Many people, when they hear the phrase “greenhouse gas emissions,” likely think of one greenhouse gas in particular: carbon monoxide. However, there is another greenhouse gas that is far more powerful than CO2: methane. Methane is 34 times more effective in causing global warming than carbon dioxide — and yet, we allow vast quantities of […]
It is no secret that the United States is a deeply divided, partisan country. It’s part of the reason it has been so difficult to pass meaningful climate legislation. And it’s the reason I believe ICEMAN is the bipartisan solution we so desperately need. This belief is not unfounded. I have shown ICEMAN to both […]
A decarbonized future will require a movement—and a movement is made up of individual people. This means we all have a role to play in creating that future. Individuals have to take personal responsibility—and that is something you can start doing today. As individuals take personal responsibility, they’ll inspire their friends, their neighbors, and their […]
History has shown that international climate agreements, policies, and mandates don’t work. From the Paris Agreement all the way back to the first Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, we have tried mandating reductions in carbon footprint, with little success. At the Paris Agreement, it was finally recognized that handing down mandates wasn’t working. Instead, […]
The common fear about many of the climate change solutions generally recommended by international consortiums like the Kyoto Protocol—policies such as cap and trade or carbon fee and dividend—is that they will simply pass the cost on to the consumer, leading to inflation and negatively impacting the economy. With ICEMAN, there is no such fear. […]
When considering what product to buy, consumers consider a number of attributes: price, quality, availability—and, increasingly, sustainability. The green movement has already gained momentum, thanks to growing consciousness of global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, and the consequences for our planet, our species, and our individual well-being. Green ways of thinking and purchasing continue to become […]
One of the most common solutions proposed as a measure to combat climate change is cap and trade. In this system, the government sets a cap on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions permitted across an entire industry. Then, companies within that industry trade in a market, buying and selling carbon offsets that permit them […]
In this country, great change often starts at the grassroots level. Social activists lobby for a change they believe is needed. Individuals who agree with that belief join the movement. When there is a big enough groundswell, the government begins to adopt that change. Often, this takes years and years—although sometimes, it happens practically overnight. […]
Across the country and around the world, local, regional, and national governments are setting renewable energy goals. There are 100 percent renewable projects happening across the United States. From companies like Whole Foods and Google to towns like my hometown of East Hampton to large cities like San Diego, Boulder, and Salt Lake City. Around […]
Grassroots Movement in East Hampton In May of 2014, my hometown of East Hampton, New York, voted to adopt a remarkable goal: committing to 100 percent renewable energy. The proposal, called the Comprehensive Energy Vision, was put forward by the Town of East Hampton Energy Sustainability Committee, under my leadership as chair. With this Vision, […]