It\’s Getting Hot In Here

Behind the scenes on It’s Getting Hot in Here, there has been a heated debate over James Hansen’s recent call to action against coal, that we covered in this post, NASA Scientist Hansen Calls for “Vociferous Objection” to New Coal. This sparked a discussion over the definition of ‘clean’ coal, whether it is an oxymoron, and if we should be focused on promoting a positive vision rather than quibbling over technology. However, a peek at the most relevant part of Hansen’s piece follows:

A moratorium on coal-fired power plants without CCS is by far the most important action that needs to be pursued. It should be the rallying issue for young people. The future of the planet in their lifetime is at stake. This is not an issue for only Bangladesh and the island nations, but for all humanity and other life on the planet. It seems to me that young people, especially, should be doing whatever is necessary to block construction of dirty (no CCS) coal-fired power plants. No doubt our poor communication of the matter deserves much of the blame. Suggestions for how to improve that communication are needed.

Well, we are the solution to that communication problem…so let us take on this challenge. Over the next couple days, people involved in the debate are going to present their viewpoints and call on us all to engage with them. Should this be the primary focus of the youth climate movement? Is the Coal rush coming to an end? Is all coal dirty? Over the next couple days…we are going to tackle this issue and make it a signature campaign that we can tackle at It’s Getting Hot in Here.

Finally, we are going to ask James Hansen in an interview the hard questions we ask here and put them up on the blog. He will be marching in solidarity with us in the Iowa Climate March and I am sure he will have time to talk to us.