Commentary: Americans Talk About Reducing Global Warming, But Are We Really Ready to Walk the Walk?
Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
By: Joseph C. Phillips, BlackAmericaWeb.com
I am concerned about global warming. I have heard and read repeatedly that we are in the midst of a planetary emergency, and I am distressed that we may not be doing enough to address the current environmental crisis. I am distressed about the legacy this generation may be leaving our children and grandchildren.
It is time to act. Even signing onto the Kyoto protocol would reduce emissions by only 0.07 degrees Celsius by the year 2050. Clearly, we must take more drastic measures if we are to avoid the cataclysmic repercussions of our irresponsible stewardship of the planet.
Forty percent of carbon emissions are the result of power plants burning fossil fuels. Cap and trade systems provide financial incentive for industry to reduce harmful emissions, but reduction is not elimination. It is essential that we begin transitioning to clean fuels -- wind, solar and nuclear energy. Let’s do away with environmental impact studies. The survival of the human race must take precedent over our concern for a species of toad or the flight patterns of birds. It is time to raise taxes and cut social services so that Congress will have available the tens of billions of federal dollars and loan guarantees that will be necessary to build enough reactors and wind farms to service our electricity needs.
Air conditioners use one-sixth of our electricity, and on hot days may represent up to half of the peak power usage. Municipalities, especially those in the south and south west, should immediately ban the use of air conditioners, at least until such time as we can provide the needed electricity cleanly. Many cities have already banned smoking in public and in apartments. Global warming presents a much more immediate danger than does second hand smoke.
Hybrid cars are certainly a step in the right direction, but they are not a panacea. The “dust to dust” environmental cost to build a hybrid car is extremely high. According to CNW marketing, the energy cost of the Prius over its lifetime (300,000 miles) was 3.25 per mile. Conversely, the cost of the Hummer H3 was 1.95 per mile over the same period. It would be much better if we committed ourselves to getting cars off the highways altogether.
State governments can create a disincentive to automobile usage by increasing the cost of licensing and operating an automobile. I am proposing that we raise the cost of registering a car to $5,000 dollars and increase the gasoline tax inflating the price of gasoline to $6.00 or more per gallon. This would be offset by tax credits for the purchase and use of bicycles.
According to the United Nations, raising livestock for food is one of the single greatest causes of global warming. One-fifth of all global warming-causing emissions come from animal agriculture. Meat is an environmental hazard and should be taxed in order to reduce its use. Vegetarian meals use considerably less energy to prepare and would reduce the average weight and health care costs of the average American. In addition, localities would be restricted to only those foods that are grown or produced within a radius of one days transport.
The California legislature recently attempted to outlaw incandescent light bulbs, mandating the use of fluorescent light bulbs, which burn longer. These bulbs are expensive, placing a burden on poorer people. They also contain high levels of mercury and must be disposed of under the household hazardous waste programs. I would go further and ban the use of light bulbs in the home altogether and simply use candles. Candles are inexpensive, the wax is reusable, and there is no burning of fossil fuel in order to provide electricity. Less light will force Americans to rely more on the light of day, thus reducing the work day to daylight hours and further lowering the use of electricity.
These suggestions may seem a bit harsh, and the economic costs will no doubt be huge, costing each American family tens of thousands of dollars. However, we are either going to be serious about reducing the human impact on global warming or we are not. If the consequences of manmade global warming are as dire as we are constantly being told, then it is past time for us to stop talking the talk and begin literally walking the walk.
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Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like a White Boy."
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