1. Wonkish numbers are hard rallying cries to unite the public around, whereas climate neutrality sounds and is awesome. This is probably why HSBC, Google, Yahoo! and many others are committing to neutrality rather than the some % reduction by 2050 goal. And I’m proud that our efforts on campuses have gotten 350+ campuses to commit to climate neutrality together (here’s to many more commitments and great progress toward emission reduction in the months ahead). We are currently discussing climate neutrality at Princeton and trying to figure out how we can make it happen, and it feels great.

2. For us in the climate movement to win 80% reductions by 2050, political negotiations will have to take place to compromise to that point. Thus, a huge percentage of the public calling for 80% by 2050 will probably result in less reduction due to the competition of the coal and oil companies lobby for status quo (resolution will be somewhere in-between). But if the youth and other great environmental sustainability advocates call for climate neutrality by 2050 then the compromise position could be ~80% reduction. Does this mean that we won’t try to achieve any goal we set? No, but understanding the importance of fallback positions that we could be OK with if we don’t accomplish all of our goals could be helpful.

This is definitely an interesting conversation that shows great progress in the last couple of years as we’ve discussed larger and larger emissions reduction targets. Should someone make the case that we should be a carbon sink to help stabilize global warming from its increasing inertia? (interesting future discussions will probably take on that subject…)

The other side of this story is the importance of feasibility studies and respect for the large costs of decarbonization. If we set an aspirational goal too high (like climate neutrality by 2015, then we will all be disappointed when we miss the goal and morale could fade). Hopefully, technology that brings more efficiency and renewables will continue to rapidly develop, and we can make lifestyle transitions that help make quick emission reductions possible from fostering walkable and bikable communities and telecommuting when that fits to less folks craving gigantic houses that are energy-intensive to heat and cool. The road of cultural and technological shift ahead will be a long one which will require us to maintain our youthful, adventurous, hopeful spirits strong.
Onwards to sustainability,
Dennis

My guess is that most folks want cheap power and if they are convinced of global warming, then they want the cheapest solution. The case for a more expensive way to do the same thing (make carbon neutral electricity) would need to be made to the public.

I think we should make this message a central part of PowerShift 2007. PowerShift, or <a href=”http://focusthenation.orgFocus the Nation would both present an excellent opportunity for a Port Huron-type youth statement of principles on the climate crisis that makes the call for complete climate neutrality central to our platform.

It’s also a position youth delegates to the Bali international climate talks can take into the international discussion.

Youth climate activists: let’s take up the banner and lead the way to a carbon neutral, sustainable enery future!

I think Step It Up needs to change 1 Sky’s call. We suggested it earlier, and we should keep pushing for it. They need to make a major announcement that says that climate neutrality is what we want. We want to finish our contribution to global warming once and for all, and ASAP.

Great post! Everybody: please pitch in on this excellent call for a climate neutral U.S. If someone is going to be this aggressive, it’s going to have to be us, youth, who have everything to lose from failure to avoid climate catastrophe. Forget what adults/policymakers think is feasible. We know we can make this nation climate neutral quickly because we’re doing it on our campuses, in our communities, and in our states. We know that the U.S. has done similar things in the past. We know that this is the only way we can provide ourselves of a safe future. This should be the rallying call at Powershift 2007!