The Race is On - 231

 Imagine a race where no one shows up.

This is how it has been for 30 years. For thirty years humanity, with only a few exceptions, did not show up for the race. The “race” being the one to save the climate.

This has changed.

It seems like only yesterday, when I substitute taught in three of the local schools, I mentioned to other teachers and staff we had a problem with global warming. I remembered the looks I received.  I had to check to see if I had come to work without my pants on. I think the most common reply was, “You do not believe in THAT, do you?” 

I purchased 600 dollars of National Academy of Science booklets on climate to which I added references to the world’s leading meteorological and science organizations.  Our teachers and staff, when they have information from reputable sources, work hard to make sure they are on the right side of fact. The turnaround of science understanding in our schools was rapid and encouraging.

But within the public sphere the turnaround has been slow until recently. Today, the Yale Climate Connections survey gives us an encouraging picture of the American Science awareness:

 “Americans who think global warming is happening outnumber those who think it is not happening by a ratio of 6 to 1 (72% versus 12%). Those who are “very” or “extremely” sure global warming is happening outnumber those who are “very” or “extremely” sure it is not happening more than 7 to 1 (54% versus 7%). ● More than half of Americans (56%) understand that global warming is mostly human-caused. About one in three (33%) think it is due mostly to natural changes in the environment. ● A majority of Americans (55%) understand that most scientists think global warming is happening. However, only one in five (20%) understand how strong the level of consensus among scientists is (i.e., that more than 90% of climate scientists think human-caused global warming is happening).”

As you can see, American awareness has dramatically increased. This survey took me and many of the climate activist community by surprise. Up to this point, when my climate buds would get dejected, I would chime in, “Remember Thule’s First Law of Physics! If you push on something long and hard enough, it will fall over.” It was my effort to inject a little humor when it seemed impossible to move forward and we had to lean on each other to stay in the game.

While we are toppling obstacles to science understanding there was a new unsettling element emerging. As science awareness has improved so has the recognition our poor planet earth is in an ecological mess. With this recognition some people have become fatalistic doomsayers.  

The earth has not exceeded its ability to bounce back.  We are not too far gone. Yes, we are 30 years behind with solutions because Big Oil and Coal have deceived us.  While we cannot get those 30 years back, we have finally laced up our shoes and  entered the race. Thanks to Joe Biden and the Democrats essential government legislation for infrastructure and energy decarbonization are now law. These laws will, if we take advantage of them, greatly speed the transition to a sustainable future.

Additionally, these laws give us leverage on the international stage. Despite many conflicts today, all nations, as evidenced by the Paris Agreement, know climate change is the worst threat facing us. Now with revived American leadership, climate survival is no longer a theory discussed but a goal the whole world can strive to attain.

One of the blessings of subscribing to science magazines is I get the good news as well as the bad. Every conceivable climate remedy is being examined and pursued in our national laboratories, universities, and corporate workrooms.  Let’s look at just one amazing success story to visualize the potential arc of progress. According to the International Energy Agency the cost to build solar production capable of one Watt of electricity in 1975 was 106 dollars. Today it is 20 cents.

This transformation was not just the product of brilliant scientists and entrepreneurs.  Big business is playing a big role.

Back in 2010 Greenpeace called out big tech businesses as energy hogs ruining the planet. These were companies like Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Walmart, and Target.  Upon self-examination these business behemoths came away agreeing with the climate activists.  Now these companies are the world’s biggest purchasers of clean energy.  Amazon just announced it purchased 18 new green power projects around the world in 2021.  It is the world’s largest corporate buyer of clean energy.

The beauty of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is it makes clean energy and electric vehicles affordable to the common person.  Now we can all lace up our shoes and get serious about the future. The IRA gives each of us the opportunity to get in the race.