Can We Save the Planet and Rescue the Economy at the Same Time?
NEWS: Al Gore on America's next moon shot.
There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits, and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is such a moment. The survival of the United States as we know it is at risk. And even more—if more should be required—the future of human civilization is at stake.
Our economy is in terrible shape and getting worse. Gasoline prices have been increasing. Jobs are being outsourced. Home mortgages are in trouble. Banks, automobile companies, and other institutions we depend upon are under growing pressure. The war in Iraq continues, and now the war in Afghanistan appears to be getting worse.
Meanwhile, the climate crisis is growing more dire—much faster than predicted. Scientists with access to data from Navy submarines traversing beneath the north polar ice cap have warned that there is now a good chance that within five years it will completely disappear during the summer months. And by the way, our weather sure is getting strange, isn't it?
Yet when we look at these seemingly intractable challenges, we can see the common thread running through them. Our dangerous overreliance on carbon-based fuels is at the core of all of these challenges—the economic, environmental, and national security crises. We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change.
If we grab hold of that common thread and pull it hard, all of these complex problems will begin to unravel and we will find that we're holding the answer to all of them right in our hands. The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels.
Scientists have confirmed that enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100 percent of the entire world's energy needs for a full year. Enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to meet 100 percent of US electricity demand. Geothermal energy is capable of providing enormous supplies of electricity.
But to make this exciting potential a reality, we need a new start. That's why I'm proposing a strategic initiative designed to regain control of our own destiny. It's not the only thing we need to do. But it's the linchpin of a new strategy to repower America. I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years. This goal represents a challenge to all Americans, in every walk of life: political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and every citizen.
A few years ago, it would not have been possible to issue such a challenge. But the sharp cost reductions beginning to take place in solar, wind, and geothermal power—coupled with the recent dramatic price increases for oil and coal—have radically changed the economics of energy.
Of course there are those who will tell us this can't be done. Some are the defenders of the status quo, those with a vested interest in perpetuating the current system, no matter how high a price the rest of us will have to pay. But even those who reap the profits of the carbon age have to recognize the inevitability of its demise. As one opec oil minister observed, the Stone Age didn't end because of a shortage of stones.
We should speed up this transition by insisting that the price of carbon-based energy include the costs of the environmental damage it causes. I have long supported a sharp reduction in payroll taxes with the difference made up in CO2 taxes. We should tax what we burn, not what we earn. This is the single most important policy change we can make.
America's transition to renewable energy sources must also include adequate provisions to assist those Americans who would unfairly face hardship. We should guarantee good jobs in the fresh air and sunshine for any coal miner displaced by impacts on the coal industry.
To those who argue that we do not yet have the technology to accomplish these results: I ask them to come with me to meet the entrepreneurs who will drive this revolution. To those who say the costs are still too high: I ask them to remember that when demand for oil and coal increases, the price goes up. When demand for solar cells increases, the price often comes down. To those who say the challenge is not politically viable: I suggest they go before the American people and try to defend the status quo. Then bear witness to the people's appetite for change.
A political promise to do something decades from now is universally ignored because everyone knows it is meaningless. But 10 years is about the time that we as a nation can hold a steady aim and hit our target. When President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely in 10 years, many people doubted we could accomplish that goal. Eight years and two months later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon.
That was 39 years ago, and since then, many Americans have begun to wonder whether we've lost our appetite for bold policy solutions. Folks who claim to know how our system works these days have told us we might as well forget about our political system doing anything bold, especially if it is contrary to the wishes of special interests.
I've got to admit, that seems to be the way things have been going. But I've begun to hear different voices in this country from people who are tired of baby steps and special interest politics. So I ask you to join with me to call on every candidate, at every level, to accept this challenge—for America to be running on 100 percent zero-carbon electricity in 10 years. This is a generational moment. We need to act now.
In July Al Gore launched his call for 100 percent clean electricity in 10 years with the speech from which this article is adapted.
Photo: Guenter Standl/LAIF/Redux
You'll be hearing from me - more formally (ahem) - soon!
The Earth is a Petri Dish, and sending out some Tubules is In Order; it's that, or Mutate and Cannabilize - Really; and YOU know it.
Giant Steps in Works!
Signed; Still reading Sir Clarke, hearing Neil Armstrong, and seeing Walter Cronkite, cicra 1969!
None of the politicians is talking about the best way to sequester carbon -
growing plants. We are tearing them up to make housing developments for an ever growing population.
While tackling the lofty goal of energy reform, we must also tackle the "easy" way to slash 25% of global carbon emissions: End Deforestation. Across tropical Asia, millions of hectares are slated for replacement by biofuel crops. If forest carbon were included on today's booming carbon market, it would be more profitable to manage Borneo's last remaining rainforests as carbon reserves than to convert them to plantations. Putting forests on the carbon market ASAP is another way to save the planet and rescue the ECOnomy.
The US says it wants to be a leader in shaping UN climate policy. So let's see it step up to the plate at the next summit -- December 2008 -- with bold support of energy and forest policies that safeguard *everyone's* best interests. Including the special interests' beachfront property.
We have until 2012 to reach agreement on what will replace the Kyoto Protocol. That's not a threat -- it's a challenge that will drive us to new heights.
Established, locked-in,
politically based industries
must have their influance nibbled away
like a "thousands cuts". Takes years.
Hurry.
There's plenty of real work to be done, and a wonderful supply of people who have never done an honest day's work in their lives. Let's give Wall St., the speculators, bankers, landlords and their pals their first real jobs. Things like growing food, cleaning forests, making things so we don't have to help China's bankers and generally cleaning up the colossal mess we've made.
All of Mr. Gore's ideas are great and the US must become a leader but as he knows well the cost of most of these types of energies far exceeds what we pay today. Yes, we need to be leaders and yes we need to pay for this and in the long term we will win out, but while we do all of this China is building coal power plants. Mr. Gore knows that the pollution from these comes to our shores and that much effort on our part is negated by just one of their power plants. China is not the only one who had an unfair advantage under Kyoto. How do we even the playing field so that countries like China and India do not get an advantage over us? An agreement is of no use because China does not respect any agreements (think of the copyright laws).
Again, we can breathe all the good air we want but as long as the others are accelerating their push to destroy the earth, all of our efforts will be of little use.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
Get rid of that mansions and reside in a modest home. Keep your air on 78 degrees, park the jet and use public transportation. Until you do that you are a hypocrite. Seventy five percent of my daily travel in on a bicycle. I have taken cold showers for years. I don't waist the water since I'm not in there very long but, it is invigorating. We live multi-generational and multi-family,AreYou??t?
Your carbon footprint is huge and you insult to those of us who are conciously conserving. Get it right, or get off the stage.
I can see it's working, too. Sure worked here at Mother Jones. Hahahahaha!
Tell me this; can you give me just ONE example, of when the earth's climate DIDN'T change - daily ;)
You guys crack me up.
Most of your stuff is pretty decent, but your take on "climate change" (see how the name changed, as well?) is ludicrous.
Please do some more research before you make bigger fools of yourselves.
You have opened your mouth and proven yourself a fool.
Can you point to any time in history, ever, when the climate has changed so dramatically?
I think you may want to do some more research yourself. Even though it's by no means comprehensive, you can start with the EPA: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/stateofknowledge.html
Yes, the planet has gone through many changes. From being a ball of ice to mainly tropical to mostly deserts. The planet has gone through many extreme changes in condition. And for hundreds of thousands of years (if not longer) the earth has been going through "ice ages". But the thing that makes what is happening now dramatically and crucially different is all of earth changes that have happened before either took thousands of years or were the result of some sort of catastrophe such as a massive volcanic eruption or a meteor impact. All without the benefit of man's help.
What's happening now is happening on a time scale that is a blink of an eye compared to the progress of an ice age. There is no dramatic upheaval. What's happening is that we've increased the amount of methane by the order of over 1,000 percent in less than 100 years. There is no arguement that industrialization, mass consumerism and fossil fuel burning hasn't increased the global temperature. Science has proven this. NASA has proven this. It is nearly 100% univerally accepted across the scientific communities. We produce massive amounts of greenhouse gases. The increase in greenhouse gases is warming the planet. Where is the confusion? Who are these people making money from 'global warming'? A vast conspiracy of scientists looking for grants across the planet? Evil environmentalist worrying themselves into an early grave over their love of the planet? Take a step back from your position. Stop listening to Rush Limbaugh. The people who are working for changing the energy plans and working on pollution control don't do it for the money. Well 95% or more don't. They're concerned about the welfare of the planet and the life on it.
Thanks for posting the "Story of Stuff" Ben. Everyone on the planet should watch it and learn. Especially Mr Eakin and Deb.
When will we ever learn?
And in addition why do we kill each other all over the planet?
Dont we know we are all in this together
* CO2 is not a green house gas in that
it has simply no effect compared to the
continents of cloud of our 3/4 water world
* CO2 is the fertiliser of the sky - there
are plants that are decendents of CO2 rich early
atmosphere of earth that are CO2 starved.
* by the way no CO2 no plant growth
* Al Gore is making millions from carbon
credits- what is he doing with them
* All those scientists who sign up to this
deception should be put on notice- 'that this
garbage will be in the near future totally refuted
by continued climate variation and the non
disappearance of the cryosphere (ice at poles)
and that specifically you scientists who have
promoted this non science nonsense will be
made to account for your mis-deeds i.e.,
loss of funding and career.'
Hmmm, I smell a corporate rat... or a pack of them on both sides of the proverbial aisle. Just think, without those pesky mom and pop ranchers and farmers, we can all eat GMO frankenfoods and hormone-laced, tortured meat. Or preferably, nothing at all! (to please the likes of Kissenger, who calls us useless eaters, and other dictatorial types who impose the conditions for famines as soon as they rise to power)
Help us help our mother earth before we lose her. E me: 3.Rivers.of Joy@gmail.com