Below is a text that I expect to deliver in rough form this afternoon at a rally in Concord for action on climate change sponsored by 350.org.
Science and Goals
Carbon
If the carbon issue were being approached with cold rationality; evaluating the data, risks, costs, and so on, the result would be a truely massive effort by all humanity to change what we are doing. As things are, the problem is characterized by piddling measures completely underscale. Read the history of the first world war …
Taxes, environment and energy
Keep up the good work. The tax that makes sense to me is increasing gas taxes and spending the money on, in priority order: expanded mass transit (this helps drivers too by reducing congestion and wear and tear on the road), roads and bridges. Making gas more expensive makes sense from a global warming …
Climate/Energy Policy Updates
In this legislative session in Massachusets, we are not expecting much new legislative progress on energy issues, but at the federal level legislation is front and center. Congressman Ed Markey and Energy Secretary Chu seem to be leading us in a good direction.
What should our national carbon emissions reduction goal be?
Our goal should be to create an economy substantially independent of the burning of fossil fuels.
Recent Jim Hansen testimony — higher risks?
NASA scientest Jim Hansen argues that the concensus estimates of the rate and risks of global warming are understated.