s born here, they have a much higher energy footprint than someone born in Haiti or Bangladesh.
As we approach 9 billion people by 2050, what's something you want people to think about?
The key to me, in looking at these issues for a very long time, is that a new way of thinking is required. The old messages of "woe is me" and "shame on you" are so 20th century. They're not a good fit for the issues we face now.
If you look at an issue like energy--and you're always pointing at someone like Exxon or a politician--you're missing the reality that we all need energy. For instance, I have an oil-heated house, not because I would like that, but because there aren't options. And so if we want to really get busy and move off of the fossil fuels of previous centuries and go to something new and sustainable and renewable, then we have to take on that responsibility and get busy.
And I see that as a very positive prospect. We are so disinvested in things like basic research and development in energy that it would be really simple and easy and cheap to greatly increase it. A two-cent nudge in the gas tax--yes, I mentioned the word tax-- would triple our R&D for energy. If you could guarantee that money would go to that, I think a lot of people would actually like that idea.
I have a very optimistic sense of, at least, a chance of a fairly smooth ride past this mid-century peak that we're facing. And the question that we have to examine, which I wrote about on Dot Earth not long ago, is which comes first, peak everything or peak us? In other words, can we manage our way through a soft landing, a soft transition to a new relationship with the planet? Or are we going to have that change in our trajectory imposed upon us by limits? That's a function of how busy we want to be.
What's the most important thing you want people today to know about Earth Day in a year of 7 billion people?
That there's every chance the next 30-year period will be one of great innovation and collaboration around the world. It just takes a little bit of focus to get you engaged in the conversations and the actions that are needed for brighter outcome.
Listen to the interview here:
Written by Earthsky.org