Out With the Old, In With the New

Wishing you and yours a very happy New Year. May it be one that holds promise for this green planet of ours in personal practice and in local, national, and global practice as well. We live on an amazing planet.

See What Banding Together Can Do?

Great News! According to Treehugger.com several groups unified - some which seem to have contrasting interests with the others - to raise money to get Ecuador to not drill for oil in the Amazon rain forest. Please visit the link for the full story. This is why we must come together as a people. Governments have consistently shown that they don't have the cajones to stop the molestation of the environment - many even encourage it. It is up to us to show these governments that we care, that we want our environment protected and preserved, especially very significant ecological treasures, such as the Amazon.

I am so pleased to hear that these groups of individuals and businesses saw the importance of keeping the Amazon the way it is, without oil derricks. From politicians, movie stars, and soft drink corporations came an alliance that took the Ecuadorian government up on its offer to not drill for oil if it was reimbursed for the lost revenue. Yes, in a perfect world, that national government would see the advantages of not drilling for oil in the rain forest and choose to forfeit that oil, without seeking reimbursement. However, the fact that they are keeping to their word when people stood up and said, "Okay. We'll call your bluff," is honorable. We all can learn a lesson in standing up for the right thing and banding together for a common cause that benefits the entire human race. I sure hope many more of the instances will begin to manifest themselves.

This Is Why Animals Need Our Help

 

The BBC has reported today that a record number of ivory has been seized this year, over 23 tons worth. The article states that represents 2,500 dead elephants. Apparently, several Asian countries have become enamored with products made with ivory and so the poaching of these giant mammals has increased. This is a blow to an animal genus already struggling to avoid extinction.

Someone needs to educate the offending countries. Now they are after an elephants' ivory tusks. They also love shark fins and whale oil. They don't use the whole animal, just one part. Many of these animals (elephants and whales definitely) are protected by international law. Yet the poaching continues. If it weren't for the likes of people such as Paul Watson, many of these animals that are protected would not have any advocates or real, physical protection. There are laws, but the enforcement is left up to individual nations, many of which do not want to fund such things.

Biodiversity is one of Earth's greatest assets. However, human activities continue to lower that biodiversity. Imagine a world without the mighty elephant or the magnificent whale. What would your children look at awe in when they went to the zoo? If there were no lions, or tigers, or bears (oh my!) how do you think future generations would look at us? All of these animals are considered threatened or endangered species. We would be appalled at our grandparents had they exterminated the last of the lions or the elephants. We would also have to deal with the problems (such as too many grazing animals) that would accompany such a loss. These animals we think of because they are big, on TV, and cause such amazement and fascination. Many more plants and animals are being driven to extinction every year and we don't even care to notice.

International law designed to protect Earth's biodiversity needs more teeth in it. A fund needs to be created to give each nation the money it needs to enforce such laws. Nations also must be held accountable if they are not doing their part in helping to curb the loss of plant and animal species. If they are turning a blind eye, or even encouraging such activities, they should lose all funding from the U.N. Most of all, we need to work on educating the whole world on what the loss of species means. It must be a program that has no borders and specializes in helping those from developing and underdeveloped nations understand the importance in protecting and the biological consequences that will arise if poaching a threatened or endangered species continues. We also need more people like Paul Watson, who are willing to stand up against those who hold no regard for nature. Until nations step up to the plate to do their part, these ecological vigilantes are the last stand between death and survival for many animal species. We will be awfully angry with ourselves if we allow the elephant to go extinct, so let's band together to prevent that.

Ice That Is Alive

The BBC has a very intriguing and well done piece on the state of glaciers in the Himalayas. Glaciers have drawn much attention from climatologists and other scientists since, worldwide, they have been rapidly shrinking. Some glaciers, tens of thousands of years old, have even completely melted away due to a rise in global temperatures.

Glaciers are often used as a measuring gauge of how rapidly the world is warming and how rapidly the warming is affecting the global environment and climate. For those who watched Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, you can probably remember him pointing to satellite images of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya, showing decreasing snow coverage, and then boldly stating that in a certain time frame that there will be no more snows of Kilimanjaro. This is real and startling evidence of global warming and the effects on the planet are more than just losing pretty masses of ice and snow. With the loss of glaciers comes rising waters (both fresh and seawater), flooded villages and destroyed towns (as the risk is pointed out in the BBC article), and the complete change of an area's ecosystem.

Indeed, glaciers, ice shelves, and the poles are the warning voices to us, the human race, that our planet is warming. They are telling us that not only is the climate changing, but the face of the planet is changing. That affects all of us. The evidence and facts point to us as the cause, there can be no real challenge to that, for those are the scientifically gathered facts over many years and many experiments. This is why we need both stronger emissions regulations and a stepped-up program to move completely to clean, renewable energy production. Until we see it reflected in the ice, we haven't done enough. We may still lose much of the Earth's glaciers and other ice features, but we should not stop in our effort to reverse the damage our energy consumption has done. We must press forward, leaning heavily on our elected officials until they see the wisdom of the science and change that is needed, as well as using the media to help convince the masses who remain unconvinced because of terrible media coverage. We must take control of the story and we must not let it go. We must all do our part and do it well.

Environment Stories

Enviroblog has posted a top ten list for the good news and the bad news we received this year about our actions involving the environment. It is a fairly concise list, including some of the less well-known news stories out there. I'm surprised to see, however, that the U.N. Climate Change Convention and their final resolution did not make it on either list. Whether you view their actions as a triumph, or too little too late, it was definitely a big news story that happened less than a month ago. It was also sad to see that they did not include the extinction of the Javan Rhino and the Western Black Rhino in the bad news category. Losing a species forever, especially the Rhino, is something we really should make a big deal out of. We should not be the dominant cause behind any species' extinction.

Overall, 2011 has come to be quite a memorable year for the struggles we face in protecting and preserving the environment, and in learning to become better stewards for it. Our climate continues to change and we will continue to see more of that until we make the needed changes in energy consumption, emission standards, and energy production that will help to mitigate those effects and preserve what little we have left of a climate that humans have known for thousands of years. The wrapping paper may not be put away in your home yet from yesterday's celebrations, but let us look forward to the new year with hope and determination to make sure the mistakes of this year and of the past are not repeated in regards to the environment. This life and this planet is all we have. Let's do all we can to protect it from ourselves.

Merry Christmas!

To all those out there who may read this, our planet is very special. NASA released this composite photo this morning of our lovely globe using archival images and an up-to-date satellite image of the weather. Remember how precious life is, and let us all remember to work for peace. From far away, this planet looks so peaceful. Let us work together as the human race to solve our problems, instead of inflaming them. And, to all my fellow humans, please see the importance of protecting, preserving, and maintaining our glorious global environment and the climate. We are all users of this great beauty we call home. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Oil and Water

The oil industry is well known in its ability to alter or completely suspend the truth when dealing with the public. It should stand to reason that practice is adopted quite easily by the Republican party when touting new projects the oil industry has deemed important. These half-truths and lies become sound bites that are transmitted into everyone's homes, businesses, and cars trying to convince the masses that such a new endeavor (whether it be tax breaks, pipelines, more drilling) is needed and in the public's best interest.

It's no surprise then that there are fallacies being spread around by Republicans and oil pundits concerning the Keystone XL Transcontinental pipeline. Thankfully though, there are those that are willing to expose these lies for what they are. Treehugger.com has posted a blog that debunks the myths that surround the proposed pipeline that President Obama must now decide upon within the next 60 days. The two top myths fall into two of the oldest categories used by the GOP to convince us of the necessity: getting off overseas oil supply and jobs. The treehugger post does a good job pointing out the flaws in both of those arguments. My hope is that we can translate this debunking into effective communication to convince both the public and the president that this pipeline is truly not in our best interest.

We cannot continue to stand by idly as the oil barons, Republicans, Democrats, and any others lie to us about oil ventures. We must stand up to these folks and communicate to the public the truth. There will always be those who will gravitate toward a project and may see reason in doing so, but when the masses see the awfulness of the truth and are educated they usually stand up against those that don't hold anyone's interest but their own. Not only does the pipeline not free us from overseas oil suppliers, it will not provide as many jobs that are being touted, and most of all, it is not good for the environment. We need to move away from fossil fuel and invest in clean, alternative technologies for our energy production. We must send that clear message to our leadership until we have a leadership that represents our best interests, both short and long-term. 

Obama's Loss

With the House Republicans finally agreeing to the measly two month payroll tax cut extension passed by the Senate last week, the worst part of that bill now comes to fruition. With a guaranteed signature from the president, this bill forces Mr. Obama to decide on the fate of the Keystone XL Transcontinental pipeline within 60 days. Now President Obama must decide which group of voters he risks alienating further.

Hailed as a "tactical victory" for President Obama by at least one GOP pundit, his decision to press ahead with this two month extension is very risky. He knew the provision about the pipeline would be in there. He also knows that Republicans wanted this in there to ensure that he would not be reelected due to a loss of core voters. As I blogged about last week, Mr. Obama will more than likely either alienate labor unions that want the jobs that would be created by the pipeline, or alienating the environmentalists who see this pipeline as another victory for big oil and fossil fuels and a loss of environmental quality.

It may be that his decision, whether for or against the pipeline, will not be the deciding factor for these groups of voters over their desire to reelect the president. It is a big risk though. With the environmentalists he is viewed as very weak on keeping his promises to preserve our natural resources and help reduce America's emissions to globally accepted levels. Of course with the labor unions, Obama has been very weak on job creation. We all know that for the great majority of Americans, the economy is the overriding issue that determines how an individual or group of individuals will vote.

I don't want to see this pipeline come into existence. It's another chain to bind us down to the fossil fuel industry and it runs through America's heartland through aquifers and fertile soils. This pipeline is simply a bad idea because it says to the rest of the world that America is not serious about global warming and won't be anytime soon, no matter who controls the White House. However, I'm also hoping that this decision in 60 days will not become a wedge between labor unions and the environmentalists. We need no more divisions. We need to work together to solve our economic and environmental problems. We shouldn't be driven apart by one pipeline. I hope that both of these groups can come together and ask that President Obama not give approval for the permits needed to build the pipeline, but that he also issue a directive to get labor unions involved in the 2.5 million jobs that are available in retrofitting buildings and residences throughout the nation to solar power. We can let the Republicans win over us and over President Obama, or we can show them what happens when we rise above their petty politics.

Updating the Climate Big Picture

Here is a link to skepticalscience.com and their latest article. It is an excellent post about what is settled and unsettled concerning climate change science. In a nutshell, it basically derails the common argument by climate change deniers that the science is "not settled". This link is my blog for the day. It is such a great post and it lays it out quite clearly. Let is speak for itself and give it a read. You'll be glad you did!

Christmas Wish List

Dear Santa,
I know that I'm writing you pretty late in the Christmas season. I would have written you earlier, but a letter to you wouldn't be good blog material in July. Yes, I am sharing my letter to you with all those who come across my blog. I am hoping that upon reading this letter, they will want the same thing as well and that their collective desire will help you make my wish list come true.

I am sure that you are aware of the phenomena known as global warming and climate change. I am sure of this because your residence at the North Pole is one of the areas of the world that this phenomena is greatest felt. All that ice, and your home, is deeply threatened into becoming one giant sea of open water. This will cause chaos all over world, for both humans and other living things. That is one less tragedy we need to deal with. So, my first request for this Christmas is that you help us humans successfully mitigate climate change and stop the planet from getting any warmer by inspiring us to tackle the issues and set achievable standards worldwide.


I know that you have long been doing your part to keep your greenhouse gas emissions to a minimum. If a reindeer-led flying sleigh isn't a green, fuel-efficient vehicle, then I don't know what is. Please help us get off of fuels that pollute the environment and make a full transition to clean, emission-free vehicular transport. Is it alright to ask for Christmas that you inspire someone to make a fully functioning electric vehicle that won't be sidetracked by technical problems or greedy oil businessmen?


I know you're very busy, Santa, so I won't keep going on and on with my Christmas wish list, though in my heart it goes for several pages. I just hope that you can help me and the rest of the human family stop fighting about whether global warming and climate change are real events that are actually caused by our activity. I hope that you can help us see that we are the problem, but we are also the solution. I truly want us to care about the global environment in a way that shows we deserve the gift of life that has been given to us on this great planet. Please send these gifts on their way, and I promise that I will continue to be a good environmentally-conscious boy. Thank you for reading my letter Santa.

Hugs,

Richard

P.S. Please tell Mrs. Claus "Hi!" for me.

Fracking Education

Here is a video from earlier this year that details the dangers of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. While many states are letting gas companies forge ahead with the drilling, the process by which the cleaner fossil fuel is obtained is harming the environment. A lot of people who have been affected by this type of drilling have spoken out about what this has done to the environment and their livelihoods. Just last week, the EPA declared that hydrofracking was the poisoner of a Wyoming town's water supply. This sort of practice, while giving us access to a cleaner fuel supply, is why we need the EPA. This is why we need to be concerned about the environment. The gas companies surely don't care, they just want their product so they can turn a profit. Fight for the prevention of hydrofracking and for the development of a more environmentally friendly way to obtain natural gas. We should be able to do both without killing ourselves.

A Sunday Gift

I found this article on the BBC website concerning climate change. It delves into why climate change deniers act the way they do. It is a very interesting read and well worth your 5 minutes of time. I encourage you to read it. The more we know about those that want to keep the "debate" on climate change going, the more we can do to get past that hurdle. Not everyone will be convinced, that's fine. However, they shouldn't drag the rest of human and biological life down with them.

The Three Stooges

I reported on Wednesday that Republicans in the House had attached a provision to the payroll tax cut extension that would expedite the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. I also reported that Democrats in the Senate had said that they would not pass the bill with that attachment. They believed it amounted to holding the payroll tax cut hostage.

Well, the Senate Democrats decided to give in to the hostage-takers demands. The Senate passed an amazing (please hear the sarcasm) two month extension of the payroll tax cut and kept the attached provision that demands the president make a decision on the pipeline within 60 days. For as long as we the people will get an extension of a 2% tax cut, President Obama must decide whether or not to approve a pipeline that is covered in controversy. I can't believe that the bill passed the Senate Democrats with such a short extension of the tax break. Is it even worth it to us average citizens?

The last firewall between the pipeline becoming a reality is President Obama. Over and over again, the President has promised to veto the bill if brought to him with a pipeline provision. He is the last stand between what he says and what he does. Will he keep his promise to veto or will he approve it for a measly two month tax cut extension? Treehugger.com reported that the president was thinking of giving in to Republican demands, as of yesterday. Although we won't know until he actually gets the bill in front of him, it is an environmentally horrifying prospect.

President Obama already put off this decision until after the election year. He didn't want to have to upset labor unions or environmentalists who are a critical component of his reelection bid. If he signs this bill, he risks upsetting either group of individuals. However, President Obama needs to realize this is about more than his reelection. It's about keeping his word, and it's about protecting our national resources that are put at risk with the proposed pipeline. He needs to ask himself - if he is seriously considering on caving - whether or not a tax cut for two months is worth his presidency. If he signs this bill, not only is he expediting his own downfall, he will also shred any credibility he may now hold with anyone. Two months is not worth it, Mr. President. If you sign it, you will without a doubt become Curly to the House and Senate's Moe and Larry. Stand up and be strong Mr. President. Show us your balls.

Anywhere But America?

A recent post on treehugger.com alleges that solar power has become cheaper than diesel-generated power in India. It also says that in several African countries solar energy is less expensive than kerosene. That's dang cheap, and that means those who have electricity in these regions are likely to switch to solar power. That is the hope anyway.

My question is, if third world countries can supply cheaper-than-fossil-fuel sources of green energy, why is solar power in the USA still not cheap enough for Americans to make the switch? The policy of our nation has been to keep oil, coal, and gas as the significant and dominant energy forms and provide them at a low cost. Presumably, the tax breaks and credits these companies get help keep the product inexpensive for the American consumer. In the meantime, "greener" forms of energy struggle to get and keep these types of breaks that would help it be just as competitive as the fossil fuels.

This is America, and we should have the option of inexpensive green energy, as consumers. Many Americans will vote with their wallets in favor of cleaner energy sources if only they are priced on the same scale as oil, gas, and coal.  We must continue to harangue our political leaders to even out the playing field if we are going to at least be "on par" with third world countries. America is supposed to be the land of opportunity, remember?

Climate Change and Politics

Here is a video that describes in a very succinct way what climate change is all about and the threats we face because of it. Thanks to Global green for originally posting this video on their blog.

So there you have it. Climate change is real and the facts and evidence are stacked up high in telling us that humans are the cause of this change. So what do the denialists do? They attach two riders to the payroll tax cut extension bill that exempt the coal industry from the Clean Air Act and expedites the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline that will carry tar sands from Canada to Texas. They live in an alternate reality.  Fortunately, Senate Democrats have said that bill is dead in the water and even if it passed the Senate, President Obama will veto it. Republicans don't get it. You don't save your hand by cutting off your leg. Politics is a mess and full of self-serving killjoys. It's time to clean up Washington. Send that message through your vote.

The Outcome

I'm a couple days late on this report, but since it doesn't seem to be getting much coverage on the U.S. news networks, more than likely you haven't heard. The U.N. climate talks finally closed, 36 hours beyond its original scheduled close, and a deal was finally reached. I looked on all of the major news networks here in the U.S. for any hint of what happened with the talks. The last story I could find was reported on last Friday saying the talks were in danger of failing.

Sunday morning, however, I came across the BBC report and it contained the news I was looking for. Lo and behold, it was also good news. Not the best, but still much better than I was thinking. The final deal still pushes back any enactment of new standards to 2020. New standards will begin to be developed next year through negotiations of all the nations, which will conclude in 2015. This is a laborious process, I understand, but it would have been supreme news if they really kicked it in high gear and brought the dates closer to this point in time, instead of 8 years down the road.

The deal that was reached seems to be what the EU, AOSIS, and LDC were asking other countries to sign onto. There was much haggling over wording and some of the big emitters did not want to be held to a firm standard. However, others stepped in to help these nations realize the importance of a "legal force" to the upcoming standards treaty. One of my favorite quotes from the BBC report is Grenada Foreign Minister, Karl Hood (he was speaking on behalf of AOSIS - Alliance of Small Island States):

If there is no legal instrument by which we can make countries responsible for their actions, then we are relegating countries to the fancies of beautiful words, while they develop, we die; and why should we accept this?

That is an exact statement. It is a true and heartfelt statement and it made all the nations in that big conference room confront the elephant in their midst. I also was very glad to see other nations - including China - reprimanding the Western countries for not doing more on their part to reduce emissions, the U.S. at the forefront. It almost turned into, "Why should we have to lower our emissions if they don't?", but cooler, more reasonable heads prevailed.

This climate conference was difficult to follow. It was almost like watching the U.S. Congress. Our leaders need to realize that this approaching crisis of climate change is about life. You can't score political points on this if you don't want to do anything about it, because when the climate disasters start hitting the region you represent, those citizens will leave you high and dry to fend for yourself. World and government leaders need to stop this "run-out-the-clock" BS. The negotiations for new standards must begin now and must be comprehensive. No stalling until 2015. We just don't have that kind of time left. The deal was good, but if we want it to stay good, we must see world leaders "put" their "courage to the sticking place."

A Conversation

I recently had a digital conversation with an old friend on what needs to be done about climate change. He is decidedly against regulations. A while ago, he described his views as mostly Libertarian, which is against regulations and much more for a free capitalist market without stringent rules. While you may see the differences in points of view, I hope you will also see the similarities. I don't know if my friend is sold on climate change. He never clarified that. However, I think it is safe to say he cares about the environment and doesn't want to see it changed in any dramatic way. This conversation showed me that we must learn to focus on what we agree upon and not shout so much what we disagree upon. Enjoy!

My friend: Environmentalists are going about making the appropriate changes the wrong way Richard. If you truly care about "climate change" then energy creation, storage, and distribution need to be at the very top of your list as apposed to regulation (control) that ultimately accomplishes nothing (and is sometimes counterproductive). Sadly most "environmentalists" don't have a clue.

Me: It actually needs to be a balanced effort. You cannot just expect companies to do this on their own. They wouldn't have even come this far if it wasn't for regulations that were put into place 40 years ago. Environmentalists do have a clue. The facts show us that we are increasing emissions of greenhouse gases. We cannot solely rely on alternative energies finally being the major energy source 10 years down the road. We must regulate emissions output until we get to that point. It must be a two-pronged effort.

My friend: 

Emissions are already regulated almost to the point of not only diminishing returns but counterproductive results. New technology and science is the ONLY thing that will solve our problems, we simply cannot make the needed gains through saying "no no no no no" over and over again. I'm not saying that regulations haven't helped in the past but rather that we've reached the point where new technology is needed to go further.
I have a hard time believing that greenhouse gas emissions are increasing in the U.S.. The math doesn't add up. Increased efficiency in automobiles, reduced demand and consumption of fuel and increasing use of alternative energies all points to the U.S. not only curbing it's emissions but reducing the annual production. If you want to really cut back on a serious source of "pollution" then start with coal power plants. China makes a new one every week (and they aren't close to clean). We have almost 1500 coal power plants in operation today, many of which are extremely old and produce serious amounts of emissions compared with newer plants.
Only way to replace them is with Nuclear but so called environmentalists are against Nuclear. Once again, the "no no no no" mentality prevails and instead of moving from a severely flawed system to one with much smaller flaws we make no progress. When it comes down to it the "green" movement has very few answers, if any, and yet wants to dictate what the masses do without a clear view of a better future.
When it comes down to it I think we all want the same things, I spend more time outdoors than the vast majority of so called environmentalists and I'd be willing to bet live a much "greener" lifestyle but I don't go around trying to force others to live the way I do. When environmentalists bring answers to the table and a clear, scientifically backed and accurate view of how we make true measurable progress the masses WILL listen, until then the green movement is it's own worse enemy.

 

Me:  In your list you provide many things we can both agree on. China has already surpassed the U.S. in emissions and I think we see eye to eye on the fact that they have yet to make those emissions "cleaner". I also agree with you about technology. Technology is making radical advances every year.
One such new technology that has been in the works is in nuclear energy. It is not well known, but several scientists, including the leading Russian scientist on cold fusion, have developed a way to use nuclear waste (spent uranium rods) as a form of energy. It is called Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Nuclear Energy. The reaction occurs in such a way that a meltdown is virtually done away with. We have enough nuclear waste that we could power the entire world for 50,000 years if no new nuclear waste were produced after today. We should be investing whole heartedly into that type of technological energy production and continue to research its potential.
You seem to divorce environmentalism from science. While there are those who don’t take a realistic approach to caring for the environment, those that I write about every day, and who are working behind the scenes are generally scientists who know the data and those groups who make sure that science is the over-riding principle for their calls to action. I believe these environmentalists have already brought clear answers and solutions to the table. One problem is that no one seems to be listening because there are heavy financial backers from the fossil fuel industry whose sole interest is to keep the profits coming and they do not want to see any policy change.
We need politicians to listen to the science, not the corporatist. The evidence gathered in 2010 showed that U.S. emissions did rise, despite the recession (or weak recovery whichever you prefer). Standards are high, but they could be higher. There are still plenty of cars that barely make 20 mpg, when 50 years ago Shell Oil proved you could get over 100 mpg in a regular engine. That is a lot more fuel efficient and would curb emissions drastically. Yet, I do not know of any mass produced vehicle that gets that kind of mileage.
I laugh at the whole idea of clean coal because coal in itself is a very dirty item. Technology can “scrub” out a wide array of pollutants and harmful greenhouse gases, but until science perfects carbon sequestration and power plants are willing to invest in them, coal continues to be dirty. Therefore, scientists have not only proposed higher emissions standards based on current technology, but they are urging the government to move completely away from coal and other fossil fuel energies. It takes time, and we know that many of the green technologies are not quite up to powering an entire nation. However, that gap will not be there for long and soon it will be quite easy to make the jump. Solar, wind, and geothermal energies are ready to make the leap into mass energy production.
We need politicians who look into the common good, not the better interests of fossil fuels. Neither a Republican majority nor a Democratic majority have shown that sort of leadership. I am no economist, so I don’t know everything that is involved in keeping a stable economy during a shift in the type of energy we consume. However, I’m also not blind, and I know that the fossil fuel lobby is throwing a heck of a lot of money at preventing these greener technologies from getting the same investment and advantages that they have had throughout the years. The playing field needs to be equalized and the referees need to stop being bought off.
I realize that we may still see certain aspects a bit differently, but the fact remains, we both know science and technology remain the ticket out of the mess we’ve created for the Earth. That is what needs to be focused on. Those urging our politicians to increase standards and make the shift to greener energies are not doing so because they want to throw a wrench in everything. They know the technologies exist and they know it is an absolute must for the planet to stop warming, and, thus, stabilize the climate. They wouldn’t petition this if they didn’t think it possible and sustainable. This mess is bigger than any one individual can handle, but together we can focus on the “do-ables” and create the change we need and desire.

What Now?

Yesterday was the last scheduled day for the U.N. Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa. No agreement was reached. That has lead to an extension of negotiations into today. However, the BBC reports that no deal has yet been reached, and it may remain unreachable. If you remember, a few days ago Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga likened a failure at the talks to "moral apartheid".

If no new treaty or agreement can be reached by the end of today, it is likely that the climate conference will close. That means no country will be signing a binding resolution to cut back emissions, or in very weakest attempt, extend the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire next year. If the Kyoto Protocol is allowed to expire with no new agreement in place, that means all countries are legally allowed to emit any level of greenhouse gases they so desire. Also at stake, funding for the poorer nations who are affected the most by climate change. That funding, which was supposed to be agreed upon at this conference, was to help the very poor nations deal with the disasters that are plaguing their countries due to an unstable climate.

The closest deal in place has been one that the EU is pushing. It calls for a new mandate by 2015, and a treaty that is enacted no later than 2020. That sounds eerily similar to the United States proposal that no new treaty be enforced until 2020. It remained unclear from the BBC article, however, if the U.S. had any direct influence on the EU-backed agreement.  In fact, the EU and its partners, AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) and LDC (Least Developed Countries), have been struggling to get at least one of the big emitters - Brazil, China, India, South Africa, and the United States - to sign on to the agreement. So if the U.S. had any influence on the timing outlined in the agreement, they certainly are not liking the final product that is being squabbled about. But when have they ever signed onto any international climate agreement?

Many international representatives and advocacy groups are calling on the nations who are for the EU proposal to sign it and put it into place. They say it is time to send the U.S. the very clear message that it has been left behind and is no longer needed to acheive an international deal. While the U.S. is one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters and something needs to be done to curb that, I agree with the aforementioned representatives. At the very least, we can have a binding resolution that many developed and underdeveloped countries will adhere to. That is something. It is not the best, but at this point, we can't settle for nothing.

We must do something about mitigating climate change. If the big emitters can't bring themselves to act in the best interest of the planet and the entire human race, then they should be justifiably left behind. The only caveat I would add, is that these big emitters be left out of all other international negotiations of any kind. Whether it be economical, peace, climate, or otherwise. Until they show a willingness to be a part of the human race and greater good, they should not be allowed to call the shots on any matter. That is the only fair and just thing to do. That may be the only discipline that would help them get the message. It's time that nations like the U.S. got the message and got on board with the facts.

The climate talks may leave the world empty handed. We may get no new treaty. I hope they will come together and get something in place by the end of today, but if it doesn't, all those concerned about the environment, global warming, and the human race need to band together and move to make each nation develop and enact climate-saving plans in the next two years. An ambitious goal, but one we cannot stand to miss.

How Are We Doing?

Grist.org has an excellent write-up of the just released report of how each nation is faring in the fight to become more friendly to the global climate. It is worth noting that while no nation made the top 3 (reminding all nations that enough has not yet been done to qualify for such a position), the best countries overall were Sweden, the UK, and Germany. The U.S. didn't even make the top 50. That shouldn't be surprising as grist.org is also reporting that the U.S. is proposing to the Durban U.N. Climate Talks that no new treaty should take effect until 2020.

I don't know what to think anymore. Republicans are committed to denying the science of climate change. Democrats who promise change and speak like they accept the science, don't act any differently. The current administration has gone around trying to tout greener, cleaner energy sources, but they send a rep to the climate talks to say we should do nothing as a world to mitigate human-induced global warming until 2020.  I'm over it. Both Republicans and Democrats have been bought out by Big Oil, Big Coal, and the other fossil fuel giants. We are willing to bring our existence into upheaval because we don't want to change course. Money is too important. It's time we got leaders with balls and with the brains to know drastically reducing greenhouse emissions is in our best interest. The long-term should win out over the short-term on this issue. It's not rocket science. Who will help us stand up to those who would destroy us for their own gain?

I can go on ranting but that won't help. Please, read all three articles. They are all very well written and are quite informative. The facts are clear. The evidence is as high as Mt. Everest. It's time we do something.

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad World

I just found out on treehugger.com that low-man-on-the-totem-pole Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, Jr. has begun to sound like a climate change denier. The former Utah governor and ambassador to China has been referred to as the only true moderate Republican amongst all the candidates. While he is definitely fiscally conservative, he has tried to get the Republican party to become more socially moderate. He has been quite vocal on letting climate science speak for itself, noting that he is not a scientist but that he respects and believes the science.

The treehugger post details the recent answer that Huntsman gave to a reporter when asked about climate change. I will let you read the article and judge for yourself. The post's author, Brian Merchant, also wrote the thoughts that serve this bit of news best. It is a huge disappointment, and if Mr. Huntsman has truly changed his position, it really does show how awful the Republican Party is. Instead of a party that caters to a majority moderate, it is a party that caters to the minority radical extremists. It's time to send the Republican Party packing. You can't take them seriously anymore. They don't deal in reality, only in delusions for themselves. I would rather a pandering Democrat be in control than a Republican. At least the Democrat would bring a sense of moderation to the table and will make attempts at enacting solutions to global warming.

All Aboard!

The U.N. climate talks have been meeting in Durban, South Africa for more than a week now. With only a few days left, those scientists, economists, and world leaders need to come together and develop a real, lasting solution to our growing climate problem. A grist.org post details what one person said if the Durban climate conference failed to yield real action and solutions. President Cardinal Oscar Maradiaga of Caritas Internationalis called such a scenario "moral apartheid".

Those words are said with real and intended force as these talks are being held in a nation that - until less than twenty years ago - is infamous for the apartheid it forced upon the native population of its citizenry. Apartheid was a stain on the people running South Africa. If nothing comes from this conference, it will be a stain on the leaders of the world. Their failure to come to a solution and encourage nations to act now will be seen as the greatest act of stupidity in later years.

The evidence points to our needed action right now. We cannot wait until the eleventh hour and fifty-nine minutes, as the United States Congress has displayed in recent months, to figure out and decree a plan. The plan must be formed and implemented now. This is a global problem, so it needs to be solved and worked on at a global level. However, as the grist.org post shows, certain nations, like the U.S., continue to hold progress back. While refusing to take the Alliance of Small Island States proposal that a mandate to get a new agreement in a year's time because of a stink the U.S. made, the U.N. climate negotiations are seriously impeded in creating an actionable solution with a timeline. The U.S. is finding itself on the wrong side of history. The leaders of this nation continue to be influenced by elaborate corporate and misguided self-interest. The U.S. will get left behind if it keeps acting this way.

This is not a time for the United States to act as a lone superpower that gets to call all the shots. Those days are long over. Instead, the U.S. needs to realize the future impact this will have on its self-interest. Indeed, it is in the self-interest of the United States, as well as all other nations, to not balk at solutions and be a real participant in the carrying out of those solutions. The U.S. needs leadership that will convey this at a world conference. Let's make sure the current administration remembers the campaign promises from 3-4 years ago. Remind them through persistent phone calls and letter writing. Also, remind them that your vote is not guaranteed in the next election cycle should they refuse to take the correct stand on global warming solutions. For all politicians, that is the key in getting their attention.

What We're Up Against

I was directed to a news article in the New York Times the other day that really brings to light what we are up against in the fight to bring clean, renewable energy and a good standard of environmental regulations to this country. The Times article delves into the questionable ethics of Oklahoma Representative Dan Boren. A five term Congressman, and an oil and natural gas baron, Boren has used his elected seat as a lobbyist's bully pulpit to push through environmentally unfriendly practices in order to secure a nicer paycheck for himself and his family members.

It is laughable that Boren is affiliated with the Democratic party, however, it does remind us that there are those on both sides of the aisle who are working for their own interests instead of the interests of everyone. Not every environmental cheapskate is a Republican. Boren is an example of what is wrong in Washington, D.C. Here is someone who has not only become richer by the boom in natural gas exploration, but who has undone years of progress in order to get to what he wanted. He worked with Republicans in 2005 to exempt oil and gas companies from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts of 1970. He has lobbied hard to prevent the loss of billion dollar tax breaks for oil and gas companies. He has lied about the harmful effects of hydraulic fracturing in search of natural gas.

It is true that he is promoting an energy source that is much cleaner than oil and coal. However, natural gas drilling has become an environmentally dangerous mining operation. Until the gas companies can figure out a safer way to extract the natural gas, without using harmful chemicals and letting some natural gas escape into the surrounding ecosystems, they need to be discouraged. You can't say you're helping the environment with your product when the very act of obtaining your product is environmentally destructive. It's like saying your helping clean the bathtub by pouring sewage into it.

Fortunately, Mr. Boren will not be seeking re-election next year. He will be, however, considering a run for Oklahoma's governorship. At the very least, he will continue lobbying for a practice that is not doing our environment any favors. We must keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't win the governor's seat in Oklahoma. We must make sure that environmental advocacy groups have the ability to equally combat the lobbying power of the fossil fuel companies.

More presently, we must make sure that his representative's seat is not filled by someone who will do the exact same things. We need someone who will help restore the regulations over the worst offenders and will care more about the environment than they do about the amount of money lining their pocket. We must also urge our legislators to come down hard on the sort of questionable ethics Mr. Boren has been pursuing so that it doesn't happen again. We are up against very tough opponents. Money and power can switch anyone to their side. Those who are a part of them will do anything to retain that position. We must be vigilant against those who would use money and power to destroy instead of renew and regenerate.

Wind and Water

The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the Earth. I smell it in the air.                     Galadriel The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Those first phrases uttered at the beginning of the epic Lord of the Rings movie (one of my favorites. Sorry I'm a geek.) came to my mind the last couple of days as I read the news. One story that is well known dealt with the fierce Santa Ana winds that wreaked havoc on California and Utah. I grew up in Utah and I am familiar with the Santa Ana winds that blow through every autumn. I don't ever remember it being this bad. This is another one of those natural disasters that could make it to the "billion dollar cost" list.

The other report I read dealt with the changing climate conditions in the Arctic region. The story outlines the fact that climate change is definitely happening in and around the North Pole. The Arctic is seeing massive instability in the documented "normal" for that region. It has now moved into a grey area where a different normal has emerged. Climate change is occurring there on a much more rapid scale than scientists have expected, which means our ability to curb the disastrous effects of unmitigated global warming is being cut to an even shorter amount of time. The point of no return is indeed starting to become visible in the very far horizon.

The wind storms deal with air. The warming Arctic ice deals with water. Before modern chemistry, these were two of the four main elements. They are still vitally important to human survival. Though the wind storms will not directly be attributed to climate change or global warming, they will be lumped together with all those natural disasters that, on the whole, point to an ever more unstable climate. The scientists have been warning us for years of the dangers that would be presented to us if the polar ice caps were to melt. We have changed the wind, and we have changed the water.

This is all unnerving. The bad news does seem to continue in an uninterrupted chain with no end in sight. The only good news we can hope for is our continued stride in combating global warming with innovative ideas, and the promise of political action in terms of regulation. We must persevere in the effort to mitigate our impact on the global environment (including climate). We must continue to call for realistic and actionable ideas that will result in a smaller carbon footprint and a cleaner, greener planet. We must continue to pressure lawmakers and world leaders to initiate and enforce regulations that will work for the best interest to the human race and the planet. We must create our own good news, because no one is willing to do it for us.

Sci-Fi Becoming Science

Here is a video that shows us that there are people who are coming up with these radical ideas that were once considered science fiction and showing that they are scientifically and realistically achievable. I wish all the luck to the individuals in this video. I hope more people catch on and start developing the ideas that will lead to a cleaner tomorrow where human impact on the environment and climate has dropped in drastic ways. Thanks to treehugger.com for posting the story.

Check This Out!

Please check out this link for a larger version of the below infographic on green jobs. It is definitely worth a look at.

We Wanted Change We Could Believe In

Yesterday in New York saw a record breaking high temperature. 70 degrees. In late November. That is definitely the warmest November day I have ever personally experienced. While it is just one day, and cannot be definitively linked to climate change or global warming, one can't help but see some correlation. This month, on average, has been warmer than normal for New York City, with many days at or above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Although it makes for pleasant days, it makes me eye the skies with suspicion.

We had a crazy, unheard of October Nor'easter at the end of that month. It wreaked havoc on the region and it decimated over 1,000 trees in Central Park. We had Hurricane Irene (it hit the city as a tropical storm) in early September, and we have had the third wettest year on record so far. The weather is definitely unstable and it is the direct result of climate change.

When many of us voted in the American elections of 2008, we wanted a leader who would make strides in curbing emissions and push for an increase in the development of cleaner alternative energy sources. That choice for us was Barack Obama. I was sure that we would see major changes in the way Americans treated the environment and that an actual energy policy would be developed which used the emerging clean energy technologies. He believed in the science, so it was seen as a sure thing. I have to say that I, like many others, have been disappointed at the overall picture President Obama has provided on his environmental policies.

While he has made progress in helping alternative energy companies get off the ground, he has done other things that aren't so good. He has proposed more oil drilling - before that huge oil spill last year - and has teased the idea of huge pipeline carrying tar sands from Canada down to Texas. He has blocked stronger ground ozone regulations, and has not really stepped up to the plate to defend the EPA from the onslaught of attacks it has received from the Republican Party. Treehugger.com has a link to a report that puts President Obama on the same level as former President George W. Bush when it comes to environmental issues.

Mr. President, we expect more from you. You are a knowledgeable individual and we expect your actions to match your words. Stop giving into the fossil fuel lobbyists and other anti-environment cronies and do the best thing for our nation and our environment. Listen to the scientists. There is a majority agreement there about what needs to be done to help mitigate and slow down climate change. Also, listen to the people who voted you into office. We have placed a hope in you to do better than the last administration, not to be the same. You can still be the change we believe in, but you actually need to start following through all the way on your campaign promises. The time for change is now, not after 2012.

Consider This

As the holiday shopping season has shifted into fast gear, I would like to offer some suggestions for gift giving this year. Many of us are already intent on getting eco-friendly items for ourselves, but I want to remind us all that we can give these types of items as gifts to our friends and family as well. Inhabitat.com is a great website that has several "green" gift guides available for the person you are shopping for. It offers suggestions for the more eco-friendly items that are also tasteful.

Sometimes, we want to encourage our family members or friends to be more environmentally friendly, but we don't know quite how other than to share our convictions on the environment. One way that you might be able to get them started in the right direction is to buy them gifts such as recycling bins or a good sturdy recycled and reusable tote bag. You'd be surprised how many people would like to recycle or use a recycled product but lack the motivation to get these items themselves. Giving this type gift is a loving way to get them started in the right direction.

I know many people like to buy a car for themselves or for the family during the holidays. Green.autoblog.com is an amazing resource that points shoppers and car enthusiasts alike to the alternative vehicles to the normal gas-guzzling behemoths of metal. It has very cool cars that are very good to the environment. Spend a little extra to get fuel savings in return and to do your part to reduce the carbon footprint of humankind.

One final suggestion. On the train ride up to our Thanksgiving destination last week, my partner over heard two men speaking about the EPA and how it needed to be done away with. This reminded me that we are well likely to encounter a conservative or misinformed person in our holiday festivities. Whether it is at an intimate family dinner or with friends or the company Christmas party, we may well encounter someone who thinks climate change and global warming are hoaxes and that environmental regulations kill jobs. Instead of just letting the comments slide by, arm yourself with the facts and gently point them out to whoever it is. Lies and misinformation can only prosper when they go unchallenged. By no means should we be combative or condescending, but don't pass up the opportunity to share the truth with people, especially when they are your own family and friends. I hope this Holiday season is a joyful one and that we can all remember the best qualities in human kind and what good we are capable of.

What Are We, Bigfoot?

This image is available and developed at the Power Supersite. Make sure that you really take a look at the big numbers. It is a bit mind boggling that those numbers even exist. Then look at what info is provided to help us reduce our energy consumption and let's work together on making our footprint smaller.

It's Only Going to Get Weirder

This morning on msnbc.com there is a report on Scandinavia having a lack of snow and record warmth for this time of the year. Scandinavia is usually covered in snow by this time, and the animals have evolved for such changes by turning white so that they are camouflaged. The article points out that the animals have already changed their colors, but there is no snow to coincide with this annual event.

My friends in Malmö, Sweden (located in the very southern portion of the country, directly across the sea from Copenhagen, Denmark) have said that they don't usually see too much snow, but inland they get a lot of snow. Nonetheless, all parts of the Scandinavian region are seeing well-below averages for snow. The articles even points to the fact that late autumn temperatures for that region are 12.6 degrees F above average. That definitely holds the difference between snow and no snow.

This type of odd and abnormal weather is just more evidence of an unstable global climate. It also accentuates the fact that this is a global event. Scandinavia is a global leader in the push to completely move to clean, renewable energies and be environmentally conscious. However, since a great deal of other countries are nowhere near that level, or aren't even trying to make the change, they still feel the affects of global warming and an evermore unstable climate. This is a global problem and, therefore, requires the real effort of each nation. With the world's human population topping 7 billion now, even the smallest nation can have a real impact on increasing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change is meeting in Durban, South Africa beginning next week. This two week conference needs to push and admonish all world nations to make the necessary changes. The evidence and facts telling us that we are at the crossroads of taking real action is piling up. With time running out before permanent and dangerous climate change takes hold, it is up to us as individuals and nations to develop much smaller carbon footprints. The time is now to make renewable energy technologies the cornerstone of energy production. The time is now to put tough emission standards in place worldwide and give regulators the power to discipline those companies and nations that refuse to follow the standards. I urge the U.N. Climate Change convention to do the right thing and stop waffling on these very tough issues. The choices will only get tougher and narrower if we do nothing now.

Here's Something I Would Express Gratitude For

It appears that right wing Fox News TV host Bill O'Reilly is interested in converting to solar energy. Treehugger.com has the story with video of O'Reilly talking about his interest in having solar panels installed on his home. We still don't know if this is just some sort of weird ploy to denigrate the solar energy sector, as he claimed he couldn't find anyone who would install the panels. I mean, Fox News and its hosts don't have the best record when it comes to fairly and accurately portraying clean, alternative energy and climate change.

However, when many solar workers responded to his comment that he couldn't find anyone to install the panels, he went on-air again to say he was going forward with the project. If Mr. O'Reilly does this and finds that solar energy is effective and provides cost-savings, which he will, I would hope that he would commend the industry and become a "green" energy advocate on the nation's favorite "climate-change denier" television network. He might not. He could like it, but then bash it on air. (I have heard it from several people who have worked at Fox News that he has no problems with homosexuals off-air, but as soon as the camera is on, he starts heckling them). He might find any number of reasons to not like it.

I think though that Mr. O'Reilly will be very pleased with his decision to convert to solar power. I would be very grateful if he did, and I would be even more pleased and thankful if he went on record with such a conclusion. I think even the hardiest of green energy opponents can be shown the effectiveness and wisdom in using the different forms of that energy. I think once they see the productivity, areas of cost-savings, and other benefits of green energy, they will convert. It might be a long shot, but I think that most people would not choose something that is against their better interests.

Overall, we who want to see the global conversion to clean, sustainable energy should be thankful that someone from the "climate change denial" sector would even express interest in converting. It is a rare move, but it might set a precedent. It might not, but we can hope. In the meantime, we will do all we can to help others see the vast number of benefits in switching to "climate healthy" energies.

We Aren't Just the Problem, We Are The Solution

There is another great post over on treehugger.com. This one details ways that technology can help endangered species come back from the brink. With plant and animal species going extinct in record numbers, it is imperative that we do things to protect the biodiversity we have left. Technology has helped humans to bring plant and animals to extinction, now some are realizing it can be used to save species.

The people - whether scientist or not - who develop these ideas are paving the way for a more stable future. They are the ones we should be paying attention to. They see a crisis and they do something about it. We can't just wait for someone else to do these things and come up with these "far out" plans. We have to be the remedy.  Thank heavens these kind of people exist and we all must hope that they keep coming up with these great actionable ideas. We also need to follow in their footsteps.

Use the brain to come up with a storm of change. We may not be able to control every aspect of our destiny, but we can control what we do to affect it.

 The Javan Rhino: Extinct 2011

To Fish or Not to Fish

Treehugger.com reports that ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna) has increased the protections on bluefin tuna and other large fish that have been subjected to overfishing in the last five decades. It is interesting that this ruling has come down, as I just watched the 2009 documentary The End of the Line. This film chronicles the massive overfishing that our world's oceans are facing and while many of us are aware that bluefin tuna are approaching endangered status, I don't think the majority of us are aware of what is going on to protect the fish and how those protections keep getting sidestepped.

Indeed, the film even points out the weakness of ICCAT in declaring the acceptable quota of bluefin tuna harvested each year. A group of scientists who know the ecosystem the tuna live in, and what is required to sustain them - including population numbers - recommend two numbers to ICCAT to use as their quota. One number is to sustainably fish and keep the fish around, the other number is much lower and allows the tuna population to rebound. In the documentary, ICCAT uses neither number but creates a quota that is double the number for simply keeping a sustainable fish population. Even worse, what is actually caught is more than two times the quota that ICCAT allowed.

I love fish as many others do. It is healthy and delicious. I understand that international government leaders (who make up ICCAT) are nervous about curtailing an industry that has an important link to a national economy. However, it behooves both us as consumers and government leaders who determine the quotas of fish to demand better. We all lose out if we bring a species we have used as a food source to extinction because of our gluttony. No one gets to eat the fish, the fisherman who fish the tuna are out of a job, and the world's oceans lose more diversity.

World governments need to enforce the quotas - which they should be able to do a better job of with their new protections added today. They also need to take a cue from the scientists, who know what they are talking about, and provide the necessary quota to at least keep the bluefin around in a way that we are still able to fish them sustainably. We as consumers must choose wisely when we dine out and consider the fish options. Many of the fish we see on the menu, such as Chilean sea bass and bluefin tuna, are actually on the verge of population collapse due to overfishing. If we abstain from eating these fish, no matter how delicious, the restaurants will get the picture and stop serving them. If demand goes down, just perhaps the fish may be given a new lease on life and existence. So before you bite into that savory piece of fish, just remember the battle that species is waging just to survive the human race.

Remember to Work Toward Hope

Over on the Climate Access blog is a great post about how we need to think not just about sustainability but regeneration. The whole post is great and has a lot of good things to say. There is one thing that stands out to me, however:

 Ecological fatalism, unfortunately, is on the rise in North America. As a communicator, to me this means we need to emphasize the symbols of hope and possibility that are emerging in our culture. It also means moving beyond the idea that we need simply to lessen the harm of human activity (i.e. the public’s role in sustainability is to try to reduce their harm by purchasing the right products and then hope for the best) to the notion that human activity may actually have a regenerative role to play with ecosystems as well as in our communities.

This first paragraph draws attention to the fact that a lot of us who try to effect change speak of the horrors of global warming and environmental threats and forget to speak of the hope that lie within the actionable ideas of the human race. I am guilty of this. It is easy to see how bad things have gotten and that nothing is being done to really combat this and get in a rut.

I cannot forget - we cannot forget - however, that there are those who are making the changes. There are those who lead. There are those who, as the article points out, are not just working to sustainability, but actually helping to regenerate the hurt environment. Ideas and methods and solutions are being developed and brought to fruition. What we need to be doing is calling on our leaders to encourage these type of activities, just as they have encouraged what brought the human race to this era of "greatness". This is about knowing we can move forward as a species that recognize they are a part of the planet, a part of the environment. This is about recognizing we can be better stewards of what we are a part of.

We are in a terrible, crucial point when it comes to climate change and global warming, to be sure. We can however, emphasize the hope and the reality that we have the ideas and solutions to deal with the issues we have brought about with the environment. We are the cause, but we can be the cure. There is hope for the future, there is hope for the environment. Let us work toward a more prosperous clean, renewable, and sustainable future for ourselves and the environment.

An Open Letter to My Elected Officials

Dear Representative Nadler and Senators Gillibrand and Schumer,

As I know that you have all been effective leaders and elected officials, I want to encourage at least one of you, if not all of you to take up the banner of climate change legislation. This nation lacks a clear energy policy that looks forward. I am positive that all of you have a clear idea that America needs an energy policy that puts its stock in clean, renewable resources and strives to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions. So, instead of waiting for someone else in your great body to take up the task, I am asking that you come forward with your position to the floor and introduce a bill that does exactly this.

The fact of the matter is, we are at a very critical juncture in our ability to stop – or in the very least mitigate – human-caused global warming. Time and time again, the science has been proven, most recently by the Berkley Earth Surface Temperature project. Global warming and subsequent climate change is happening and it is due to human activities. For decades, scientists, politicians, and activists have been trying to get this country to lead the way in developing solutions to the problem. So far, however, we have only continued pumping and consuming massive amounts of fossil fuels, and only given little recognition to cleaner energy sources. While we have done this, many other nations have surpassed us in moving toward clean, renewable energy. America has been left behind.

I know it is not only America that is contributing to global warming. All of the world’s nations are. However, America continues to be a lead consumer of fossil fuel products and a lead emitter of greenhouse gases. Because we continue to not make strides in improving our emissions and energy solutions, many other countries think they don’t have to either. If they see us take the necessary steps (and yes, risks) toward clean energy and highly regulated emissions, it is very likely that they will then follow along the same course.

The time to act is now, not tomorrow. Not after the election cycle. Not when there is less to do on our plate. The International Energy Agency has determined than unless the nations significantly improve their emissions standards and take leaps away from the fossil fuel industry as an energy source within five years, we will face certain and dangerous climate change. So far this year, our nation has endured 14 “Billion-Dollar” natural disasters, all of which can be attributed to a changing and unstable climate. Imagine that number going up every year.

Not only is an energy policy that focuses on clean alternatives better for the environment, it is much better on our wallets. Our nation will go broke if we continue to experience these expensive natural disasters. Cities and towns that are threatened already by rising sea levels will continue to feel the economic and financial pinch to the breaking point. As such, the changing climate and economics will also change the landscape of this nation and how it is represented. Indeed, the whole world faces this issue. More and more, if we do nothing, if we just tempt fate and see if dangerous climate change will happen, the world faces dangerous political upheaval as well. Yes, taking action now will also save you and others the political turmoil which is guaranteed to happen due to a dangerously unstable climate.

I know that economics are a lot more complex than I can ever imagine. I know we must do this in a smart and prudent way. I, myself, am feeling the effects of an anemic economy. However, we cannot ignore the bigger picture which points to the fact that if we do nothing, or if we don’t do enough, the economy will only get a lot worse. It is in our national interest to do this. Please, devise a bill that develops a clear energy policy that is heavily reliant on clean energy alternatives and brings tougher regulation on emissions. Let the bill be forward thinking and provide a good transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. Then introduce the bill and get it voted on. If it doesn’t pass the committee, those of us concerned with a clean energy policy can then use the power of the vote to get leaders in our legislature who will be for a well-defined clean energy policy. The same goes for a vote before the body of the different legislative houses. It is imperative for ourselves and our future generations that we fight for this to the very end.

I thank you for your service to the people of New York. I thank you for your service to the people of this great nation. I realize that you have other tasks and policies that you work on. However, I am asking you to see the seriousness of the situation and to see that the chance to do this is now. Be a leader in this cause and don’t give up when it gets hard. I look forward to seeing you all bringing an energy bill to the floor.

Your fellow citizen,

Richard Walton