Originally Posted by ithacaartist (Post 304949)

The combustion of fossil fuels is an environmental problem due to the extra carbon introduced to the above-ground global ecosystem. The effects are real, not just someone's opinion, and demonstrated by solid science. The implications of the problem are both political and economic because the steps needed to help the situation are difficult, complicated, and will be expensive in the short term.

Every drop of petro-fuel should remain right were it is until/unless the techniques are developed to use it safely. The prices of denying the science, avoiding changes, or changing too slowly seem higher than many want to pay, but this is short-term thinking.