Great news! The G7 have reportedly pledged to end their use of fossil fuels to generate electricity 'by the end of the century' (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/08/g7-fossil-fuel-pledge-is-a-diplomatic-coup-for-germanys-climate-chancellor). The only troubles with such pledges (although the idea is eminently sensible) are a) the end of the century is a long way off in carbon dioxide emission terms (some authorities think we have gone too far to limit devastating changes already); b) methane produced by cows is even more potent as a 'greenhouse gas' in the global warming stakes (or steaks?); c) future politicians have a habit of wriggling out of pledges made by their predecessors; d) big, developing countries often argue that, although they are keen to get round to limiting the emission of climate-change linked gases, it is more important (especially to their re-election chances) that their populations are 'lifted out of poverty' and this, unfortunately, requires increased coal, oil and gas use; e) the multinational, hydrocarbon-prospecting companies are unlikely to go quietly and f) nuclear energy production would probably have to increase with its attendant risks.
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