The ACOEL webpage “About Us” states that we are to be “Advocates for environmental law and process for a better environmental future.” Allow me to throw down this gauntlet to Members: What “better environmental future” is the College is advocating?
As we approach the July 4th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, along with the recent Louisiana 10 Commandments law, Vermont and New York’s climate superfund laws, Hawaii climate lawsuit settlement and other ongoing lawsuits, and the competing political claims about “energy independence”, here is a second question: Hasn’t time come today, not to be put off another day, for a new Declaration of Independence and set of Commandments, given that the most recent Mauna Loa weekly CO2 level of 427 ppm is part of a rapidly rising, not decreasing, trend, and given the need to focus on the question of, “Independence from what to what?”
My answer is “Yes”, and thus the following principles and vision for a better environmental future.
In 2015 Pope Francis issued his “10 Commandments on climate change”. Let’s start with a few of his Commandments to build from [with my bracketed updates]: 1) Think of future generations [see Teddy Roosevelt’s 1910 turn over natural resources “to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value” or the 1987 UN definition of “sustainability” of “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”]; 2) Embrace alternative energy sources [move to clean, renewable energy]; 3) Consider pollution’s [and climate change’s] effect on the poor; 4) Be humble; 5) Educate yourself; and 6) Believe you can make a difference.
Our new Declaration should educate and motivate people and governments to “make a difference” in the process of another oft-used-but-elusive concept—“energy transition”—which I define as an essential means to achieving sustainability for people and ecosystems by shifting more rapidly from an energy mix based on fossil fuels to one that produces very limited, if any, carbon emissions based on renewable energy sources as well as sufficient transmission and storage resources. Therefore…..
Whereas in the Course of human events it becomes imperative for humans to dissolve almost three centuries of bonds to fossil fuels, in order to act on deadly global warming, dissolve our dependence on fossil fuels, and sustain all living ecosystems on Earth by mitigating and reversing destructive damage to the health and safety of all creatures great and small; and
Whereas climate change, resulting primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels, is an immediate and existential threat to our communities, environment and economies; and
Whereas the inalienable rights to live in a clean, unpolluted environment and pass on to future generations a world no worse than what we inherited are at increasing risk from overuse of carbon-based fuels; and
Whereas we must immediately implement local, state, national and international enforceable measures to transition to a world in 2050 based on 100% clean, non-fossil renewable energy with minimal-to-zero greenhouse gas emissions; and
Whereas a recent national survey of registered voters found that while 66% support transitioning the U.S. economy from fossil fuels to 100% clean energy by 2050, fewer support building the needed clean energy infrastructure in their local area; and
Whereas rapid permitting and development of floating offshore wind farms (especially deepwater) outside local areas thus is essential to achieve a sustainable energy transition and independence from foreign fuels to achieve state and national decarbonization goals;
Therefore we citizens of the 50 United States and global neighbors hereby declare our independence from fossil fuels, and from (apologies)…..Independence Day fireworks, which nationally introduce 42 percent more pollutants into the air than are found on a normal day.
Why? “For the times they are [must be] a-changin’” before it’s too late. College members, Let’s roll!
