Why march?
The majority of scientists agree that climate change is occuring because of human activity. The human population on earth is now so big and is using the earths resources at a so intensive rate, that we are actually capable of changing the planet we live on.
Global warming means not just a warmer climate on average, but also incalculable consequences for all of humankind such as:
- Extreme weather and more violent storms
- Rising sea levels
- Longer and more severe droughts in already dry areas
- Desertification
- Heavier floods in coastal areas
- Lack of clean drinking water
- More diseases
- Rising mortality rates in the poorest countries
- Massive refugee migrations
- Imminent risk of more devastating wars between states and peoples.
Energy consumption, depletion of the earth’s natural resources, local pollution, and green house gas emissions are all rising. This is a completely unsustainable path and cannot be continued!
Current projections show that U.S. total energy consumption will increase 24 % from 2010 to 2030. Solving the climate and energy problems is going to be extremely difficult if we continue to use more energy.
U.S. total energy consumption projection. Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html
As it can be seen below, the energy produced from renewable sources is projected to double from 2010-2030, but at the same time the consumption of liquid fossil fuels, natural gas and coal will all increase. This clearly shows the need for drastic changes.
U.S. total energy consumption by fuel projection. Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/forecasting.html
The data for these graphs comes from EIA, Energy Information Administration, a part of the government administration.
The solutions exist
Wind power, solar panels for heating, photo voltaic solar cells and power production using biomass is totally possible today. Why don't we use these technologies more?
And even more important, why don't we lower our energy consumption? Insulation of houses, more energy efficient cars, public transit and bicycling are all easy ways to lower the energy consumption.
The politicians are passive.
The emissions of carbon dioxide and the energy consumption is increasing even though we are aware of the problems. The politicians are being influenced through lobbying of energy intensive industries and energy companies and are not eager to introduce new taxes. They want to do “business as usual.”
“Business as usual” is the most dangerous path that can be taken.
Neither the issue of climate change nor the issue of running out of energy are addressed. If politicians do not provide energy legislation, we will, within our lifetime, experience a climate crisis as well as an energy crisis.
We need to show the politicians that we are really concerned about the future.
We are at a crossroads in history
The Kyoto protocol was adobted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. The Kyoto protocol aims to stabilize the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by putting restrictions on the participating countries emissions. The only western country that didn't ratify the protocol was the United States of America.
The Kyoto protocal runs out in 2012, and will be replaced by a new protocol. This protocol will be negotiated and adopted at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, December 7th to 18th 2009.
It is extremely important that the U.S. takes leadership in these negotiations and aim for an ambitious agreement so the world can avoid the worst consequences of climate change.
Let’s march.