a low-carbon global economy, and to leave a cleaner, greener planet for our children and grandchildren. So as we emerge from Copenhagen, we have to continue on this course with urgency and resolve. (source)

Jonathan Dimbleby – Regen South West’s Annual Conference – 11 November 2009

Mr Dimbleby commented on the severity of global warming and said: “We need to press the need for a radical shift in the consumption of energy. We are sleepwalking into this future catastrophe which we know is simply unbelievable to contemplate for our children and grandchildren in 40-50 years time.” (source)

Jamie Reed, UK MP for Copeland – 11 November 2009

“I have spoken with international climate change scientists and I have seen for myself the nature of the challenge in the Arctic Circle and I know that we have no time to delay if we are to secure the future of our planet for our children and grandchildren.” (source)

Adam Sacks – Grist – 10 November 2009

We’re deniers every time we say “80 percent by 2050,” or even “80 percent by 2020”; every time we refer to tipping points in the future tense; every time we advocate substituting “clean” energy for “dirty” energy; every time we buy a squiggly light bulb or a hybrid vehicle; every time we advocate for cap-and-trade, or even a carbon tax; every time we countenance the mention of loopy geoengineering schemes; every time we invoke the future of our children and grandchildren and ignore the widespread suffering from global climate disruption today. (source)

More, many more, to come in the future.