The Science Of Catastrophic, Rapid Climate Change

A recent 6,700 page report funded by the United States Army, World Bank, and others states that without bold and immediate action, "billions of people will be condemned to poverty and much of civilization will collapse"[1] as a result of global climatic disruption.

NASA's top climatologist, James Hansen, set the goal by stating that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide of 350 parts per million (PPM) is the highest suitable level for civilization.[2] Prominent scientists agree that stabilizing CO2 at 450PPM (the current political consensus) is "inadequate to sustain the integrity of global climate and to hold the risk of ruinous climatic change to an acceptably low level."[3]

Yet current political actions fail to live up to even the conservative 450PPM target. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that to stabilize carbon dioxide below 450 PPM, developed nations like the U.S. need to reduce emissions 25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020.[4] Developing countries demand that rich nations reduce their emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2020. The European Union and Japan approach but fall short of this conservative target, each committing to 20-25% reductions below 1990 levels by 2020. Yet right now, America puts them both to shame.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) that recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives aims for 1990-level reductions of 1% by 2020.[5] If replicated around the world, this would see atmospheric concentrations of CO2 stabilize at over 650PPM.

With CO2 already at 390PPM, this is woefully inadequate. Global destabilization as a result of rapid climate change is the single greatest known threat to the human race. No effort should be spared to stop emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and instead start removing carbon out of the atmosphere, to return to the safe level of 350PPM.

The Leadership Campaign Policy Platform

Many people will ask us: is 100% Clean Electricity in 10 years really possible?

The Massachusetts State House and the Massachusetts State Senate seem to believe so when they passed a joint resolution [PDF] calling on congress to Repower America with 100% Clean Electricity by 2019 in the spring of 2009.

In October 2009, the Institute for local self-reliance published the report of their New Rules Project. By their account, there are enough potential of renewable energy sources within Massachusetts' orders to cover all of our state's needs.

We trust the results presented in the ILSR report, while at the same time understanding there are legitimate concerns about technological feasibility of our bold target. People want to know, how will we accomplish this feat?

Ultimately, the science is clear, we need to transition away from fossil fuels, and it is the responsibility of the leaders and experts working for the State of Massachusetts to determine the means. Nevertheless, we have a set of policy recommendations that we believe, if implemented aggressively and deliberately, would get us most of the way there:

  1. Give Green Checks to the Citizens and Businesses of Massachusetts

    Right now, the market is not functioning properly. As stated in our science section, the continued use of fossil fuels will lead to the collapse of much of civilization. These enormous societal costs are not accurately reflected in the price of fossil fuels.

    There are a number of market-driven policy tools available to correct such market errors. We support the fee-and-rebate approach. Each month the state will provide residents and businesses with a Green Check -- rebates given to citizens and businesses drawn from fees placed on the production of electricity from fossil fuels.

    By enacting this policy, residents and businesses will be compensated for the present and future harms done to their environment caused by CO2-intensive activities, while at the same time placing renewable electricity on more equal market footing with societal-destructive fossil fuels.

    To ensure that the invisible hand of the market operates correctly, maximum emissions limits should be set in 2015 at levels below the current emissions of coal plants, and, in 2020, below current emissions levels of natural gas facilities.

  2. Provide State-Backed Green Jobs Bonds to Retrofit Every Building in the State and Finance Renewable Energy.

    The largest opportunities for the reduction CO2 emissions have negative costs. Investments on efficiency: they save more money than their cost, and they save the climate as well.

    Unfortunately, many citizens and businesses are unaware of the payback that can be achieved from investments in efficiency, and are often unable to provide the needed up-front capital. In such a situation, the state should leverage its bonding authority to help citizens and businesses make the necessary efficiency upgrades and renewable electricity generation investments.

    These Green Jobs Bonds will create jobs in Massachusetts today, revitalize our economy, and promote an economically, politically, and socially stable world by immediately and substantially reducing our emissions of dangerous greenhouse gases.

    To ensure that new projects are constructed to efficiency standards consistent with our CO2 reduction goals, we will follow WA, OR, and CA and enact the Architecture 2030's Challenge, adopted by the American Institute of Architects, US Conference of Mayors and National Governors Association, requiring all new buildings built after 2030 to be net zero energy.

  3. Promote Clean Air, Green Cars, and a Smart Grid

    The electricity grid is a relic of the 20th century. In an era of instant communications, utilities companies fail rely on their costumers to inform them when they have lost electricity. A Smart Grid would allow for real-time pricing and would permit market signals to shift supply to times when there is more demand.

    Like the electricity system, today's cars also rely on outdated 20th Century technologies. The internal combustion engines inefficiently consumes fossil fuels. Conveniently, the batteries of electric cars can serve as back-ups for intermittent periods of clean sources, bringing our electricity grid into the 21st century and shifting cars away from oil to clean electricity and reducing air pollution.

    To accelerate this needed and beneficial shift, the state should levy Antiquated System Upgrade Fees on all new non-electric vehicles registered in the state. The Antiquated System Upgrade Fees will be used to fund the deployment of the Smart Grid. For maximum effectiveness, all new appliances sold in MA should be "smart" by 2015.

Our Bill

We have introduced our bill, "An Act to Create a Repower Massachusetts Emergency Taskforce," to the State House to hasten and facilitate the response of Massachusetts to the threat of global climatic disruption. The Taskforce the bill would create would determine the means of reaching the goal of 100% clean electricity in Massachusetts in the next 10 years.

The act calls for the creation of a 12-member taskforce to advise the state, within 6 months of the passage of the bill, on how to achieve 100% emissions reductions in the electricity sector. The taskforce would include current House and Senate leadership on climate change, in addition to representatives of the religious, student, advocacy, energy efficient business groups and other stakeholders.

The taskforce would take into consideration Massachusetts' participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and current renewable energy portfolio standards. The goal of 100% emissions reductions in the electricity sector will primarily be investigated through reduction in electricity demand through efficiency and appropriate economic incentives and by building new renewable energy generation.

Upon completion of the Taskforce's recommendations, an Advisory Council will be formed to periodically review implementation and advise various parties.

Help us pass our bill. Our future depends on it.

  • Read the text of the bill.
  • Sign the petition.
  • Contact us and we'll figure out together how you can help:
    :
    :
    :
    :
    Powered by Google Docs

References