Disinvestment is important, but it's only one area where California has room for improvement in moving away from fossil fuels. The recent decision to vastly increase the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility was a big disappointment. The frequent granting of new oil and gas leases is very frustrating. The reluctance to upset entrenched oil interests in Kern and Inyo Counties is maddening. Allowing fracking to consume vast amounts of potable water and permanently contaminate our aquifers is unforgivable. We can do MUCH better.
Sadly, progress appears stuck; we only see steps that are far too little, too late.
In order to prevent worst case scenarios comparable to a protracted world war, we, organization representatives and individuals working on climate issues, MUST WORK TOGETHER, moving to THE NEXT STAGE OF ACTIONS.
We must present feasible proposals: We need a cohesive movement that promotes fairly detailed plans for decisive actions, starting to reverse global warming within years. Carbon neutrality by 2050 is far too late for the billion people living in most affected areas. Governments must be compelled to treat global warming as most urgent - the worst crisis in human history and act as decisively as after the attack on Pearl Harbor - and respond as decisively as during WW!!.
We consider the following to be first priorities:
More people must learn how terrifying present plans and proposals are:
Present approaches, “business-as-usual-with-incentives” are cruel and irresponsible; they would lead to weather catastrophes becoming more frequent and much more deadly for decades. They hardly consider the compounding vicious cycles that keep worsening global warming. Many densely populated areas would become unlivable in the next few decades; there would be mass migrations, likely violence worldwide, and also a dramatic decrease in biodiversity.
But people must also learn about feasible, highly effective alternate paths for our future. We must halt waste and consumerism, save energy and resources in every way possible: We need ultra-light electric vehicles and trains, not more Teslas and planes; wood and bamboo, in place of concrete and steel; cooling white paint, not more air conditioning; trees, not cattle; etc.
Government-funded public-private partnership nonprofit enterprises (PPPNE) are needed to reform industries and land management.
Heinz Aeschbach, MD, president of Humane Civilization Worldwide humanecivilzation.org.
There is no shortage at all of articles and scientific papers that keep reminding us (citizens of the "modern" industrial world) that we need to quickly stop extracting and burning fossil fuels. But there are almost no articles and what a US & world where GHG production is reduced by 50% and eventually 95% - 100% would look like. If we don't have that vision and we don't convince a substantial majority of our fellow citizens that a world with no fossil fuel burning is ultimately a much safer & saner world than one where we continue endless economic growth powered by fossil fuels (until our civilization collapses).
So, memo to Bill McKibben: Please write more articles about what a 50% reduction in GHG production would look like in the US, China, the US, Japan, India, etc. How would homes & businesses be heated/cooled? How would food be grown. processed & transported to markets? How fast can national/regional electrical grids & storage systems be built/upgraded and at what costs and who pays? How will economies be re-localized so countries/regions produce their own food, clothing, shelter materials, medical supplies, critical electronic devices/tools? How will military forces be able to provide effective defense without remaining addicted to fossl fuels [because after all, evil is not simply going to disappear from the world once we eliminate the burning of fossil fuels]?
I noticed you used fossil "fuel" (singular) rather than "fuels". Is that a new way of referencing it and if so, why? If not, I guess I haven't been paying attention previously.
the drying up of aquifers is just one aspect of the environmental impact of overpopulation in the US, and the world. Nonetheless, the Census Bureau projects that over the next 40 years, the US will add the population equivalent of 3.5 New York states. Most of that will come from immigration; one Massachusetts population equivalent will come from native increase.
Thanks, Bill, for your remarkable work bringing us these climate updates. Years back no-one dreamed things would get so bad. I'm a 77yrold South African in a country making very half-hearted commitments to reduce fossil fuel burning. But wind and solar are coming on. Not enough and not fast enough! As we say here, a luta continua !
As a Canadian, I am ashamed of my federal Government and most provincial governments for doing so little to stop the fossil fuels industry from polluting our country and our Earth.
Quite the contrary, our feds are actually subsidizing new oil and gas extraction projects, and my Ontario government is actually building new gas-fired plants and expanding gas pipelines throughout the province. While Alberta’s government has actually put a ban on the development of renewable energy.
I've seen you as our conscience ever since you spoke at a Threshold Foundation meeting years ago where I felt a kinship with you for putting yourself out there so passionately. I don’t work on the surface banging away at intractable situations. I look to the understanding people have that keeps what’s terrible in place. Change people’s minds about what they are doing here on Earth and you will change what they do. If humans are sinners kicked out of the Garden they behave as if they are in a dog-eat-dog world, differently from spirit-filled creatures in a sacred universe who would care about each other and their planetary home. I wonder if there is some alliance for us that makes sense, where you speak for the outer and I speak for the inner???? Nobody is doing what I’m doing, looking to organize the people who are awake to this deeper reality as a force to get here and how results. My post today is a good one to look at because it summarizes months of my other posts: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/whats-on-a-roadmap-to-the-future.
We are in a “State of Emergency” as the old song goes!!! We all need to change our behavior radically!!!
I could talk for hrs, but the bottom line is that each of us needs to buckle our seat belts, turn off the lights, drive only for necessities, behave as if we are in a war zone before it looks like one!!!!
Make changes in your life, help your friends change. Eat less, consume less, be compassionate and mindful of where we are.
Our home is on fire!!!
We must act to save children!!!
Pray for each-other, love everyone, moment by moment do what you can, protect against your own ignorance, become fearless.
This is such an interesting contribution. I think the health and public safety problems associated to climate change are the one things we should focus on to bring about change.
However, I believe many climate activists don't focus enough attention on the trade-offs linked to green policies thus damaging the formation of a pro-change coalition.
In the little space i have, i try to talk about this things both in private and publicly on my substack.
Bill your story ignores the most important other side of fossil fuels, that is that they are the lifeblood of humanity at present, whether it is cheap and affordable coal fired power generation, concrete and plastics, heavy machinery, shipping aviation and most others transportation, fertiliser without which mass starvation would be assured, mining and mineral refining. The list is extremely long.
Why don’t the problems of fossil fuel use in New Dehli also afflict Tokyo? Because fossil fuel use is more flexible and adaptable than you posit. Kind regards
Bill - The lawn sign and the green cards. I have VA at WRJ appointment on the 11th; could come by around lunch time. Speaking in this thread, could I suggest that 'scary' is not the word for what we face; I much prefer 'alarm' as it suggests wake up, pay attention, man the barricades as opposed to huddling in our burrows. You all and anyone else who does good works is much outspent by money spent to buy political favor. Sendnomoney.org. . . .It's an idea
Disinvestment is important, but it's only one area where California has room for improvement in moving away from fossil fuels. The recent decision to vastly increase the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility was a big disappointment. The frequent granting of new oil and gas leases is very frustrating. The reluctance to upset entrenched oil interests in Kern and Inyo Counties is maddening. Allowing fracking to consume vast amounts of potable water and permanently contaminate our aquifers is unforgivable. We can do MUCH better.
Sadly, progress appears stuck; we only see steps that are far too little, too late.
In order to prevent worst case scenarios comparable to a protracted world war, we, organization representatives and individuals working on climate issues, MUST WORK TOGETHER, moving to THE NEXT STAGE OF ACTIONS.
We must present feasible proposals: We need a cohesive movement that promotes fairly detailed plans for decisive actions, starting to reverse global warming within years. Carbon neutrality by 2050 is far too late for the billion people living in most affected areas. Governments must be compelled to treat global warming as most urgent - the worst crisis in human history and act as decisively as after the attack on Pearl Harbor - and respond as decisively as during WW!!.
We consider the following to be first priorities:
More people must learn how terrifying present plans and proposals are:
Present approaches, “business-as-usual-with-incentives” are cruel and irresponsible; they would lead to weather catastrophes becoming more frequent and much more deadly for decades. They hardly consider the compounding vicious cycles that keep worsening global warming. Many densely populated areas would become unlivable in the next few decades; there would be mass migrations, likely violence worldwide, and also a dramatic decrease in biodiversity.
But people must also learn about feasible, highly effective alternate paths for our future. We must halt waste and consumerism, save energy and resources in every way possible: We need ultra-light electric vehicles and trains, not more Teslas and planes; wood and bamboo, in place of concrete and steel; cooling white paint, not more air conditioning; trees, not cattle; etc.
Government-funded public-private partnership nonprofit enterprises (PPPNE) are needed to reform industries and land management.
Heinz Aeschbach, MD, president of Humane Civilization Worldwide humanecivilzation.org.
There is no shortage at all of articles and scientific papers that keep reminding us (citizens of the "modern" industrial world) that we need to quickly stop extracting and burning fossil fuels. But there are almost no articles and what a US & world where GHG production is reduced by 50% and eventually 95% - 100% would look like. If we don't have that vision and we don't convince a substantial majority of our fellow citizens that a world with no fossil fuel burning is ultimately a much safer & saner world than one where we continue endless economic growth powered by fossil fuels (until our civilization collapses).
So, memo to Bill McKibben: Please write more articles about what a 50% reduction in GHG production would look like in the US, China, the US, Japan, India, etc. How would homes & businesses be heated/cooled? How would food be grown. processed & transported to markets? How fast can national/regional electrical grids & storage systems be built/upgraded and at what costs and who pays? How will economies be re-localized so countries/regions produce their own food, clothing, shelter materials, medical supplies, critical electronic devices/tools? How will military forces be able to provide effective defense without remaining addicted to fossl fuels [because after all, evil is not simply going to disappear from the world once we eliminate the burning of fossil fuels]?
I noticed you used fossil "fuel" (singular) rather than "fuels". Is that a new way of referencing it and if so, why? If not, I guess I haven't been paying attention previously.
the drying up of aquifers is just one aspect of the environmental impact of overpopulation in the US, and the world. Nonetheless, the Census Bureau projects that over the next 40 years, the US will add the population equivalent of 3.5 New York states. Most of that will come from immigration; one Massachusetts population equivalent will come from native increase.
Thanks, Bill, for your remarkable work bringing us these climate updates. Years back no-one dreamed things would get so bad. I'm a 77yrold South African in a country making very half-hearted commitments to reduce fossil fuel burning. But wind and solar are coming on. Not enough and not fast enough! As we say here, a luta continua !
As a Canadian, I am ashamed of my federal Government and most provincial governments for doing so little to stop the fossil fuels industry from polluting our country and our Earth.
Quite the contrary, our feds are actually subsidizing new oil and gas extraction projects, and my Ontario government is actually building new gas-fired plants and expanding gas pipelines throughout the province. While Alberta’s government has actually put a ban on the development of renewable energy.
In the meantime our forests our burning up.
I've seen you as our conscience ever since you spoke at a Threshold Foundation meeting years ago where I felt a kinship with you for putting yourself out there so passionately. I don’t work on the surface banging away at intractable situations. I look to the understanding people have that keeps what’s terrible in place. Change people’s minds about what they are doing here on Earth and you will change what they do. If humans are sinners kicked out of the Garden they behave as if they are in a dog-eat-dog world, differently from spirit-filled creatures in a sacred universe who would care about each other and their planetary home. I wonder if there is some alliance for us that makes sense, where you speak for the outer and I speak for the inner???? Nobody is doing what I’m doing, looking to organize the people who are awake to this deeper reality as a force to get here and how results. My post today is a good one to look at because it summarizes months of my other posts: https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/whats-on-a-roadmap-to-the-future.
Thanks, Bill. Once again, sobering but helpful in all of its specifics.
Thank you for centering the injustice of global climate/environmental impacts. Heartbreaking, but vital to share and know.
The obvious solution is to tax fossil fuels. Why is this seldom proffered?
We are in a “State of Emergency” as the old song goes!!! We all need to change our behavior radically!!!
I could talk for hrs, but the bottom line is that each of us needs to buckle our seat belts, turn off the lights, drive only for necessities, behave as if we are in a war zone before it looks like one!!!!
Make changes in your life, help your friends change. Eat less, consume less, be compassionate and mindful of where we are.
Our home is on fire!!!
We must act to save children!!!
Pray for each-other, love everyone, moment by moment do what you can, protect against your own ignorance, become fearless.
This is such an interesting contribution. I think the health and public safety problems associated to climate change are the one things we should focus on to bring about change.
However, I believe many climate activists don't focus enough attention on the trade-offs linked to green policies thus damaging the formation of a pro-change coalition.
In the little space i have, i try to talk about this things both in private and publicly on my substack.
Bill your story ignores the most important other side of fossil fuels, that is that they are the lifeblood of humanity at present, whether it is cheap and affordable coal fired power generation, concrete and plastics, heavy machinery, shipping aviation and most others transportation, fertiliser without which mass starvation would be assured, mining and mineral refining. The list is extremely long.
Why don’t the problems of fossil fuel use in New Dehli also afflict Tokyo? Because fossil fuel use is more flexible and adaptable than you posit. Kind regards
Bill - The lawn sign and the green cards. I have VA at WRJ appointment on the 11th; could come by around lunch time. Speaking in this thread, could I suggest that 'scary' is not the word for what we face; I much prefer 'alarm' as it suggests wake up, pay attention, man the barricades as opposed to huddling in our burrows. You all and anyone else who does good works is much outspent by money spent to buy political favor. Sendnomoney.org. . . .It's an idea
Thank you Bill. From work I’ve been doing, dismantling patriarchy and getting rid of fossil fuels seem almost like the same thing....