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Obama on Climate: Is He Even Trying?
Posted Sep 24, 2009 by Bill McKibben
[Excerpt] Judging from the UN speech, I am starting to doubt it. For those of us who care desperately about the climate, President Obama’s speech on Tuesday—the first to the world body by this most admired of world leaders—was a dud, a towering disappointment. Coming at the beginning of what the UN has dubbed “climate week,” the speech marked the beginning of a three-month push towards the global climate conference at Copenhagen. Obama used it mostly to downplay expectations. And it’s those downplayed expectations that may prove to be tragically self-fulfilling.
Oh sure, there were a few flights of soaring rhetoric: "Our generation's response to this challenge will be judged by history," blah blah blah. But of all issues, this is the one where rhetoric does the least good. The enemy here is chemistry and physics, and they are heartily unimpressed by anything except specific targets for the reduction of carbon dioxide. And on this front Obama was completely unforthcoming, promising only that “we will continue to do so by investing in renewable energy, promoting greater efficiency, and slashing our emissions to reach the targets we set for 2020 and our long-term goal for 2050."...
Originally published September 21, 2009 on Mother Jones.
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1 comments
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN "What, Me Worry?" Oil article and Mr. Obama
From: Gunnar Henrioulle, Sep 29, 2009 10:12 PM
If railways are to be part of the Part B solution set, it is about time to see that spelled out, as policy in various statements emanating from environmental interest groups.
High Speed rail is easy to promote, it is decades off, and that only if China or Norway or Saudis or another $$ holder decides to invest in US transport infrastructure. Actually, steady cashflow might be better than inflating US bonds and treasuries??
But, what of the philanthropists and corporations and wealthy ones of America who have most to lose if transport seizes up, and shortages due to distribution problems comes into play? People holed up with gold and guns, along with the rest of us, benefit most if we maintain working distribution system, even if it is a pre-1950 model... A transport system exemplar of America a lending not a borrowing nation; fancy that!
For readers thinking about policy points on generic rail, see (peakoil.net) Newsletter 42, article 374, and Newsletter 89. article 1037. Fill in the blanks with Christopher C. Swan's "ELECTRIC WATER" (New Society Press,2007). Do you know your nearby rail line; dormant or active? See (spv.co.uk) for US Rail Map Atlas volume for your respective region/county.
Iran action could hasten the Oil Crisis. Maybe we'll avoid that for awhile, but as Lionel Badal writes, oil war is the new norm:
http://www.theoildrum.com/files/Lionel%20Badal%20Dissertation.pdf
If you print, try pages 1-25; 27-33; and 35-84. Pages 26 & 34 seem to be blocked.
Sebastopol CA, home of the PostCarbon offices, had a rail branch line. Anyone connecting Peak Oil with need for rail rehab? Other California dormant rail lines ran to Rumsey, Isleton, Placerville, Knights Landing, Tahoe City, Calaveras, Monterey, even one from Merced to El Portal! Probably, someone reading this is near one of these lines. Got food coming when trucking hits some Diesel rationing in the road?
Policymakers following parallel bar therapy, consider reformed Army/Guard rail logistics units, unit elements stationed at junctions of dormant lines, taking lead for initial return to service. RR Battalion moving on to next one as private operators take over. Prioritize rehab for AG traffic branches, then manufacturing buildback, resources, etc.
Policymakers must see inventory tax, dependable supply of rail & track hardware, ballast, etc. Use all automobiles for scrapping as designated material for rail rolling mill feedstock. Railway not truck freeway, should be immediate policy shift for NAFTA.
NAFTA railway policy might coincide with water project, fleshing out a civil engineering project list on transport/energy. Recharging Central Valley Aquifer has massive enrgy saving potential. See NAWAPA for some leads on using Columbia River Outflow. Consider full suite of EIOER with railway electrification linked with west coast water and Hydropower partnership.
In fact, NAWAPA in full regalia includes water sufficient to bring supply for Ogallala Aquifer, and some left over for Rio Grande/Mexico needs. Yes, I know hydropower gives some people heartburn. War over Oil is far worse, and major projects will provide major involvement by adversaries like China.
Why not encourage railway as a worldwide element of the climate/energy discussion? China is already on a railway construction binge. 35 mile tunnel under way in the Alps. Let's think about the Hejaz/Pilgrim Railway rebuild in the Oilpatch as a regional unifier, opportunity to create some enroute settlements for Palestinian safety valve.
Major rail projects, beyond the rehabs, new alignment for TranSierra traffic: See the 1995 CalTrans Reno Tahoe Rail Study (unabridged, from Randell Iwasaki). See Signor's "Sierra Crossing Book, pages 156 &157, for details on Kaiser Engineering's October 1945 plan for electrification of the 1869 Rail Line. Comparable cost with the HSR line on the coast. More immediate energy benefits.
Mr. Heinberg? Mr. Emanuel? Mr. Pope? Before the rockets fly? See Lionel Badal.