I am ecstatic about Obama's selection of Stephen Chu as the next Secretary of Energy. This choice speaks louder than words about his commitment to get the job done. Chu is a brilliant scientist (Nobelist) and a seasoned administrator (Lawrence Berkeley National Labs), with a deep grasp of the technological challenges that we will need to meet in order to transition to a zero-carbon economy. He has also been outspoken on the urgent need to address climate change.
To understand what a profound shift this selection represents, consider that our current Energy Secretary has had a career in the financial industry -- he is the former President/COO of Fidelity Investments. Thinking about this made me curious to know the history of this cabinet post. Here it is, in brief:
The cabinet-level Department of Energy was created in 1977 in response to the oil shocks of the early 70s. Here are the energy secretaries, in reverse order:
BUSH II: S...
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I attended a roundtable discussion on Carbon Trading: Solution to Climate Change or Corporate Resource Grab last night hosted by an indigenous environmental justice (?) group (Community Alliance & Peacemaking Project) and featuring Larry Lohmann of the Corner House as main speaker. It's really important that the climate movement connect to indigenous communities and movements, and it was great to be in a discussion with numerous members of these groups.
Unfortunately, the main thrust of this evening was that carbon pricing is bad, just another corporate scam, and should be opposed. It was disturbing to see the room line up in support of this misguided idea. It is not only wrong, but adopting such an ill-considered stance will utterly marginalize the climate justice movement.
Lohmann is on a book tour to spread this idea that carbon trading is bad. His argument in a nutshell is this: We need... Read more
This weekend, the WA state party caucuses meet to choose delegates and begin to draft a party platform. I plan to attend, primarily to be a voice for the strongest possible climate platform.
If you'd like to do the same, here's where to find your precinct-level caucus:
Democrat: http://www.wa-democrats.org/caucusfinder
Republican: http://www.wsrp.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=6885
Here is the resolution that I plan to offer for consideration:
Climate Crisis Resolution
Whereas we recognize that disruption of the global climate threatens to undermine our ability to achieve all other Democratic Party goals including economic prosperity, national security, social justice, and a healthy environment.
Whereas the window of opportunity to forestall climate chaos is rapidly closing a... Read more
There is a public comment period still open on scoping for the Puget Sound Regional Council's update of the Destination 2030 transportation plan. Their website is pretty frustrating, and I'm not an insider on these issues, but here are my comments. Comment period ends Jan. 30, 2008.
What priorities should the plan update address?
Because of the long time lags in transportation planning, it is critical that we fully take account of the implications of climate change in Destination 2030. It is not enough to address average or "most likely" scenarios. Our evolving understanding suggests that climate impacts may be occurring faster than anticipated, and it is probable that our current GHG reduction efforts are not ambitious enough. All transportation planning should take this into account, by including a scenario under which in the next ... Read more
My previous post gave comments on CAT emissions reductions recommendations, and here are the comments I submitted for citizen engagement (Part Three):
Dear friends and colleagues,
This draft is a good start and all the elements included are reasonable. But I fear it is not ambitious enough. Aside from the green jobs components, the current draft would primarily set up an information clearinghouse and use existing channels to ensure that citizens get education and technical assistance in reducing GHG emissions. One would expect no less from a plan to reduce waste oil dumping in storm drains. Let's think to the scale of the problem.
We now face what may be the defining challenge of our civilization. The rate of loss of Arctic sea ice has far outpaced climate models, and the melt of the Greenland ice sheet is causing astonishment and concern among scientists. Here is a blog excerpt from a scientist at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical... Read more
At the end of December, the Washington Climate Advisory Team released its draft recommendations, in three parts:
- A Comprehensive Climate Approach for Washington: Policies and Strategies to Jump-start the Clean Economy and Reduce GHG Emissions
- Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change
- Citizen Engagement and Action Framework
Here are the comments I submitted for part one:
Dear friends and colleagues,
First, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the hard work and careful thought that has gone into these recommendations. My comments are meant to build on, not detract from this great start.
REVENUE RECYCLING
In the discussion of market-based mechanisms (cap-and-trade and carbon tax), there is no mention of reve... Read more
Here's my op-ed piece that got published in the Seattle P-I recently. My original title was as above ...
(And no, I don't normally go by 'Paul'!)
Acting on climate from ground up By PAUL MITCHELL
GUEST COLUMNIST
Isn't it odd?
My friend said, the other day, "I'm too busy to save the world. But I hope someone else does."
Isn't it odd that (if you believe the scientists) we're on the verge of fundamentally disrupting the climate patterns of our planet, and yet no one has called us? Our phones are not ringing off the hook.
Renowned venture capitalist John Doerr says, "I'm scared. I don't think we're going to make it."
Isn't it extremely odd that we're not meeting every night, that neighborhoods are not organizing by block, that the bells atop town halls are not clanging, that our elected leaders have not cal... Read more
This movie is a powerful and flawed wake-up call to humans about the looming crisis of planet Earth. It's worth seeing for the opening few minutes alone, which alternates between Earth catastrophe and Earth idyll in a way that is stunning and moving. The movie alternates between talking heads (TH) and voice-over footage. The talking heads are for the most part really smart, innovative people like Janine Benyus (biomimicry), Kenny Ausubel (Bioneers), Wangari Maathai (Green Belt Movement) and Paul Stamets (Mycelium Running). If you already know their work, it's fun to see and hear them in the flesh. I don't know that it would be as meaningful if you don't already know them. (The glaring omission, though: Amory Lovins.) The footage is gorgeous, powerful, heart-breaking.
The core thesis is that our economy is premised on a fantasy of infinite growth, and we have yet to come to terms with the fact that we live on a finite planet. As Betsy Taylor says, it's not about stopping all co... Read more
In the July 13 issue of Science, there's a policy forum exchange between William Nordhaus (a leading climate economist) and Nicholas Stern (former chief economist of the World Bank and lead author of the Stern Review). It's a frustrating exchange, in which they mostly talk past each other. This is a shame, bc we really need constructive debate between them. Nordhaus says "go slow", Stern says "go fast", and they can't both be right.
I wrote a letter to the editor, which I just found out won't be published, ... so here it is:
To the editors (Science)
As director of the Greater Seattle Climate Dialogues, it's my job to help the public understand climate policy. I was therefore eager to read the Nordhaus/Stern policy forum, as there is a dearth of climate economics coverage for a general audience.
Sadly, Nordhaus vs. Stern contributed little. The debate over discount rates is a values debate in disg... Read more
I've heard about this from several people, and it's really pretty exciting:
Next April, the national Episcopal Church will team with Episcopalians in Western Washington to host a conference to launch a multifaith campaign on climate change.
At the event, the Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will invite national organizations of Christians, Jews and Muslims to commit to reducing the carbon footprint of their churches, temples and mosques by a minimum of 50 percent by 2015.
The "Genesis Covenant" is not intended to be adopted by a parish here and a synagogue there, but promoted and acted upon by the associations, councils and assemblies that speak for denominations and faiths.
This is an effort to use the power of religious networks to get serious about our response to the climate crisis. This is really hopeful! You can Read more
