“Coal to-liquids (and coal in general) is plain climate catastrophe—much worse than using gas or oil. The real climate killer (c.f. James Hansen) is coal, not oil and gas.”

Dr Chaos,

I have this basic Chemistry question: Both Petroleum and Coal are fossil fuels. i.e. there were plants/animals/organisms on earth before it became fuel. From where do you think this Carbon entered the biological cycle? Most likely atmospheric CO2. If Atmospheric CO2 caused life forms to evolve and proliferate, why do you think the same amount of CO2, back in atmosphere can cause global climate catastrophe. Something doesn’t seem to compute stoichiometrically. It may become warmer and unpleasant for certain species, including humans but hard to conclude this may cause extinction.