In Europe's cap-and-trade scheme, the European Union allocated emissions allowances for free to emitters of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases.

FORBES: The Climate Change Trap

But if gas is plentiful and cheap enough to replace carbon-rich coal, it will also be in a position to replace carbon-free nuclear and renewables, and in doing so more carbon dioxide will be emitted than would otherwise be the case.

ECONOMIST: Natural gas

Sir David King, Tony Blair's chief scientist, recently argued that one further generation of nuclear power stations is needed (in Britain at least) to buy time, in order to keep down emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, while new carbon-free non-nuclear technologies are developed.

ECONOMIST: Nuclear power

Pachauri now jets around the world preaching a gospel in which carbon dioxide is the root of all evil, urging such measures as a global meat-free day each week (apparently, with ginger-marinated French-cut breast of chicken on the dinner menu, this wasn't one of them).

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