Finally we have an administration that believes in climate change and that work must be done to combat it. Earth Day was initiated in the 70s and it’s now that the US is truly working on what has happened to the climate. One can only hope that all nations will join the fight. Again, a great article.
It is sure refreshing to see an administration that does not deny climate change and knows that urgent action is needed. I certainly hope that they can keep that momentum going. It's going to be crucial for all of us.
It is said that the astrological sign of my country is Gemini...this political shift in gears lends credence to this. Changeable, mercurial, and I am HOPEFUL that we will fulfill our people's political will to complete this journey. So much can be healed with these steps.
2021 will be an "interesting" year in history. It appears that my faint hopes are being faintly realized. The hope that Trump was such an egregious example of Climate Denialism, the rest of the world would fill the leadership vacuum, has to some extent been true. Instead of sitting and waiting for the USA to solve the problem, the EU and other countries have taken positive action over the last 4 years and even China has made significant progress.
Certainly, Trump's bad example has been motivating for the new American government to take the issue seriously (although John David Stevens is correct in his comment.)
I think we have to view fossil fuel as an addiction for our societies and for our leaders. Just like alcoholics, they make sincere promises that they will quit "tomorrow".
With Carbon pricing, we can practice the "harm reduction" technique (just two drinks today, just one drink tomorrow... ). But I fear that as with most alcoholics, we will have to "hit bottom" before we get truly serious.
2021 has me hopeful and yet discouraged in another way. The Covid epidemic has reminded democracies that individual rights can be overridden for the common good. In North America, we have had anti-mask protests, anti-vaccine protests and other symptoms of the grieving process. For better or worse, we are slowly getting used to govt. telling us as individuals what we can or cannot do. When things get bad enough and we are ready to end our oil addiction, fuel rationing will not seem so outrageous, now that Covid has introduced us to Common Good policies. We will still protest, but we will be prepared to accept "two litres today and one litre tomorrow" policies.
Meanwhile, I hope that today's theatrics produce better electricity grids and more research on alternative energy storage and energy sources. And with the faintest of hopes I wait for us to begin making decisions not for tomorrow or for the next election year, but for the seventh generation hence.
Hi John, There is a lot that you wrote that I could agree to. But my article is about the U-turn that has been made in the U.S. It is just three months (and a few days) ago that the then-president even denied that there is such a thing as climate change. I am an environmentalist that wants to see much faster and action on every front. Still, I am also an ex-diplomat with experience on how painstakingly slow political processes go. I believe this change has been swift. Is it enough? Of course it isn't. But even when there is hardly any time left, these processes go in steps, and I applaud a serious step in the right direction. There are a thousand more challenges on the way, and you mention some of them, but I am happy that the biggest emitter per capita, and the historically biggest emitter of greenhouse gasses, is now willing to take action, which is a huge change from the dark Trump days.
Finally we have an administration that believes in climate change and that work must be done to combat it. Earth Day was initiated in the 70s and it’s now that the US is truly working on what has happened to the climate. One can only hope that all nations will join the fight. Again, a great article.
It is sure refreshing to see an administration that does not deny climate change and knows that urgent action is needed. I certainly hope that they can keep that momentum going. It's going to be crucial for all of us.
Believe, looking forwards to COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland from 1 to 12 November 2021
It is said that the astrological sign of my country is Gemini...this political shift in gears lends credence to this. Changeable, mercurial, and I am HOPEFUL that we will fulfill our people's political will to complete this journey. So much can be healed with these steps.
2021 will be an "interesting" year in history. It appears that my faint hopes are being faintly realized. The hope that Trump was such an egregious example of Climate Denialism, the rest of the world would fill the leadership vacuum, has to some extent been true. Instead of sitting and waiting for the USA to solve the problem, the EU and other countries have taken positive action over the last 4 years and even China has made significant progress.
Certainly, Trump's bad example has been motivating for the new American government to take the issue seriously (although John David Stevens is correct in his comment.)
I think we have to view fossil fuel as an addiction for our societies and for our leaders. Just like alcoholics, they make sincere promises that they will quit "tomorrow".
With Carbon pricing, we can practice the "harm reduction" technique (just two drinks today, just one drink tomorrow... ). But I fear that as with most alcoholics, we will have to "hit bottom" before we get truly serious.
2021 has me hopeful and yet discouraged in another way. The Covid epidemic has reminded democracies that individual rights can be overridden for the common good. In North America, we have had anti-mask protests, anti-vaccine protests and other symptoms of the grieving process. For better or worse, we are slowly getting used to govt. telling us as individuals what we can or cannot do. When things get bad enough and we are ready to end our oil addiction, fuel rationing will not seem so outrageous, now that Covid has introduced us to Common Good policies. We will still protest, but we will be prepared to accept "two litres today and one litre tomorrow" policies.
Meanwhile, I hope that today's theatrics produce better electricity grids and more research on alternative energy storage and energy sources. And with the faintest of hopes I wait for us to begin making decisions not for tomorrow or for the next election year, but for the seventh generation hence.
Thanks, Doug, see my comments on John David Stevens
Hi John, There is a lot that you wrote that I could agree to. But my article is about the U-turn that has been made in the U.S. It is just three months (and a few days) ago that the then-president even denied that there is such a thing as climate change. I am an environmentalist that wants to see much faster and action on every front. Still, I am also an ex-diplomat with experience on how painstakingly slow political processes go. I believe this change has been swift. Is it enough? Of course it isn't. But even when there is hardly any time left, these processes go in steps, and I applaud a serious step in the right direction. There are a thousand more challenges on the way, and you mention some of them, but I am happy that the biggest emitter per capita, and the historically biggest emitter of greenhouse gasses, is now willing to take action, which is a huge change from the dark Trump days.