Sydney Mayor joins alarmist bandwagon

More alarmism from The Australian as it gives dire warnings for our cities.

The world's top 20 megacities use 75 per cent of the world's energy.

If the planet is to be saved from the ravages of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, the experts agree, cities and the people in them are going to have to change.

Cutting carbon emissions by 15 per cent globally by 2020, or one tonne per capita, would save $US946 billion, one expert said.

That's almost enough, on its own, to make up for Wall Street's recent worst day in history.

Carbon-cutting could involve measures as simple as ditching the car more often and getting on your bike, or walking.

Personally, I don't understand the logic in that argument, i.e. how stifling economies by cutting emissions will save money. Perhaps someone could enlighten me.

Nicky Gavron, an environmental extremist and socialist, and former deputy mayor of London under Ken Livingstone chimes in:

"With a rise in the sea level of just a few metres (caused by global warming), London would cease to function.

"As we suffered, so would other world financial centres.

"Of the 30 largest financial centres in the world, 22 are on coasts or estuaries.

"Whatever you are talking about now (in the financial crisis) would pale into insignificance."

And it seems to have rubbed off on our own Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney:

"We don't have a choice - we must urgently deal with climate change or there won't be an economy.

"Successful businesses and governments will be the smart, nimble ones who see the opportunity for change and quickly adapt to the new green economy. The others will become dinosaurs.''

Watermelon politics at its best: green on the outside, red on the inside.

Read it here.