The Millennial Files

What to Do About Global Climate Change : A Political Solution

The recent heatwave in both the U.S., Britiain and Europe has given many reason for alarm. While it is not unusual for the South West to experience such extreme temperatures during the month of July, it is an anomaly for the entire Continental U.S. to be subjected to. Temperatures across the country exceeded those in July, 2005, the twelfth hottest summer since in over a hundred years.

Tropical heat captured New York City, where the humidity factor magnified it, causing Central Park to feel like 99°F. The rest of the contiguous states saw temps of 100°F or higher, with some areas in Kansas, Oklahoma  and Texas hitting 105°F and above.

While this may seem tame for anyone living in Phoenix or Los Angeles, the average high July temp for NYC from 1962-1992 was 84° F.

Even more unusual is Britain’s and parts of Europe’s concurrent experience of the same phenomenon. South of London was bathed in temperatures of 36.3° C (97.3° F). Spain and Bordeaux, France sweltered at 104° F and 102° F, respectively.

The most immediate reaction to this has been for people to use this as evidence of global warming. I however have been intrigued by something else: the response.

The Source of Our Problems

Power consumption, one of the primary sources of global warming, has been equally pushed to record highs. California was noted as the largest consumer. Several buildings in Chicago opened the doors of their air-conditioned buildings to anyone needing a “cool break.” While this may have provided temporary relief, using fossil-fuel energy only adds to the problem in the long run — kind of like speeding in your car to get home before you run out of gas.

There have been many calls for conservation, most of which I am fairly sure went unheeded. The Hummer did not become a top seller in the last five years because a majority of Americans was thinking about the environment. Nevertheless, even if people did make personal efforts to reduce their own energy consumption,this, in and of itself, is not enough to put the brakes on the runaway train of global climate change.

Until we change our primary source of energy from pollutant and finite fossil fuels, to clean-burning, renewable fuels, changing light bulbs, turning off lights, insulating your house and unplugging appliances will only be a drop in the tub of change required to make any real difference.

Political Action at Regional and State Levels

Political action at the regional, and state levels, has never been needed more, and is presentently happening on the West Coast of the U.S. Rather than wait for the Republican dominated Senate and Congress to take action, or President Bush to sign the Kyoto Protocol, the Governors of California, Oregon and Washington have joined forces to put together the West Coast Governor’s Global Warming Initiative. In addition to urging the Western states to join the fight against global warming, the Western Governors Association (WGA) unanimously endorsed an effort to create 30,000 megawatts of clean and diversified energy. 

At present the California Assembly is debating passing AB32 , which would require Cal/EPA to limit greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources and develop a mandatory reporting system. Additionally,  Proposition 87 , the Alternative Energy, Research, Production, has been approved for the state’s November ballot. The initiative would fund a $4 billion program to reduce the state’s dependence on oil and gasoline usage by 25% through research and production incentives for alternative energy. As proposed, this would be funded by a 1.5% to 6% tax on oil, depending on its price per barrel.

The Millennial Files applauds these efforts and urges other local and state governments to follow California’s lead. Given our current federal government, if we are going to make any significant headway in our fight against global climate change, the local, regional and state arenas are the only immediate places Americans still have any clout. We can change the rest of it in November.