Global warming and rising energy demands are the two biggest crises the world faces in the next few decades. Global warming threatens life on our planet. At the least, it will cause massive climate disruption, severely damaging our environment, quality of life, and economic well being. We are also running out of oil and gas. In addition, the world is gaining in population and industry.
The problem in a nutshell: the world needs more energy, but current energy sources cause global warming and the ensuing climate disruption. Basically, we need more sources of energy that do not cause global warming.
Luckily, renewable energy is the solution to both of these problems.
But most conservatives and Republicans are in the pockets of the oil and gas industry and refuse to do anything constructive about these two clear and present dangers. We need to throw out politicians who want a warmer, disruptive climate where our reliance on oil, gas and coal subordinates U.S. interests to dangerous parts of the world. In their place we need to elect leaders who will work towards a healthy, stable climate where we control our energy future while leading the world in the growing renewable energy market.
To solve the climate and energy crisis, we need to:
* Impose a market friendly, economy wide cap on carbon dioxide pollution that allows for trading of carbon dioxide pollution credits.
* Require at least 20% of all energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. Eventually require nearly all of our energy to come from renewables, say 2050.
* Take the leadership role for the post-Kyoto follow on agreement. Make sure the follow on agreement is acceptable, sign and ratify it.
* Increase investment in renewable energy at least $10 billion/year.
* Raise mandated vehicle fuel economy (CAFÉ standards) to 40 mpg by 2015. Continually raise CAFÉ after that.
* Require all buildings to meet improved energy efficiency standards.
But the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency are more than just environmental. Renewable energy will be a huge market. It will drive economic growth in the first half of this century like the Internet boom did the 90s. Everybody, including China and India, are going to need more energy, and they are going to want it to be clean. Nations who have joined the Kyoto Protocol are going to need new technologies in order to meet their carbon dioxide reduction targets.
If they U.S. starts investing in renewable and efficiency technologies, we can lead this massive market, reaping billions of dollars and millions of high-paying jobs in the process. Even rural communities will benefit, especially from wind energy.
But if we do not promote renewable energy investment now, we stand to lose out to our global economic competitors, many of whom are already leading in these new technologies.
We can no longer afford the status quo. Our environmental and economic future, indeed, our entire quality of life, is at stake.
Messaging on climate disruption.
• Climate disruption and the energy crunch are the two biggest crises the world faces; renewable energy is the solution to both of them.
• Congress refuses to take either crisis seriously. We need to elect officials who will act.
• We are falling behind our competitors in the quickly expanding renewable energy market.
• Renewable energy will create millions of high paying jobs and billions of dollars.
Key message points to keep in mind.
1) The science is settled. Do not get into a debate about whether or not it is real. In fact, do not even state it is real. Assume that it is and talk as if everyone knows it.
2) Do not use ‘climate change’. This implies a gradual shift in climate that nature controls, not us. Frank Luntz, the main Republican pollster and message guru, tells them to use ‘climate change’ for those very reasons. Use terms like ‘climate disruption’ or ‘climate crisis’. These imply dangerous changes in climate that are not natural, i.e. man made.
3) Quickly shift from how dangerous this situation is to positive solutions. This is where renewable energy comes in.
4) Talk about high-paying jobs, leading competitors like China in a new growth market, billions in profits, American ingenuity, moral authority, can-do attitude, opportunity, responsibility.