Stan Cox Quotes
The hotter summers get, the more we become dependent on air-conditioning, and the more of it we use, which ensures that summers will be even hotter.”
Both the Freon used in air conditioners and the energy to run the air conditioning equipment (generated by fossil fuels) contribute to global warming. Therefore Cox observes that the more air conditioning we use the warmer the climate as a whole gets. And then we need more air conditioning to be comfortable. This in turn produces more warming and Cox argues were are in an endless cycle. However, while this is true, the incremental energy required to produce the additional cooling to offset the global warming is relatively small. What is the greater problem is if the billions of people who do not now have air conditioning want it and get it. That will require enormous additional energy which could produce substantially more global warming. It should be noted that the United States has already banned Freon in favor of coolants which do not attack the ozone layer. And if the energy for air conditioning were produced by clean energy—nuclear, thermal, wind, hydroelectric or solar, the whole problem is moot and there would be no problem with air conditioning. However, as long as we use fossil fuels, Cox’s point is well taken.
Stan Cox, Writer & Environmentalist, Quoted in “Brave Thinkers”, The Atlantic, November 2012
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
There are those who worry that we will run out of oil. However, as Khosla observes, the more immediate danger is the pollution of the planet’s air supply by burning fossil fuels like oil in large volumes.
Many environmentalists who urgently tried to reduce man’s use of fossil fuels, objected when clean energy windmills were proposed. They objected to the possible damage to flying birds and the aesthetic degradation of the landscape.
Less than an average of 5 feet above sea level, Maldives is the lowest country in the world. It’s highest point is less than 8 feet high. The small increase in the world sea level resulting from climate change has already affected Maldives, and an increase of only a foot would wipe out a large part of the country.
The “burn” referred to gasoline that is burned in automobiles.
What makes this quote particularly memorable is that Inhofe was actually the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and thus will go down in history.
Stanley Ernest Walter Cox was a British athlete who competed in two Olympic games in 1948 and 1952. Born in Wood Green, England, he served with Royal Air Force in World War II before competing in the 10,000-metre event at the 1948 Summer Olympics. Unable to participate in the 1950 British Empire Games, he returned to the Olympics in 1952, although he did not complete his event, the marathon, due to the flu. At the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, he suffered a sunstroke and collapsed within two miles (3 km) of the finish. He retired from running in 1956, but continued to work with UK Athletics for several years and was due to participate in the ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
