If Waxman-Markey was in effect, would Los Angeles take this kind of action knowing that its reduced use of coal power would simply allow more use of coal power elsewhere

In a sense, LA’s decision “allows” that even before ACES — their decision allows others to emit more without before we reach a climactic tipping point. But ACES gives an additional motivation, namely that new coal becomes too expensive to justify itself, because new coal plants calculate their ROI over the next 30 years, and the cap will start to bite well before then.

Is there a security issue?

[JR: Probably not. Most likely a vestige of the transition. Will monitor.]

Obviously, China, along with India and Brazil, is one of the strongest emerging economies, if not the strongest, in the world, and has much to lose from tougher carbon restrictions.

He still is weighted in denial that any carbon fuel combustion is harmful. (until we can make a carbon fuel that burns clean) The best we can do now is shut down coal, then move to shut down oil. Not firesale the last drops.

He misses the point that under the US financial system EXXON has a fiduciary responsibility to deliver profit – and that can and must include rapacious and unethical acts of deceit in pursuit of that profit. Maybe not so in Britain.

The oil and coal industries have been suborning the murder of our grandchildren. They try to escape this charge by challenging the science and smearing scientists. In England they may be a bit more civilized, but they are not yet fully honest about their role in promoting this.

Don’t we all have a right to know the consequences of (y)our actions?

Caribbean struggles to recover from ‘08 hurricanes
http://www.miamiherald.com/ news/ americas/ haiti/ story/ 1135690.html
…
The Caribbean is still struggling to recover from last year’s hurricanes, with crews scrambling to rebuild homes and replant crops as the region faces a new season of storms.

Last year was one of the most active seasons in more than six decades, with 15 of 18 Caribbean nations reporting damages, according to the Caribbean Development Bank.

At least six major storms caused an estimated $355 million in damages from the Bahamas to the Dominican Republic in 2008, Pamela Knights, of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, said Thursday.

The total damage is considered to be much higher: Haiti — which was most affected — is not included on the list and several islands did not submit reports. Haitian officials have said that four tropical storms caused $1 billion in damages.

We have the same concerns as everyone on energy and greenhouse gas emissions, says Nick Thomas
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ commentisfree/ 2009/ jul/ 10/ response-exxon-mobil

Cool-Planet Goal Shared by Large Polluters, Insurers
http://www.bloomberg.com/ apps/ news?pid=20601109&sid=adXgnJDUbhK0
…
The 2-degree cap, supported by the EU since 1996, has gained acceptance from insurers, one of the first corporate converts.

“The worrisome fact is that we do not know exactly what will happen for instance in a ‘3-degree-world,’” said Eberhard Faust, head of climate risk at Munich Re. “Science hints at strong adverse effects beyond this cap.” …
If left unchecked, global warming may make the cost of some insurance “unbearable,” he said in an interview.
…
“Even a 2 degree temperature rise is likely to lead to more intense storms, some significant droughts and a largely unknown effect on sea level,” Lloyd’s Maynard said.