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TODAY Thursday 16 October 1997 Each weekday. Conn Nugent on what's new in the world, on the site. |
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TODAY Thursday 16 October 1997 Each weekday. Conn Nugent on what's new in the world, on the site. |
TODAY IN THE WORLD: Drillbit Diplomacy
A: Lee R. Raymond.
Q: Who is the chairman of the board of Exxon?
A: It doesn't say.
Q: What does the "R." stand for?
A: Beijing.
Q: Where was he on Wednesday?
A: Addressing the delegates to the World Petroleum Congress.
Q: And what was he doing in Beijing?
A: Well, the Wall Street Journal headline sums it up: "Exxon Urges Developing Nations to Shun Environmental Curbs Hindering Growth." Mr. Raymond argued that "The real secret to environmental improvement is economic growth. I hope that the governments of this region will work with us to resist policies that could strangle economic growth."
Q: What was the gist of his remarks?
A: You bet. Especially that part about "resist policies."
Q: Do you think the White House resents such talk?
A: Yes, certainly, but only in a limited sense. If "environmental improvement" is defined as technical measures that reduce pollution caused by other technical measures -- decontaminating a river near a factory, for example -- there's no question but that having a lot of money to spend on the problem is very useful. But if "environmental improvement" is defined to include preservation of habitat and species, or simple pollution prevention, then economic growth -- as it's carried out today -- presents unavoidable ecological problems.
Q: Politics aside, does this guy have a point?
A: Well, you're right, climate is a good example. The most important greenhouse gas, after all, is carbon dioxide, which is hardly a poison. Yet there really can be too much of a good thing, ecologically speaking, and so excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere appears to be warming the earth's temperature and increasing the frequency of violent storms.
Q: Is that what's going on with global warming?
A: He has a three-tier answer. One, global warming may not be happening at all. Two, even if it is happening, climate change is a natural thing, anyway ("The ice ages are a good example."). Three, economic growth is the only way to handle any possible problems anyway.
Q: So what does Raymond say about the subject?
A: He's a tough guy, no question about it. He tells the audience that not only should the poor countries be free from any commitments to limit emissions, but that the rich countries shouldn't have to do anything either. If you limit carbon burning in the North, he says, you end up limiting export possibilities for the South, which means less economic growth. He wants the governments of the world to do as little as possible for at least twenty years so that scientists can figure out climate change later on.
Q: Is Raymond taking a hardline position?
A: Hard to say. He's probably a pretty typical example of the oilmen, just more willing to play the part in public. You'll remember back in May there was a speech by John Browne, the CEO of British Petroleum, where Browne said that climate change must be taken seriously and that energy companies should be in the forefront of conservation programs. The word then was that the other members of the Big Oil club were furious with Browne -- the word "traitor" was heard -- and Raymond's speech serves both as payback to John Browne and as a shot across Bill Clinton's bow.
Q: Who does Raymond represent?
A: The usual carrot and stick approach. The carrot is a pledge to help developing countries find, drill, refine, and export more petroleum and thereby swell national coffers. He professed indifference to some failed prospecting in China and promised to stay the course. The stick is a warning from him and his colleagues that they would be likely to avoid any country that imposes too many environmental-regulation burdens. In the words of Ian Johnson of the Wall Street Journal: "Mr. Raymond warned that if too much emphasis is put on environmental rules that cost investors money, oil multinationals can always invest elsewhere." Raymond says oil companies need tax concessions and "rational environmental standards."
Q: So what was Raymond offering the South?
A. Yes, a rather naked threat, don't you think?
Q: Sounds like a threat to me.
TODAY ON THE SITE:
Brian Goetz tells a story of green dumpster diving in his article in the Works-in-Progress feature of our Newsroom section. Follow Brian around as he traverses a trail of self-education on the attractions of reusing and recycling wastes from construction sites. Down and dirty.
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