Putin: global warming is a fraud

[Benton]

(11-30-2015, 04:11 PM)RoyleRedlegs Wrote: IDK if it is holding back Russia, but I know places like India seem to hate all this crap because they need fossil fuels more than "developed" nations. They are well on their way and the availability of cheap fuels is a big reason. It's messy but it's how countries can get out of poverty and join the ranks of North America and Europe.

I don't see how it harms Russia any more than it harms us or any other industrialized nation. Part of the reason we lose companies to China or Mexico is because of our self-mandated regulations. There are things we can do domestically to improve that attrition, like repealing NAFTA and other trade agreements that harm our economy more than help it. But companies are still going to seek out using the absolute cheapest manufacturing possible, so if they can move to Mexico and burn coal to produce electricity as opposed to paying 3-4 times as much for it here, they will.

Mainly, Putin doesn't want to talk about global warming because Russia is #2 in oil exports and the only one country close to the Saudis. They're also in the top 5 in coal exporters. Most of the oil and coal are owned by the government, and they make a large chunk of change by exporting it to less developed countries.

Putin is looking out for Russia's export interests, which is understandable. But it doesn't make him any less full of Putin.