The ex Governator - or maybe the ex Terminator - has had quite a bit to say over the past few days, while delivering a very well received address at a conference in the US. And it offers some common sense about effecting change.
His premise is that climate change is just too abstract for most people to conceive [ apparently especially Americans] and that those wishing to effect change at grass roots level and in society need to be focussing more on real effects now, tangible things. These include:
- job creation from green jobs related to mandated renewable energy use,
- reductions in oil use and hence dependence on other countries for energy,
- energy efficiency that offers real benefits in reduced costs due to efficency improvements in homes and businesses,
- health benefits from reduced use of oil,
- vehicle efficiency improvements to reduce fuel use,
among a range of issues.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20037752-54.html?tag=nl.e703offers a reporters view of the address.
This seems a very pragmatic approach, well wrapped in some humour too, and does offer a way forward at even local levels. Getting back to the old cliche - "act locally, think globally' a catch cry slogan of the environment movement. And implies a degree of personal responsibility, in California's case also in some areas offering state support.
There have been a number of reports available of business case studies that created quite substantial real $$ savings by embracing energy efficiency, for example and many jurisdictions do have programs to assist in taking this approach and actions.
Also read an earlier post - http://abovecapricorn.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-effect-climate-change-now.html
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