An unlikely player weighs in on the climate debate...

Amidst all the controversy revolving around climate change policy and the science backing it, the world's most renowned and sought-after terrorist is weighing in on the debate. Osama Bin Laden, in his most recent audiotape, accused the United States and other industrialized nations of causing climate change. For once, I think I might agree with him.

He later goes on to say the solution is to destroy the United States economy, wean the world off the US dollar and stop buying American goods. I'm not quite sure I can find myself in agreement with him on those points, especially since I can only imagine what methods he might use. However, the fact that Bin Laden is weighing into the climate debate is very interesting and is worth a second look. After all, it might end up doing more harm than good with regards to climate change policy.

It is good that someone with such a strong following is bringing light to an issue that perhaps doesn't get as much attention in that part of the world. But blaming it entirely on the US while coming from a prominent and very rich Saudi family -- Saudi Arabia being among some of the world's biggest emitters of GHG emissions -- strikes a hypocritical chord. And unsurprisingly, his solutions to dealing with the crisis are not the most proactive or peaceful.

The greater concern is what might happen in the United States. The right-wing media has been jumping on this, as they can attack two things they hate at once: terrorism and climate change policy. Considering how outlandish some people in the industrialized world can get with regards to climate change, associations between Bin Laden and other advocates of climate action is dangerous. It might seem preposterous that such associations would be made, let alone carry any weight, but people who are fighting against climate change legislation in the developed world are prone to make such connections.

It's a pretty simple line: "You want to do what to stop climate change? You know who else wants to stop climate change? Osama Bin Laden. Are you saying you agree with a terrorist?"

It sounds ridiculous, but if Sarah Palin can get that close to becoming Vice-President, stuff like this is taken seriously by some.

But what we must remember is that Bin Laden's goal here is not to save the planet from climate change. He really just wants to go after the United States and the rest of the industrialized world. Climate change just happens to be one of the many subjects that make these countries look really bad, especially since the rest of the world will likely face harsh environmental consequences.

I suspect it won't even be a blip on the radar screen in a few days, if it even is today. Proponents of climate change action certainly aren't lining up to grab Bin Laden as an ally.