Step It Up

So, today was a National Day of Climate Action promoting cutting carbon emissions 80% by 2050. So, in celebration, here are a few climate-related items.

• This radio address by Bill McKibbon founder of Step it Up 2007 was quite interesting. (Sorry, the radio address download is not free, but here is a link to a recent Talk of the Nation with McKibbon as a guest.)
  
  
• I recently attended a talk given by the CEO of a major oil company (rhymes with swell). As public talks go, it was a very good one. By, by gosh, does that man love carbon-based fuels! He is either (a) very good at his job as a public representative or (b) a true believer or (c) both. His message: there are two problems keeping us from energy security. First, public policy doesn't allow the development of some energy resources. Second, public policy doesn't encourage and support the development of other resources. Oh, yeah, and we have plenty of fuel, if only we could develop it. Now, I do not disagree with a number of things he said. For example, I also believe it will take time to move away from carbon. Yes, I think ethanol from corn is problematic. My main issue with the talk was that he spoke nothing of conservation, and nothing about changing the way we do things. He talked of energy savings through improving efficiency and increasing energy supply to "maintain our lifestyle".
  
  
• Here's a little light reading - the IPCC 2007 Summary for Policy Makers. Too scary for bedtime.
  
  
• Check out the site RealClimate for ongoing and technical information about climate change.