The Economy and Global Warming
Now that the election is over, the tasks for the new administration are numerous. News articles as of late are discussing whether concerns about the global economic crisis are trumping those wanting to end global warming.
Some in Congress have said the green bubble has burst. Time magazine also recently ran an article saying that the public really has no idea of the battle ahead of them when it comes to solving global warming.
What are your thoughts? Do you think we still have not only the time, but also the "know-how" to tackle global warming?
Noted climate expert Nicholas Stern weighed in last month with his thoughts:
"The risk consequences of ignoring climate change will be very much bigger than the consequences of ignoring risks in the financial system," said Stern, a former British Treasury economist, who released a seminal report in 2006 that said inaction on emissions blamed for global warming could cause economic pain equal to the Great Depression.
Stern went on to echo the goals of noted environmentalist Van Jones, saying that investing in clean energy can create jobs:
"The lesson that we can draw out from this recession, is that you can boost demand in the best way possible by focusing on low carbon growth in future," Stern said, including greater public spending on mass public transport, energy and green technologies.
So what do you think? How can we blend the solutions to the financial crisis with those related to global warming? Join the discussion about global warming solutions and the economy over on the Sierra Club's Compass blog.