I had the privilege of hearing Steve Running speak last night, and it was a true milestone for all of us, speaker and audience. Dr. Running is a member of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), which in 2007 won the Nobel Peace Prize. He is an Earth Scientist, and a professor at the University of Montana in Missoula. He continues to work and speak on climate change research. He was the keynote speaker at the Montana Audubon annual festival in Missoula, presenting a speech entitled The Latest Science (and Politics) on Global Climate Change.
Last night was Running's 'inaugural speech' after reading a book called 'Don't Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style', by Randy Olson, a scientist-turned-filmmaker. Steve didn't present a slide show. He's trying a new approach, one that doesn't include graphs and the latest data, which aren't revealing anything new except to add to trend lines already established.
He believes the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico presents a teaching moment for disengaged Americans, that ~40% of Americans who are neither pushing for climate change legislation nor denying that climate change is occurring...the uninvolved middle. It's not the graphs from 'Steve Running's slide set' that are going to get them engaged. Rather, the pictures of oil-covered brown pelicans will catch their attention. This disaster will provide the momentum to move on climate and energy issues.
"We really are playing poker with the whole planet."
The vast majority of the 2,000 Earth Scientist know that we are on an unsustainable course. We cannot sustain this path for the next 50 years. We must turn the corner in this generation.
For Audubon types, and for readers of this blog, the action item is: we need to get going now. It's going to take time. For people we know who are employed in the 'dirty energy' sector, we need to assure them that their jobs are not at risk. It's going to take time to transition to clean and renewable energy sources, and their jobs will continue to be necessary in the short term. However, it's their children who will need to be pointed in a new direction under a climate and energy bill. We need to act now.
The U.S. uses 2 times the energy of Europe; this is not sustainable. The rest of the world's countries are waiting for America to act. We have to make hard decisions now; we don't have any time to lose. We are out of time.
2 comments:
"We really are playing poker with the whole planet."
That's a very strong quote because essentially, that is what we're doing if you think about it. Our fragile environment can not take the risks that oil and coal places upon it. America should take the lead and other countries will soon follow in clean energy. China is dominating the clean energy markets which is good for them. So why wont America follow their lead? Economics maybe?
I think it's fear and politics. People are afraid that they will lose their jobs, or that doing something to shift to a clean energy economy will cost them money they don't have. So it's economics for many people.
Some politicians would rather oppose this administration and the Democratic majority in Congress than work to find a solution, even though the situation is dire.
Post a Comment