Climate crisis is nothing new

Westy - again no specifics here other than blather from you. Before my retirement from the UC system, I developed and later ran a $300million energy efficiency program for the 10 campuses and 5 medical centers. Over three years, when I ran it, the UC system reduced its carbon footprint by 450,000 tons of CO2. My successor continued the program and has likely doubled that amount by now. Financing was accomplished with revenue bonds that were paid from the avoided energy cost. Can you top that?

Wow, Dirk, that is truly impressive. There is no doubt that you have made an important contribution. We need more of this kind of work, it sets examples for how to reduce consumption.

However, I also believe that we need systemic change--we need to move towards new technologies in addition at the same time we work on increasing efficiency, and this can only be accomplished through political will power. ExxonMobile, BP and others have been very effective in taking over the narrative in convincing many people that the answers lie exclusively in personal action and making systemic change is impossible, and they have been very effective at buying politicians. To make systemic changes, we need to address issues with the system.

So yeah, my personal carbon footprint is pretty small for an American. When I was a child, we did not have electricity or running water at home so I have great appreciation for the luxury those things give us. Back when I had long commutes, I rode the train or carpooled, I buy energy efficient appliances and I unplug things when I'm not using them. I drive very little. But I acknowledge that these actions make no real difference on their own. To save the planet, we need to make large scale changes and it is a long haul that we can and should address on multiple fronts. For example, I work on voting rights in voter suppression states--because we need a strong democracy to combat the control that the corporations exert on our governing bodies. And I exert what influence I can on our local and state electeds to encourage them to support solar subsidies, carbon pricing, and other measures that will help shift the system to a more sustainable model. It's one thing to elect the right person to office (I work on that too), but it is also necessary that they hear from us about what is important and that we hold them accountable.

Terence, unfortunately the Westys of the world believe that we can only accomplish certain goals by regulatory intervention and heavy tax-payer-funded programs. Meanwhile the so-called leaders are spouting off and fly in their private jets to Davos and other exotic resorts. Nothing that the UC system accomplishes is mandatory, all measures had to make economic sense before the Regents approved the funding. If I had come up with Reach Codes and similar amateurish ideas, the campuses would have laughed in my face.

Regulatory intervention is necessary. The government is what protects society an individuals from being completely under the control of corporations. However, in the case of climate change, it does not need taxpayer funding to accomplish. Take a look at the concept of carbon fee with dividends--it's a win-win-win. Even the big oil companies will win because they will be guided into ways to make money that are sustainable and will not destroy the planet.

You called it, Dirk. Um, Westy, who do you think will end up paying for these carbon fees? It’s not the oil companies as they’ll pass on costs to consumers (the majority of who are taxpayers). This carbon fee scam has already been shown to be a wealth distribution scheme, where even middle-class taxpayers will subsidize others. BTW, how much in carbon fees should those people flying in 400+ jets to the COP conference pay?