Climate Change and
Energy Security:
The Future is Now
By Joseph A. Stanislaw
Climate Change and Energy Security: The Future is Now
Contents
The New Math and Politics of Energy in the 21st Century
1
Convergence of Climate Change and Energy Security
2
Tipping Point to Break Point
3
Action—Regions, States and Localities to Lead
7
Derive Wisdom from Euphoria and Rhetoric
7
Corporate Leadership and Enlightenment: The Bottom Line Is Green
8
The Way Forward: Five Imperatives
11
About the Author
14
Climate Change and Energy Security: The Future is Now
The New Math and Politics of Energy in the 21st Century
There is an old saying in the energy business: “The stone age did not end because
the world ran out of stones, and the oil age will not end because the world runs out
of oil.” Never has this rung more true than today.
No, the world is not running out of hydrocarbons, as some might claim. In fact,
our fossil fuel reserves are vast. But we are now collectively acknowledging the
qualitative limitations of hydrocarbons and the challenges these pose—especially in
light of mounting global energy demand. Put in market terms, we are beginning to
understand the true costs of fossil fuels. And we are thus confronted by the reality
that if we do not vigorously tackle climate change and energy security, the world will
face limited growth—or worse.
History might well remember 2007 as the year we established a new energy horizon.
We can now imagine what the world might look like after oil, in two generations.
We can envision living in a world of dramatically changed consumption patterns, in
which new end-use technologies are powered predominately by alternative sources:
more efficient cars that run on low-carbon electricity, green buildings, a bias for local
production, utilities that profit by saving energy rather than selling it. And instead
of seeing our energy future with fear and trepidation, we are beginning to perceive
this new world as one that is full of promise, and a potential engine for eco