Air Quote by James Hansen
“Goals and caps on carbon emissions are practically worthless, if coal emissions continue, because of the exceedingly long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the air.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Climate Change Testimony, US Senate, 2005
Carbon emissions persist for centuries, making caps ineffective if coal keeps burning.
In simple terms: Carbon lasts long, caps fail without coal reduction.
Reduce coal use, not just cap emissions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- government regulation
- energy planning
- carbon budgeting
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can policy address long‑term carbon persistence?
- What alternatives to coal are viable?
Caps alone cannot offset ongoing coal emissions.