The Opportunity of a Lifetime
The cost of addressing climate change is manageable. The cost of not doing so is unaffordable.
-Yvo de Boer, UN Framework Commission on Climate Change
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s all say it together.
Climate. Change. Exists. Good job, here’s a cookie.
No matter what the skeptics say – Yeah, I’m looking at you, US Chamber of Commerce – there’s undeniable evidence to prove the existence of global climate change in our lifetimes.
It’s a bummer. I mean, this and the bombshell of a global recession… HEY.
Wait a minute. I see a rainbow here.
In fact, the International Energy Agency saw it too. Quite simply, due to the economic downtown, emissions will be 3% lower this year than last, with a longer term impact of 5%. As global investors and governments scramble to slash and burn costs, refocusing investments in green energy at such a vulnerable time as this provides a window of reevaluation. This gives global governments the distinct opportunity to jump ahead in encouraging a green energy technology infrastructure.
By investing in green technology, “the global temperature rise can be kept below the G8 goal of 2C”, according to findings by the IEA.
That’s pretty cool, if I do say so myself. Hey… where are you going? The pun wasn’t that bad!
The most important wall to break down is the idea that correcting the course of global climate change is a liberals-only issue. Is the creation of jobs a partisan issue in this economy? I don’t think so. Is the ability to survive on planet earth a partisan issue? I sincerely hope not. Otherwise we’re all screwed.