As promised, President Trump continues to betray our children and plans to pull out of the Paris climate agreement. But this is no surprise; it’s not even peak Trumpism, as distinct from garden variety Republicanism. The protests of Mitt Romney and Lindsay Graham notwithstanding, this is a “mainstream” GOP move. Our media culture has allowed knowledge-cancelling propaganda to flourish … and this is what you get. It’s deadly.
And for Massachusetts and other relatively-enlightened states, this should be an absolute 240-volt shock to action — to get us running as fast as possible away from the suicide cult of Trump and towards de-carbonizing our economy. We have to sprint, not stroll. The Baker administration urged Trump to continue participation in Paris; in the absence of that national framework, Massachusetts must now join California way out front of the pack.
At the state level that means making some very stark choices. It’s a sharp dividing line: Either you’re with your own kids, or you’re with limitless greed, inhuman ignorance, and taking part in the causing of massive human suffering.
This ought to be a major topic of conversation this weekend at the Democratic convention. Do not expect that Gov. Baker is going to lead on this. He’s not a leader, and that’s what this moment requires.
We must:
- Tell the Baker administration to absolutely stop supporting new fossil fuel infrastructure, now, in the form of gas pipelines or anything else. It’s proven unsafe in the short term; suicidal in the long term, since methane is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than even CO2. Tell the utilities to plug the leaks.
- Support an MA carbon tax. See a comparison of the two versions here. I’d prefer the version that plows the proceeds into efficiency, since that translates into more and more dollars saved for consumers. I wouldn’t oppose the refundable tax, but it’s less preferable to my mind.
- Support a 2% annual increase in the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. State RPS standards are driving uptake of renewables, and we’re not alone in MA. We just closed the Brayton Point coal-burning plant. As much as Trump and Pruitt may wish for it, they can’t make us buy coal.
Check out ProgressiveMass’s legislative agenda on environment and infrastructure.
We have to change as consumers, as well. This isn’t just virtue-signaling and lifestyle-mongering; it’s understanding that we are not alone in the decisions we make about how to live: How much we drive; what kind and how much energy we use; what we eat and refrain from eating. Consumers do indeed change attitudes and buying patterns based on health and environmental factors over time.
If there were a time to change some of out consumer habits, now is an awfully good time to take that next step. Cut beef out of your diet. (Except for a very infrequent cookout burger, I’ve done that and I don’t miss it in the least.) Bike to work if you can. Complain to your reps about the T. Buy a hybrid if you possibly can. Go renewable with your energy through MassEnergy; or mount your own solar panels. Call MassSave for an audit.
We know all this! Find a way to give a middle finger to Donald Trump, Scott Pruitt and the fossil fuel industry every. day.
Our kids to Trump : Save our planet, you loser !
Listening to webinar on MA CEC community microgrids now and participated in ACEEE webinar on their city energy efficiency scorecard (http://aceee.org/local-policy/city-scorecard). Boston was number one, again, and MA has been number one in energy efficiency in the 50 states for something like 5 years.
Baker is going to find it very hard to back away from energy efficiency and the renewable transition, especially if we voters keep his (big) feet to the fire.
We need to figure out a way to get Trump supporters to believe that this is precisely the opposite of making America great again. Great nations lead on existential matters!
Why don’t you forcibly sterilize your children, that will go a lot farther in cutting carbon than buying a hybrid car,
Ugly remark, even for you.
Lefties, climate change and overpopulation:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/population-growth-climate-change/
Not saying anything you guys haven’t said. Oh you meant OTHER PEOPLE should stop breeding and consuming, I get it now.
Seascraper=bottom feeder
I don’t recall any suggestion of the sort on BMG, or for that matter any other mainstream liberal material I read.
I don’t own a car at all. I can haz grankids?
You should post more here, bro. It’ll save you from speaking and that’ll cut carbon emissions in half!
Go to yoga and unclench your butt then
Time to get this guy outta here.