What Will Happen vs. What Should Happen
I’ve always thought of Earth Day as a somewhat trippy, idealistic date on the calendar. So as I sit on my front porch on this brilliantly sunny Earth Day 2012, I will be a little idealistic and trippy myself about an inescapable event in our not-too-distant future: the upcoming presidential debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
First let’s prognosticate on how the issue of climate change will actually be addressed in these debates.
October 3, 2012; University of Denver; Denver, Colorado – First Presidential Debate:
Diane Sawyer: “Governor Romney, as we sit here on this beautiful campus in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, we are reminded of the abundant resources and natural beauty of this country, but we are also aware that gas prices have soared to their highest levels ever and we have just lived through the hottest summer of what is shaping up to be the hottest on year on record. Isn’t it time we take seriously the issue of global warming and our dependence on fossil fuels?”
Governor Romney: “Diane, what we need to take seriously are the failed policies of this president. We simply can’t afford another four years of Barack Obama. Five-dollar-a-gallon gas prices essentially constitute a tax on every working American who has to fill his or her gas tank to get to work and back every day, and President Obama has done nothing to stem this crisis; in fact, he’s made it worse.”
Diane Sawyer: “But what about the climate crisis that we seem to be exacerbating through our burning of fossil fuels?”
Governor Romney: “You know, Diane, I don’t know if what we’re experiencing is real climate change or just weather anomalies. I remember we had some pretty big snow storms a few years back. So, you know, the weather changes all the time. Sometimes it’s hot; sometimes it’s cold. I don’t think we can let one warm summer dictate our nation’s energy policy.”
Diane Sawyer: “President Obama, same question.”
President Obama: “Thank you, Diane. I’ve said consistently that I believe man-made climate change is a real and growing threat. However, I’ve also said that while our economy is struggling to recover from the greatest recession of the last 70 years, we have to be careful not to do anything that might hamper that recovery. I believe we need to take an “all of the above” strategy when it comes to energy, but I also believe we have to be environmentally sensitive in our pursuits of energy independence.”
Diane Sawyer: “So you don’t see any opportunity for real change in our nation’s approach to climate change?”
President Obama: “Well, I’ve spelled out a list of long-term strategic goals for our country with respect to our energy and climate future, but I need Congress to act if we are going to move anything forward. Congress can’t simply say “no” to everything and then complain that nothing gets done.”
The two candidates’ answers will of course go on longer than that, they will hit all of their well-rehearsed talking points, and nothing substantive will happen. But in the spirit of Earth Day, let’s imagine a different universe, one where an honest discussion on climate change can occur.
Alternate-Universe Diane Sawyer: “Blah blah blah…beautiful campus…blah blah blah…warmest year on record…blah blah blah….time to address climate change.”
Alternate-Universe Mitt Romney: “You know, Diane, there are not a lot of things that President Obama and I agree on, but one issue where I believe we have to come together as one nation is in the area of addressing our dependence on fossil fuels and the greenhouse gases they emit. In my many years in business as well as in my time as a public servant, I’ve learned that you have to make sound decisions based on data, and you have to listen to what the experts are telling you. The data has become more and more clear every year that our planet is warming, and the scientific community is nearly unanimous in concluding that there is a link between our emissions of greenhouse gases and the rise in global temperatures. As I have crisscrossed this beautiful country over the past few years, I have seen the best of America, but I’ve also seen what can happen when we turn a blind eye to the environment. That’s why during the first 100 days of my presidency I will call all the leaders in Congress from both parties as well as our nation’s top scientists to a summit at Camp David because I discovered during my business years that getting together away from the office and focusing on one issue is the best way to tackle big challenges. We’ll stay there as long as it takes until we can come out together with a set of realistic, market-based measures to address this very real challenge to our children’s and grandchildren’s future.” (Thunderous applause.)
Alternate-Universe Barack Obama: “You know, Diane, Governor Romney and I have traded a lot of punches over the last few months, but I am encouraged by his boldness in addressing the issue of global climate change when it hasn’t been politically easy for him to do so. If I am fortunate enough to be granted another term by the American people, I will welcome his leadership on this issue to help bring the two sides together and find, as Governor Romney states, market-based solutions to this pending crisis. In fact, I vow tonight that if I am reelected, the cornerstone of my second term will be the creation of a new energy economy because I believe the green economy is the economy of the next 50 years. This is our moon shot. America needs to lead the world in innovation and manufacturing and energy efficiency. We’ll foster the rise of a new generation of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs who will create the products, design the buildings and reengineer our cities to make America the cleanest, healthiest and most livable country in the world. We can do this—we must do this—to secure our future as the greatest country in the history of the world.” (Thunderous applause.)
OK, wake up, Scott. I think the pollen must be getting to you. You’re talking like a crazy man now. Happy Earth Day, everybody, from the alternate universe.
Scott Walker, CTS-D, LEED® AP, is president and CEO of Waveguide Consulting, a leading AV, IT and acoustical consulting firm. He is also a past president of InfoComm International. Scott is recognized as being one of the primary forces behind the founding of the Sustainable Technology Environments Program (STEP) rating system and currently is a member of the STEP Foundation board, which is responsible for managing the STEP program. Scott can be reached at swalker@waveguide.com