Monday, October 5, 2009

Ecology or Economy? Singing the Climate Week Blues.

By Dave Rochlin - originally posted on care2.com

Ecology or economy? Do we really have to choose?
It's got me singing the climate week blues.


"Climate Week" - timed to coincide with last week's UN meetings and the Clinton Global Initiative - left me both excited and dreading the next few months.

The international community is solidly united behind creating a comprehensive climate change agreement, factoring in both economic growth and social justice while setting aggressive targets. As I mentioned last week, even President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao got in on the act. But the US economy is built on fossil fuel consumption, and even the modest reduction targets proposed by the House of Representatives are met with intense resistance.

I'd rather show than tell in this case, so take a look at the 2 minute YouTube video that ClimatePath put together.




The world needs, and world leaders demand, a 20-25% reduction below 1990 levels by 2020 to avoid the critical 2 degrees (C) threshold, yet such a reduction seems to require changes far above what we're willing to pursue. The question leading up to Copenhagen climate meetings is: What happens when an immovable object meets an irresistible force? We'll soon find out.

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