Topic: Cap And Trade

California legislators are debating changes to the state's cap-and-trade program as residents face rising utility bills and insurance premiums due to climate-related disasters. Additionally, new mandates requiring the use of "green lumber" in construction are criticized for being impractical and potentially dangerous.

European ministers are reported to have linked environmental regulation with financial systems through the implementation of carbon credits. The hosts describe these credits as a "guilt-free version of tax" that allows corporations to pay for the right to pollute without necessarily reducing emissions. The segment compares the rise of carbon exchanges to the bandwidth exchanges of the mid-1990s.

Representative Marsha Blackburn's questioning of Al Gore during a congressional hearing is reviewed. The exchange focused on Gore's investments in green technology through his venture capital firm and whether he stands to profit from cap-and-trade legislation. Gore's defense—that his profits go to a non-profit—is met with skepticism by the hosts, who cite his massive increase in net worth since leaving office.

There is a renewed focus on revising building codes and infrastructure to make cities "climate adapted," including the implementation of cool roofs and surfaces. This movement is linked back to the failed "cap and trade" legislation from a decade ago, which sought to empower government inspectors to enforce home insulation standards. The current push is framed as an infrastructure investment strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

Leonardo DiCaprio is revealed to be a supporter of the Carbon Trade Exchange (CTX), a global platform for trading carbon credits, renewable energy certificates, and water rights. The hosts examine the board of directors and the exchange's role in commercializing environmental commodities. They frame the "Green World Rising" documentary series as a promotional tool for these new financial markets.

The hosts analyze the financial implications of the "carbon budget," which aims to limit total emissions to 750 gigatons. They calculate that a proposed carbon price of $22 per ton could result in a $2.2 trillion global tax. They argue that "putting a price on carbon" is a fictional numbers game that will ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher energy costs.

President Obama claims that in Miami, fish are "swimming through the middle of the streets" due to high-tide flooding. The hosts mock this imagery and Obama's defense of "cap and trade" as a conservative idea originally used by George H.W. Bush to combat acid rain. They argue that cap and trade is a shell game that doesn't actually reduce total carbon emissions.

Al Gore's planned "24 Hours of Reality" climate change broadcast in Paris was cancelled following the attacks. However, some analysts suggest the tragedy might actually benefit the upcoming COP 21 climate summit by increasing its media profile and security presence. The hosts remain skeptical of the link between the terrorist events and the global climate movement's economic goals.

Bill Nye appeared in a National Geographic special titled "Global Meltdown," where he framed climate change through the five stages of grief. The "bargaining" stage is identified as the push for cap and trade systems and carbon credits. The special encourages corporations to buy offsets to fund green energy projects in developing nations.

The hosts criticize cap-and-trade systems as a financial vehicle for commissions rather than environmental protection. They also mock Senator Harry Reid for a verbal slip where he repeatedly referred to "LBJ" (Lyndon B. Johnson) instead of "LGBT" while discussing social progress, with Chuck Schumer attempting to correct him.

A proposal to use decommissioned nuclear submarines as offshore power plants suggests they could power 250,000 homes by modifying their turbines. Skepticism remains regarding why environmentalists reject nuclear options in favor of cap-and-trade systems. Additionally, the rising cost of low-sulfur diesel fuel is noted as exceeding premium gasoline prices due to heavy taxation.

The history of the cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide, implemented under President George H.W. Bush to combat acid rain, is analyzed as a precursor to modern carbon markets. While the program was considered successful, the hosts argue that current climate initiatives are insincere versions of pollution control designed to move money around. They further claim the world is entering a period of global cooling or a "mini ice age."

Time Magazine's Jeffrey Kluger discusses atmospheric CO2 levels reaching 400 ppm, comparing the current era to the Pleistocene. The hosts express skepticism toward the "global warming" narrative, arguing that the "Cap and Trade" system is primarily a financial scam.

The Environmental Protection Agency is utilizing the Clean Air Act to bypass Congress and implement strict regulations on coal-fired power plants. Senator James Inhofe has challenged the EPA's "endangerment finding," alleging the agency failed to follow its own peer-review procedures and relied on IPCC data to justify cap-and-trade policies.

The economic motivations behind climate policy are explored, specifically the implementation of carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems. The hosts compare the current movement to the 1990s acid rain legislation under George H.W. Bush, which they characterize as a "hoax" designed to create new financial markets. They argue these systems simply move money to large corporations like Halliburton and Bechtel.

Al Gore expresses skepticism toward nuclear power, citing high costs and unpredictable construction timelines rather than safety concerns post-Fukushima. The hosts argue that Gore's opposition is rooted in protecting his "cap-and-trade" financial interests and that the nuclear industry's decline is caused by government regulation favoring fossil fuel companies.

Environmental advocates are accused of using "code" to promote global governance and transhumanist agendas, such as self-programming robots. Recommendations from figures like Jorgen Randers include reducing the "ecological footprint" of wealthy nations and implementing cap-and-trade systems. These policies are viewed as mechanisms for wealth transfer and centralized control over individual behavior.

A montage includes the passage of the "Crap and Trade" bill, Taco Bell's defense of its "88% beef" recipe, and Charlie Sheen's "banging seven gram rocks" interview. It also touches on the danger of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East if Iran acquires a bomb.

The House of Representatives moves to block the EPA from unilaterally regulating greenhouse gases. Senator Ed Markey delivers a theatrical speech accusing Republicans of being "anti-science" and rejecting the laws of gravity and relativity. The hosts dismiss the speech as partisan showboating.

The hosts argue that the organic revolution in Egypt's Tahrir Square has been co-opted by interests seeking to pressure the Obama administration. They suggest the unrest is being used as a pretext to abandon alternative energy and "cap and trade" policies in favor of renewed domestic oil drilling. The narrative focuses on the potential restriction of global oil flow to justify opening the U.S. Gulf Coast for production.