I agree! The electrification of buildings is a financial challenge, as I've written about, but it's very possible and leaves our descendants with a better planet.
Great, as always! I especially like the point that big, audacious goals are more inspiring than nibbling around the edges. The challenge reminds me of nothing so much as the tobacco settlement, where it was fully uncovered that tobacco companies (a) knew all along that cigarettes are addictive and cause cancer, and (b) lied about it for decades.
So how about: BIG OIL = BIG TOBACCO. KILLING US WITH LIES.
Frankly, the planet will survive. Cockroaches, ants, and flies will survive. Humans may not.
Absolutely. We can't just be against something, we need a vision. MKL Jr. didn't say, "I have a problem." He said, "I have a dream." (Though we can name those standing in the way of progress and why they are. i.e Fossil fuel companies are panicking because they are seeing their markets disappear.)
Second, our media today is full of climate disaster porn. Fear captures attention, but too much leads to fatigue, apathy and disengagement. We believe hope is the answer, but action is the antidote. Every time we bring another solar farm or wind farm on line we should celebrate those that built it. every time we create a new financial mechanism or policy that helps, we should celebrate. This creates identity. And today, identity is belief.
Finally, as we have a vision, the question is how do we proceed? We do have all the solutions we need, as you say, and many of the old barriers, as well as costs, have fallen. Bill McKibben does a great job of explaining this clean energy vision in his new book, Here Comes the Sun. ie Why does Australia have free electricity for 3 hours every day. Why is China building more renewable infrastructure that the rest of the world combined, including the US? They are doin ghuge projects.
To bring the future into the present, can you imagine your children and grandchildren saying, how did you turn around the biggest crisis that the world has ever seen? How did you have the creativity and courage to do this in the face of overwhelming odds?
I taught Sustainability for 6 years. I taught and I learned. Individual actions are nice. Collective action led by governments and corporations is the only way. Today we have a government actively incentivizing coal and oil production. Coal is not only dirty but very expensive. It should be shut down as fast as possible. Oil production should cease as soon as other options can replace it. In the 1940’s the US industry mobilized to fight the war. We need that same level of focus and commitment.
Citizens United needs to be revoked. Oil and coal money is blocking progress. Congress sits and does nothing. The Executive branch focuses on how they can profit off of America.
Almost 20 years ago I took on a waste reduction goal in a major global consumer products company. We wanted to go zero waste. As we began the work, we focused on the immediate benefit an individual manufacturing plant could gain from going to zero waste. We spoke differently on the economics of no waste management fees, recyclable revenues and a staffing savings. Each plant would save $$ and go zero waste. One green begets another green. The plants got quickly in line. Saving money and jobs was not a hard sell. And “oh by the way” the got zero waste.
If we had sold a story of sacrifice and expense we’d have got nowhere.
I agree! The electrification of buildings is a financial challenge, as I've written about, but it's very possible and leaves our descendants with a better planet.
Superb article that outlines exactly what works and what doesn't.
Seven?
Whoops! Consolidated and then forgot to change the title!
Great, as always! I especially like the point that big, audacious goals are more inspiring than nibbling around the edges. The challenge reminds me of nothing so much as the tobacco settlement, where it was fully uncovered that tobacco companies (a) knew all along that cigarettes are addictive and cause cancer, and (b) lied about it for decades.
So how about: BIG OIL = BIG TOBACCO. KILLING US WITH LIES.
Frankly, the planet will survive. Cockroaches, ants, and flies will survive. Humans may not.
We can start from this day on
Absolutely. We can't just be against something, we need a vision. MKL Jr. didn't say, "I have a problem." He said, "I have a dream." (Though we can name those standing in the way of progress and why they are. i.e Fossil fuel companies are panicking because they are seeing their markets disappear.)
Second, our media today is full of climate disaster porn. Fear captures attention, but too much leads to fatigue, apathy and disengagement. We believe hope is the answer, but action is the antidote. Every time we bring another solar farm or wind farm on line we should celebrate those that built it. every time we create a new financial mechanism or policy that helps, we should celebrate. This creates identity. And today, identity is belief.
Finally, as we have a vision, the question is how do we proceed? We do have all the solutions we need, as you say, and many of the old barriers, as well as costs, have fallen. Bill McKibben does a great job of explaining this clean energy vision in his new book, Here Comes the Sun. ie Why does Australia have free electricity for 3 hours every day. Why is China building more renewable infrastructure that the rest of the world combined, including the US? They are doin ghuge projects.
To bring the future into the present, can you imagine your children and grandchildren saying, how did you turn around the biggest crisis that the world has ever seen? How did you have the creativity and courage to do this in the face of overwhelming odds?
Thanks for a great post.
Thanks. Useful Perspective.
I taught Sustainability for 6 years. I taught and I learned. Individual actions are nice. Collective action led by governments and corporations is the only way. Today we have a government actively incentivizing coal and oil production. Coal is not only dirty but very expensive. It should be shut down as fast as possible. Oil production should cease as soon as other options can replace it. In the 1940’s the US industry mobilized to fight the war. We need that same level of focus and commitment.
Citizens United needs to be revoked. Oil and coal money is blocking progress. Congress sits and does nothing. The Executive branch focuses on how they can profit off of America.
Almost 20 years ago I took on a waste reduction goal in a major global consumer products company. We wanted to go zero waste. As we began the work, we focused on the immediate benefit an individual manufacturing plant could gain from going to zero waste. We spoke differently on the economics of no waste management fees, recyclable revenues and a staffing savings. Each plant would save $$ and go zero waste. One green begets another green. The plants got quickly in line. Saving money and jobs was not a hard sell. And “oh by the way” the got zero waste.
If we had sold a story of sacrifice and expense we’d have got nowhere.
What an amazingly positive take on a vital issue. This is an intriguing and fresh way to see it. Many thanks!
Truth. Every word of it.