Friday, March 20, 2009

$750 billion "Green New Deal" - UN

Investments of $750 billion could create a "Green New Deal" to revive the world economy and protect the environment, perhaps aided by a tax on oil, the head of the U.N. environment agency said on Thursday. Achim Steiner said spending should focus on five environmental sectors including improved energy efficiency for buildings and solar or wind power to create jobs, curb poverty and fight climate change. The UNEP report said investments of one percent of global gross domestic product, or about $750 billion, could bankroll a "Global Green New Deal" inspired by the "New Deal" of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt that helped end the depression of the 1930s. He floated the possibility of taxing oil in rich nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to help a new pact become the cornerstone of a greener economy. "If, for argument's sake, you were to put a five-year levy in OECD countries of $5 a barrel, you would generate $100 billion per annum. It translates into roughly 3 cents per liter," he said. "It would be almost, if not totally, unnoticed by the consumer," he said, especially since oil prices have fallen from more than $140 a barrel at mid-2008 peaks to about $40. A barrel of oil contains 158 liters and OECD consumption is about 20 billion barrels a year, he said...Reuters

The only green they are after happens to be on our dollar bill.

The answer is always the same.

Global warming crisis? More taxing and spending.

Economic crisis? More taxing and spending.

Healthcare crisis? More taxing and spending.

They won't come right out and say, "We support higher taxes and more spending."

But give them a "crisis" and they'll immediately reach for your pocketbook.

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