The whole concept of global warming and climate change can no longer honesty be called just a scientific argument, it’s settled science.  However, it continues to be a political argument and that is a shame.  Right now the U.S. economy is in shambles and the best that the brightest minds can come up with for a short-term fix is a stimulus package.  Basically that translates into billions of dollars being poured into infrastructure (among other things).  Oh great, so the best solution is to increase the ability to have more cars on the roads, emitting more carbon into the air, and thereby accelerating the rate of climate change.  We are going to end up “stimulating” ourselves out of existence.  The amount of carbon dioxide emissions is fast reaching the “tipping point” according to most scientists.  That point is when we double 280 parts per million, which is the level that existed before the beginning of the industrial revolution.  And we are getting there faster than anyone predicted.  The scientific argument that does remain is just what will occur when we reach that point.  It is like the proverbial “Pandora’s box.”  In Tom Friedman’s book, Hot, Flat and Crowded, Friedman suggests, tongue in cheek, that Al Gore owes all of us an apology.  Huh?  Yea that’s right, an apology for potentially UNDERESTIMATING the effects of global climate change.  Well here in my dear little Costa Rica, the government has set a laudable goal. That is to be completely neutral within the next 20 years.  That means that the overall level of carbon dioxide emissions versus offsets is net zero!  That challenging goal will potentially be accomplished here by such things as increases in energy from clean and renewable sources, preservation and cultivation of forests, conservation and innovation.  Why doesn’t the U.S. set a similar goal?  And then engage in an all-out innovative frenzy to make it happen.  That would not only be stimulating to the economy, but also would go a long way to saving the planet for future generations.  The technology “bubble” that occurred in the 90’s did burst, but after the dust cleared, what was left was an information superhighway that is available to more people at lower prices and gave rise to major increases in productivity and global competitiveness.  What we need now is an energy innovative bubble that plays out with the same scenario. It would be stimulating in the short-term.  Probably would burst in the same manner and leave many victims in its wake, but what would be left is a cleaner and sustainable planet that future generations can enjoy without threat of global climatic calamity.  And it could and probably would (for fear of being competitively trumped) stimulate other major world economies, like China, Russia, the European Union and India to do the same.  Innovative ideas take time to actually become marketable ideas, and we don’t have that much time.  So rather than spend billions on roads (heck, the roads in the U.S. are pretty darn good right now compared to Costa Rica’s), why don’t we stimulate a whole new generation of Bill Gate’s type energy nerds to come up with ideas that will help the U.S. to produce its own clean energy rather than empowering petrodictatorships in the Middle East?  I know lately my blog has gotten a little more political and I am sure that offends someone out there.  But it really is time to wise up and in the word’s of our new messiah, Barack Obama (quoting scripture) “put away childish things.”  The notion that the solution to every problem is to maintain the same level of consumption that has gotten the U.S., and the world, into a potential global climatic showdown, is a childish notion that indeed should be put away.  Costa Rica has vowed before the world to do so and it is another reason I love this place!

List of Countries by CO₂ Emissions

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