With so many cool and innovating technologies centering around sustainable and renewable energy sources on display at this COP, I started to think to myself why aren't these earth saving technologies being utilized on a large scale. We have the opportunity as a society to phase out our dependence on dirty fuels such as oil and coal and move towards a more sustainable future. The problem though is not the science or the technologies, which as a nation we are on the forefront of research and development, it is the almighty dollar. Money makes the world turn, but as we continue on our current path of fossil fuel dependency that world might not be such a pretty place.
Money fuels everything; including our government. Politicians rely on donations to campaign and get elected. Once they are in office their supporters push them to pass and enforce laws that are in their financial interests. I am not saying that all politicians are corrupt, but the system that we have created only encourages financial politics. Yesterday an American NGO SustainUS released a list of the top ten members of congress that obstruct the national fight on climate change. These senators and representatives, all Republicans by the way, actively vote against bills and policies that would reduce our carbon emissions and lead us towards a better sustainable future. On the list were those whose pockets were filled by big oil, Mike Pompeo (R-KS), and big coal, Joe Manchin (R-WV), along with climate skeptics like James Inhofe. Senator Inhofe, who was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, actually believes that humans can not have any effect on our climate because God is up there watching us and only he has the power to change the world. It amazes me how these shortsighted individuals continue to get elected to lead our country. It is clear that we need more education on the facts and science of climate change, especially in those red states.
Here at the COP our American delegates continue to be bashed by the rest of the world as obstructed in the climate change mitigation process, but the truth is that the problem lies deeper within our governmental system. Our delegates are very hesitant to make commitments that they feel they might not be able to come through on. For example one of the big aspects of negotiations is the allocation of funding from developed nations to support climate change research and sustainable energy infrastructure growth around the world. Our delegation has their hands tied because whatever financial support we can provide as a nation has to be approved and allocated in our national budget, which requires approval from Congress. With the House of Representative still controlled by Republicans, the thought is that any financial promises our delegation makes at this COP will be shot down in the budget by the House.
Another big financial issue is the $2 billion of subsidies that our government gives to big oil companies every year. These subsidies have been in place since the beginning of the 20th century and are practically automatic each year. The same companies that take billions of tax payer money report collective profits of over $100 billion! Meanwhile companies that really need these subsidies to offer sustainable and clean energy at a competitive price must struggle every few years to receive a small portion of what big oil receives.
So what can we do about this incredible financial problem facing our country. The biggest thing is voting. These corrupt and short-sighted politicians are only in power because we as a collective voted them in. We need to increase climate change education and awareness. The next major national election takes place in 2014 with the mid-term elections in the House of Representatives. If we can get enough people on our side by then we might be able to shift the political makeup of the House so we can move towards a better future.
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