More debate, please!

This thoughtful article in the Telegraph by Roger Bootle asks a simple question: How much should we be prepared to pay to stop global warming?

Bootle gives quite honest and sober assessment of the global warming debate using simple common-sense. I found myself in agreement with a lot of his points. Here are just some:

With honourable exceptions, the people who are queuing up to endorse tough measures also tend to be against one, several or all of the following: the market, capitalism, low taxes, a small state, individual freedom, economic growth, globalisation, free trade, inter-dependence, and America.

He also highlights the importance of not giving the environmentalists a blank check. He is quite right to note that the issue goes well beyond making small sacrifices now for the better future.

Precisely because the avoidance of climate change cannot be provided or purchased individually, government intervention is potentially back - and on a huge scale.
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If this alliance carries the day then the loss of income projected by Stern as a result of unchecked global warming would prove to be chicken feed. We could end up shutting down the engine of our prosperity - and for something which may yet prove to be a chimera.

Bootle doesn't shy form suggesting the things that we can and should do. The things that will be good for the environment but are not incompatible with economic growth.

I have long wondered about energy security. The West's dependence upon oil makes it dependent upon the Middle East and Russia. This dependence is a grave strategic weakness which one day could bring very heavy costs - and not just in money.
Accordingly, steps to substitute other energy sources, or to economise on energy, are to be welcomed. I know that not everyone will agree, but it seems to me that nuclear power is the only serious option - and it could be promoted partly on environmental grounds!

I hope we will see more articles like this in the future. This debate is too important to be drowned out in the campaign of green scaremongering.