Our Water, Our World: The War against WarmingBy Paul Pickett By the time you read this, we will know who the leaders of our government will be for the next four years. Today as I write this, nine days before Election Day, I will not make predictions of the winners. But I will predict the Number One environmental issue for the new leaders: global warming and climate change. And I predict that this issue will be the top issue for the rest of this century, along with its three fellow horsemen: loss of species diversity, toxic chemicals, and water. In this year's election, climate change has played a minor role. The Economy has been the big gorilla, while the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and high gas prices lurk in the background. But I would argue that all of these issues are intertwined. The demand for fossil fuels has been rising rapidly while supplies become scarcer and more expensive to develop. Some say we have reached or are passing the "Hubbard's Peak" of oil, when supplies can no longer meet demand and prices begin to soar. So gas prices climb rapidly, we fight wars in the middle east to control oil supplies, and petroleum feeds the engines of development, spewing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and fueling global warming. Just as the problems are linked, so are the solutions. The cost of the Iraq War and the high cost of petroleum are sinking our economy. As Jared Diamond shows in his book "Collapse", failed civilizations responded to resource shortages by turning to war, seeking access to new resources. But a war economy and maintenance of the status quo do not solve the resource problems, and the civilization fails. Societies successfully overcome a crisis of scarce resources by managing resources sustainably, diversifying their economic base, and mobilizing towards these two goals instead of war. This is the answer we must demand from our new political leadership. We have an opportunity now to turn away from this failed war economy, and develop a new War on Warming that will support a healthier economy. With this concept in mind, the rest of the pieces fall in place. We must invest in our future by funding research and public works for carbon-free and energy-efficient transportation, heating, and electrical generation. The Apollo Alliance http://apolloalliance.org offers one model toward this effort. The War on Warming can be funded by eliminating wasteful and unnecessary military programs. While we still need a military to address genuine threats of terrorism and protect our citizens abroad, much of our military budget is spent for obsolete threats. And if we use diplomacy and foreign aid more effectively to spread globally the new technologies from the War on Warming, we will gain more friends, allies, and good will than military action ever will. Keep in mind that the War on Warming has to be smart and use the right tools. Food security must not be sacrificed for energy security. Biofuels are already driving up food prices and increasing hunger globally. Another solution advocated by both Presidential candidates, nuclear power, must also be avoided. The true costs are far too high when the entire fuel cycle is considered. And we must not curse future generations with irreversible genetic damage from radiation. Genetic security trumps energy security. We can solve these problems, but we must get to work right away. The War on Warming will only be won with focus, intelligence, and deep commitment. It's the challenge of our generation. Paul Pickett is an environmental engineer, Public Utility District Commissioner, and occasional columnist for Green Pages.
Back to Home page. |
