Climate change, especially as it relates to energy is in the news these days. There are some folks who are absolutely positive that climate change is a potential catastrophe and that the end of the world is in sight. Then there is the other end of the spectrum in which folks believe that it's all a hoax and it's really designed as a power grab to redistribute wealth. What is it really? I believe it's somewhere in the middle. Like a lot of things, it's neither as bad as some would have you believe, but it's not something we should ignore. The alarmists point to scientific facts and doom and gloom statistics to justify their hyperbole. But everytime I look at it, there are just as many "scientists" who are on the other side. I yearn for a rationale, non-hysterical, fact based discussion of the real situation. But it's difficult to come by. One scientist comes up with a scenario and another will refute it. And don't give me opinions. We all deserve facts and non-manipulated data. I'm not a denier, but I am a fairly smart and experienced guy who can read. I believe that, simply put, you can't put 7 billion people on the planet and not have it influenced by humans. But only the most zealous and reactionary believe that it is a near-term emergency that we should radically disrupt our economy and way of life to attack. Should we be figuring out how to minimize climate change? Yes. Should we be figuring out how to use alternative forms of energy in an expeditious manner? Yes. But should we implement policies that will both dramatically harm our economy and potentially backfire for something that might impact my Grandchildren's Grandchildren's Grandchildren. Clearly no.
Another big problem is that the United States is by any measure the least polluting nation on earth (of industrialized nations). We have by and large an educated populous who for the most part are personally working to make the earth better and are supportive of programs to ensure we do our part. But the alarmists seem to want to heap greater blame on us than is warranted and make our country take a bigger burden than is deserved. The Paris Climate Accords is a prime example. It was an agreement without any teeth, without any definition, without any enforcement capability and without any accountability. It was essentially a transfer of wealth rationalized by the need to "do something" about climate change.
A big part of the climate change "business" is the need to find alternate sources of energy that are clean, renewable and safe. Here's my frustration with the energy discussion. We sent a man to walk on the moon 50 years ago with the computing power of today’s iPhone. We have a little car that we sent to Mars that communicates and takes photos. In less than a generation we’ve put enough computing power in your pocket to access every bit of knowledge in the world and make a call home from anywhere. The Chinese built the Three Gorges Dam that can light up Beijing and Shanghai and have a lot of power left over. And yet...we can’t figure out how to make coal, an abundant energy source, burn clean? We can’t figure out how to build more dams producing hydro-electric power and oh by the way conserve water? We can’t figure out how to make the absolutely cleanest source of power, Nuclear, safer. And don't even get me started about wind power. It's a great idea and produces results but will never make a dent into all of our energy needs. And it is the ultimate NIMBY issue. As the guys in ESPN would say, Come on, Man! Climate change is real. But so are lobbyists. Follow the money. There are forces in play in all aspects of energy that respond to economic pressures. Not pressure to do the right thing. Economic pressure. So while the alarmists wail and gnash their teeth, behind the scenes lobbyists are making sure nothing changes that will upset their apple cart.
So where am I going with all this? First, it's complicated. Climate change can't be solved with sound bites. Second, there are solutions. We just need to have the will to find them. Third, the U.S. isn't the bad guy. Look to China, India and the Middle East and you'll find the polluters. Squeeze them before squeezing us. Fourth, I can't wrap my arms around this being anything else but a long-term problem that we should be working on in a rationale manner to solve. To do that it takes leadership. Not hysterical, sky is falling hyperbole. Because when people hear that crap, they tune it out. And of all the things that are dangerous about climate change, ignoring it is the greatest danger.
Another big problem is that the United States is by any measure the least polluting nation on earth (of industrialized nations). We have by and large an educated populous who for the most part are personally working to make the earth better and are supportive of programs to ensure we do our part. But the alarmists seem to want to heap greater blame on us than is warranted and make our country take a bigger burden than is deserved. The Paris Climate Accords is a prime example. It was an agreement without any teeth, without any definition, without any enforcement capability and without any accountability. It was essentially a transfer of wealth rationalized by the need to "do something" about climate change.
A big part of the climate change "business" is the need to find alternate sources of energy that are clean, renewable and safe. Here's my frustration with the energy discussion. We sent a man to walk on the moon 50 years ago with the computing power of today’s iPhone. We have a little car that we sent to Mars that communicates and takes photos. In less than a generation we’ve put enough computing power in your pocket to access every bit of knowledge in the world and make a call home from anywhere. The Chinese built the Three Gorges Dam that can light up Beijing and Shanghai and have a lot of power left over. And yet...we can’t figure out how to make coal, an abundant energy source, burn clean? We can’t figure out how to build more dams producing hydro-electric power and oh by the way conserve water? We can’t figure out how to make the absolutely cleanest source of power, Nuclear, safer. And don't even get me started about wind power. It's a great idea and produces results but will never make a dent into all of our energy needs. And it is the ultimate NIMBY issue. As the guys in ESPN would say, Come on, Man! Climate change is real. But so are lobbyists. Follow the money. There are forces in play in all aspects of energy that respond to economic pressures. Not pressure to do the right thing. Economic pressure. So while the alarmists wail and gnash their teeth, behind the scenes lobbyists are making sure nothing changes that will upset their apple cart.
So where am I going with all this? First, it's complicated. Climate change can't be solved with sound bites. Second, there are solutions. We just need to have the will to find them. Third, the U.S. isn't the bad guy. Look to China, India and the Middle East and you'll find the polluters. Squeeze them before squeezing us. Fourth, I can't wrap my arms around this being anything else but a long-term problem that we should be working on in a rationale manner to solve. To do that it takes leadership. Not hysterical, sky is falling hyperbole. Because when people hear that crap, they tune it out. And of all the things that are dangerous about climate change, ignoring it is the greatest danger.
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