In our county, Sonoma County, northern California, the government has committed to reducing our carbon dioxide output by 25% below 1990 levels by 2015. Four years from now.
Here's the obvious question: When were our carbon dioxide emissions at 25% below 1990 levels? What year? You can't find that info. Anywhere. How many people were in the county at that time? Don't know since we don't know the year, but the county population has grown since 1990. So if we're talking about per capita reductions and we don't know what the population was at the time that we were supposedly at 25% below 1990, this goal will place us at a greater percentage than a reduction of 25% on a per capita basis.
It's about control. The county doesn't even know what year it's trying to go back to. The county wasn't measuring 'greenhouse gases' back in the 80's. Or the 70's. But their goals will put our farming, our industry, our energy usage, our businesses, our production, and our livelihoods, back at some level in the past. That is just a number to some people, but we don't know what the consequences will be. What impact will this have on our food production? On your ability to work and continue to be financially independent? Will we be so restricted and regulated that we become totally dependent on the government for our food, housing, and income? Then what? Will we be living in smartgrowth slums? Traveling on buses routed only where we are permitted to go? Eating packaged food impregnated with chemicals?
This is the result of policy makers trying to outdo one another, and agencies acting regionally to try and comply with state and federal mandates orchestrated by ICLEI. You are required to comply. The goal is more important than your life.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T MEET THEIR GOALS?
2009 COUNTYWIDE GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORY
Sonoma County’s GHG emissions in 1990: 3.6 million metric tons carbon dioxide (CO2)
Goal of 25% below the 1990 level: 2.7 million metric tons carbon dioxide (CO2)
Sonoma County’s GHG emissions in 2009: 4.28 million metric tons carbon dioxide (CO2)
Source: Sonoma County Water Agency
http://www.sctainfo.org/data.htm
If this were enacted in 2009 it would have required a 36.92% reduction in emissions. So what's next? If you can't meet their goals? FINES. And if you can't pay your fines? Tax liens. And if you can't pay your tax lien? Confiscation of property.
Did you know? The UK and most of the US has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Imagine that.