Dr Ron Chusid has an informative post on global warning/climate change. Fossil fuel use is indeed a problem but while it’s easy to blame the deniers we are all in a sense guilty. We should start by looking at what fossil fuels are. They are really highly concentrated forms of solar energy – yes you heard that right. They were created 300 to 400 million years ago when the planet was very warm and CO2 levels were very high. The plants were king and they thrived and then died creating we now refer to as fossil fuels. Very concentrated solar power that modern photo voltaics can’t compete with. And yes even wind power is ultimately solar power as is all energy on the planet. But none of these new solar power sources are as concentrated as oil, coal and natural gas. It was this energy concentration of fossil fuels that made possible the unprecedented economic growth we have experienced in the last century.
Richard Heinberg explains here why the age of unlimited economic growth is over. We are not only looking at peak oil but peak everything – water, iron and the list goes on.
So am I as responsible as the climate change deniers on the right? The answer is yes. It’s hot here in Portland and my air conditioner was running all night. The grocery store is a relatively short walk away but I will probably drive up there anyway. So am I as guilty as the climate change deniers? The answer is probably yes!