If Not Now, When?
Posted May 19, 2010 in Solving Global Warming
This morning, Thomas Friedman published “Obama and the Oil Spill,” a challenge to President Obama to rise above the temptation to think small and instead reach for the big picture of how the US gets its energy and what our energy future is. As Friedman says:
Why is Obama playing defense? Just how much oil has to spill into the gulf, how much wildlife has to die, how many radical mosques need to be built with our gasoline purchases to produce more Times Square bombers, before it becomes politically “safe” for the president to say he is going to end our oil addiction? Indeed, where is “The Obama End to Oil Addiction Act”? Why does everything have to emerge from the House and Senate? What does he want? What is his vision? What are his redlines?
Friedman isn’t alone in calling for action. Today, two prominent business coalitions announced the biggest number yet of companies that support clean energy and climate legislation: 6,000 companies employing 3.5 million employees and that generated over $3.2 trillion in revenues last year. That’s a big base of support for clean energy and climate legislation from a constituency you don’t usually find backing environmental initiatives. As Tim Greeff with the Clean Economy Network and We Can Lead Campaign said:
Leadership by the Administration and Senate is critical to our success in unleashing investment for new energy technologies that will create new American jobs. A clear market-based price signal that rewards clean energy innovation is key.
And, as my colleague Dan Lashof notes, today the National Academy of Sciences issued a stark reminder of why we can’t afford to wait for leadership anymore. As the NAS report states:
Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for—and in many cases is already affecting—a broad range of human and natural systems.
As for those who will insist on denial – and will never be satisfied by mere facts – the NAS has this to say:
Some scientific conclusions or theories have been so thoroughly examined and tested, and supported by so many independent observations and results, that their likelihood of subsequently being found to be wrong is vanishingly small. Such conclusions and theories are then regarded as settled facts. This is the case for the conclusions that the Earth system is warming and that much of this warming is very likely due to human activities.
Coming as they do when Senator Murkowski is attempting to toss the science to the winds by overturning EPA’s determination that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases pose a threat, Lashof notes that the Congressionally requested NAS reports should be considered particularly relevant to the debate:
Congress requested the National Academy of Sciences to prepare America’s Climate Choices precisely to inform the kind of choice that Senators will face if Senator Murkowski brings her resolution to a vote. We need to insist that Senators follow the advice they asked for.
Exactly. And we have to insist that all of our leaders – from President Obama to those in the US Senate – seize this moment to reach for the future. The science is solid, the solutions are sound and the support is there. It’s time for our leaders to act. If not now, when?
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Comments
Patricia Koehler — May 19 2010 09:52 PM
I'm not an engineer or techie but...
Why isn't it possible to make a very large apron-like or parachute-like thing (an "aquachute" or "petrolchute" ???) made out of nylon/steel or pliable but thick material, get it tied around or somehow robotic-ally fastened (like they do in space when repairing something) around the piping, then tighten it up slowly to channel the oil gushing up in a straighter or flume-like, up-flow chute, then collect it or have the funnel chute connected to the rigs that haul this waste oil/seawater mix away?
There has to be someway to create a tourniquet and tie off this hemorrhage. Or at the very least under the serious pressure of a mile down, they should be able to channel the flow of the gush up and out, even a mile. I realize that in space, little or no pressure, little gravity is the polar opposite of under the sea, but putting a chute of some sort under and around the gush should be some technology we can harness or already possess.
Thank you.
Patricia Koehler
Single Mother Mafia,
Scottsdale, AZ
Lucinda Cyr-Rodgers — May 20 2010 10:16 AM
For decades our country has known we need to end our addiction to oil and fossil fuels. I remember the "energy crisis" of the 1970's. I was young but still remember waiting in long lines for our turn at the pump. I also remember gas-rationing where your license plate numbers indicated your days of the week for gas. Our situation is more serious now due to many factors: more cars on our roads with increased population, corporate monstrosities with insatiable greed, and global climate change with environmental catastrophes.
We, the citizens of the United States, swear by the constitution to defend our country from all enemies foreign and domestic. There is no description of what form the enemy may take therefore, we need to rise up as a nation against our oil and fossil fuel addiction. Monstrous corporations with no regard for our environment, our health, or our future must be treated as hostile enemies.
Our Clean Energy Act of 2010 should not include any subsidies for oil and fossil fuel use nor should it allow any more drilling. We, as a nation, must rise to our grandchildren's futures and change our energy usage.
Do not vote for any candidate that supports "oil-dependent" legislation. Write your congresspersons; they are easy to find on the internet! Increase your own knowledge about renewable energy and do whatever you can to reduce your own carbon footprint. Let your voice be heard now while we endure the "catastrophic oil dump" into the Gulf of Mexico!
Research solar energy tax credits and grants given to homeowners. Educate yourself about feed-in tariffs and how your home can pay you each and every day by gathering and converting the sun's energy! Understand how we harness the wind's energy and power large farms and businesses. Support your local and state leaders that protect your future. Elect people who will pass an 'Energy Act" in your own state which will support solar roofing for homeowners and businesses. Sound expensive!?! Your state can sell it's unused energy to neighboring states! Within a decade, we can completely renovate how we harness and use energy!
Act now! Think now!
I agree with "If not now, when?"
J. Vanderslice — May 20 2010 12:33 PM
Why didn't BP stuff the pipe leaks with cement that dries in water when this first happened? My personal theory is that they didn't want to completely block access to the oil from this well while doing the 90-day construction of a new rig to this well. Heaven forbid that BP lose access to profits from any oil that could be piped into a tanker in the interim.
john pasheilich — May 20 2010 12:54 PM
The Feds should step in and take over.
Executive Order to take over the site
long enough to secure it, then give it back
to BP.
With the Navy and their submarine
rescue fleet and the US Army Corp of
Engineers this would have already
been solved.
Reagan or Kennedy would have already
taken action.