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Accidents on the scale of Chernobyl, causing death and deformities for generations, can still occur in all commercial reactor designs. Nuclear waste remains an unsolved problem that poses significant long-term health, environmental and safety risks. We have the technology to develop and use clean, safe, renewable sources of energy and do not need more nuclear power plants.
Gasoline Engines
No matter how much we try to create more efficient, less polluting gasoline engines, they will continue to be an unacceptably large source of greenhouse gas emissions. By no later than 2018 we should entirely replace gasoline-powered engines with a technologically feasible range of options including plug-in electric, hydrogen and fuel cell engines.
Deforestation
Greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation are larger than emissions from vehicles, aircraft, ships and trains combined. The loss of forests is the biggest man-made contributor to climate change after burning fossil fuels, accounting for about 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions per year. The best way to remove vast amounts of carbon from the atmosphere is by maintaining healthy forests, meaning an end to all logging on public lands immediately.
Conservation
Significant advances in conservation do not require large-scale new technology. It requires only changes in our life habits. Other countries -- such as Japan, Italy and France -- are far more efficient in their conservation of energy. Even small increases above the pittance the federal government now spends on programs such as conservation, insulation and energy-efficient appliances, could significantly reduce our energy consumption.
We need federal policies to mandate the reduction of energy consumption by 50% by 2018 through serious conservation incentives and education.
Conclusion
No more passing the buck. The gentle measures offered at the United Nations Framework on Climate Change in Poznan, Poland are simply inadequate. It's time to cut greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2025 and put an end to the cancer of catastrophic climate change. It's our time to lead on the most critical issue of our time.
Karyn is a political scientist, grassroots organizer and writer. She is the founder and chair of a new organization called hottpac.org, working to elect candidates to reverse catastrophic climate change. Please visit our website today and sign our petition, make a donation and sign-up to host a housemeeting.
© Karyn Strickler, 2008.
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