thank you very much good morning thank you Dave this is Mars the Red Planet
you Dave this is Mars the Red Planet
you Dave this is Mars the Red Planet here’s a closer view with one of NASA’s
here’s a closer view with one of NASA’s
here’s a closer view with one of NASA’s incredible Rovers renowned mathematician
incredible Rovers renowned mathematician
incredible Rovers renowned mathematician and theoretical physicist Stephen
and theoretical physicist Stephen
and theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking says threats to the earth are so
Hawking says threats to the earth are so
Hawking says threats to the earth are so dire that we need to prepare to escape
dire that we need to prepare to escape
dire that we need to prepare to escape to Mars or even farther I share
to Mars or even farther I share
to Mars or even farther I share professor Hawkins concerns about threats
professor Hawkins concerns about threats
professor Hawkins concerns about threats to the earth but I think we should
to the earth but I think we should
to the earth but I think we should assume that our descendants won’t have
assume that our descendants won’t have
assume that our descendants won’t have anywhere else to live
anywhere else to live
anywhere else to live besides right here now I don’t mean that
besides right here now I don’t mean that
besides right here now I don’t mean that NASA won’t send astronauts to Mars or
NASA won’t send astronauts to Mars or
NASA won’t send astronauts to Mars or that we shouldn’t explore space or
that we shouldn’t explore space or
that we shouldn’t explore space or anything like that I just mean I think
anything like that I just mean I think
anything like that I just mean I think it would be prudent to assume that
it would be prudent to assume that
it would be prudent to assume that everyone in future generations
everyone in future generations
everyone in future generations aside from perhaps a few explorers will
aside from perhaps a few explorers will
aside from perhaps a few explorers will live right here if I’m right about that
live right here if I’m right about that
live right here if I’m right about that we ought to take care of this planet
we ought to take care of this planet
we ought to take care of this planet besides who wants to go to Mars I’d
besides who wants to go to Mars I’d
besides who wants to go to Mars I’d rather be here here it’s pretty nice
rather be here here it’s pretty nice
rather be here here it’s pretty nice outside it’s pretty you don’t need an
outside it’s pretty you don’t need an
outside it’s pretty you don’t need an oxygen tank to go outside you don’t need
oxygen tank to go outside you don’t need
oxygen tank to go outside you don’t need a spacesuit and if you rip your clothes
a spacesuit and if you rip your clothes
a spacesuit and if you rip your clothes when you’re outside
when you’re outside
when you’re outside it’s an annoyance it’s not a
it’s an annoyance it’s not a
it’s an annoyance it’s not a life-threatening catastrophe
life-threatening catastrophe
life-threatening catastrophe so I’m going to try to make three points
so I’m going to try to make three points
so I’m going to try to make three points first I’m gonna explain why I think it
first I’m gonna explain why I think it
first I’m gonna explain why I think it would be wise to assume that our
would be wise to assume that our
would be wise to assume that our descendants the bulk of people in the
descendants the bulk of people in the
descendants the bulk of people in the future will live right here on this
future will live right here on this
future will live right here on this planet and I’ll argue therefore that we
planet and I’ll argue therefore that we
planet and I’ll argue therefore that we ought to look after the life-support
ought to look after the life-support
ought to look after the life-support capacity of this planet and then finally
capacity of this planet and then finally
capacity of this planet and then finally my main point is argue that lately in
my main point is argue that lately in
my main point is argue that lately in the United States we have not been doing
the United States we have not been doing
the United States we have not been doing a good job of that because we’ve been
a good job of that because we’ve been
a good job of that because we’ve been tricked we’ve been tricked into
tricked we’ve been tricked into
tricked we’ve been tricked into rejecting good environmental protection
rejecting good environmental protection
rejecting good environmental protection ideas on the basis of biased tests and
ideas on the basis of biased tests and
ideas on the basis of biased tests and double standards that we would know
double standards that we would know
double standards that we would know better than to accept in other
better than to accept in other
better than to accept in other circumstances so I hope that after you
circumstances so I hope that after you
circumstances so I hope that after you hear this talk these bias tests and
hear this talk these bias tests and
hear this talk these bias tests and double standard arguments will jump out
double standard arguments will jump out
double standard arguments will jump out at you and you’ll point them out to
at you and you’ll point them out to
at you and you’ll point them out to other people and you’ll help your nation
other people and you’ll help your nation
other people and you’ll help your nation and your society make better
and your society make better
and your society make better environmental decisions but first why do
environmental decisions but first why do
environmental decisions but first why do I think we shouldn’t assume that we’ll
I think we shouldn’t assume that we’ll
I think we shouldn’t assume that we’ll be able to go to Mars well for several
be able to go to Mars well for several
be able to go to Mars well for several reasons the first is at least of my
reasons the first is at least of my
reasons the first is at least of my concerns but it’s still a regular
concerns but it’s still a regular
concerns but it’s still a regular relevant concern we don’t have the
relevant concern we don’t have the
relevant concern we don’t have the transportation technology for people now
transportation technology for people now
transportation technology for people now I wouldn’t be surprised if NASA
I wouldn’t be surprised if NASA
I wouldn’t be surprised if NASA overcomes that but I wouldn’t bet
overcomes that but I wouldn’t bet
overcomes that but I wouldn’t bet everybody’s future on it either a second
everybody’s future on it either a second
everybody’s future on it either a second reason is space travel is remarkably
reason is space travel is remarkably
reason is space travel is remarkably expensive this is the International
expensive this is the International
expensive this is the International Space Station it’s 250 miles up believe
Space Station it’s 250 miles up believe
Space Station it’s 250 miles up believe it or not the United States pays Russia
it or not the United States pays Russia
it or not the United States pays Russia 80 million dollars to get one astronaut
80 million dollars to get one astronaut
80 million dollars to get one astronaut back and forth to the International
back and forth to the International
back and forth to the International Space Station 80 million dollars the
Space Station 80 million dollars the
Space Station 80 million dollars the biggest building on this campus and it’s
biggest building on this campus and it’s
biggest building on this campus and it’s a big beautiful building cost a little
a big beautiful building cost a little
a big beautiful building cost a little more than thirty million dollars to
more than thirty million dollars to
more than thirty million dollars to build so less than half as much
build so less than half as much
build so less than half as much meanwhile as you know we have more than
meanwhile as you know we have more than
meanwhile as you know we have more than 7 billion brothers and sisters on this
7 billion brothers and sisters on this
7 billion brothers and sisters on this planet billions of whom live on a few
planet billions of whom live on a few
planet billions of whom live on a few dollars a day or less they can’t afford
dollars a day or less they can’t afford
dollars a day or less they can’t afford a short taxi ride let alone a ride on a
a short taxi ride let alone a ride on a
a short taxi ride let alone a ride on a spaceship and the more function is more
spaceship and the more function is more
spaceship and the more function is more fortunate among us are not providing for
fortunate among us are not providing for
fortunate among us are not providing for their basic needs to be met in all cases
their basic needs to be met in all cases
their basic needs to be met in all cases it seems unlikely that we’re gonna pay
it seems unlikely that we’re gonna pay
it seems unlikely that we’re gonna pay for their space travel this high expense
for their space travel this high expense
for their space travel this high expense of space travel is presumably why even
of space travel is presumably why even
of space travel is presumably why even enthusiasts like professor Hawking
enthusiasts like professor Hawking
enthusiasts like professor Hawking imagine that only a couple of thousand
imagine that only a couple of thousand
imagine that only a couple of thousand people could ever go anywhere else
people could ever go anywhere else
people could ever go anywhere else a couple of thousand people is roughly
a couple of thousand people is roughly
a couple of thousand people is roughly one in a million people that won’t do
one in a million people that won’t do
one in a million people that won’t do much good for the literally thousands of
much good for the literally thousands of
much good for the literally thousands of millions who would be left behind
millions who would be left behind
millions who would be left behind another reason I think we ought to
another reason I think we ought to
another reason I think we ought to assume that our descendants will live
assume that our descendants will live
assume that our descendants will live right here is because we don’t know how
right here is because we don’t know how
right here is because we don’t know how to make self-sustaining ecosystems out
to make self-sustaining ecosystems out
to make self-sustaining ecosystems out of big dead rocks so this diagram this
of big dead rocks so this diagram this
of big dead rocks so this diagram this diagram is meant to show Mars becoming
diagram is meant to show Mars becoming
diagram is meant to show Mars becoming like Earth not literally but taking on
like Earth not literally but taking on
like Earth not literally but taking on the self-sustaining ecosystem property
the self-sustaining ecosystem property
the self-sustaining ecosystem property unique to our planet ecosystems are
unique to our planet ecosystems are
unique to our planet ecosystems are incredibly complex we know some things
incredibly complex we know some things
incredibly complex we know some things that will destroy them we know maybe
that will destroy them we know maybe
that will destroy them we know maybe some of their requirements but the gaps
some of their requirements but the gaps
some of their requirements but the gaps in our understanding of ecosystems are
in our understanding of ecosystems are
in our understanding of ecosystems are vast we have no idea how to make eco
vast we have no idea how to make eco
vast we have no idea how to make eco systems self-sustaining ecosystems out
systems self-sustaining ecosystems out
systems self-sustaining ecosystems out of nonliving components in fact we can’t
of nonliving components in fact we can’t
of nonliving components in fact we can’t even make a single living cell out of
even make a single living cell out of
even make a single living cell out of nonliving components so I don’t think we
nonliving components so I don’t think we
nonliving components so I don’t think we should bet our descendants future on the
should bet our descendants future on the
should bet our descendants future on the on the ability to overcome this
on the ability to overcome this
on the ability to overcome this challenge another reason I don’t think
challenge another reason I don’t think
challenge another reason I don’t think we should count on going to Mars is the
we should count on going to Mars is the
we should count on going to Mars is the reason to escape to Mars and keep in
reason to escape to Mars and keep in
reason to escape to Mars and keep in mind I’m not talking about exploring or
mind I’m not talking about exploring or
mind I’m not talking about exploring or NASA sending some astronauts but
NASA sending some astronauts but
NASA sending some astronauts but escaping and mass to Mars is because the
escaping and mass to Mars is because the
escaping and mass to Mars is because the reason to do so would be because we’ve
reason to do so would be because we’ve
reason to do so would be because we’ve caused so much damage to this planet in
caused so much damage to this planet in
caused so much damage to this planet in other words we’ve failed to sustain the
other words we’ve failed to sustain the
other words we’ve failed to sustain the life support capacity of this planet but
life support capacity of this planet but
life support capacity of this planet but to go to Mars and succeed on Mars we
to go to Mars and succeed on Mars we
to go to Mars and succeed on Mars we would not only have to manufacture life
would not only have to manufacture life
would not only have to manufacture life support capacity on Mars we would also
support capacity on Mars we would also
support capacity on Mars we would also have to sustain that life support
have to sustain that life support
have to sustain that life support capacity what if we can’t do it here
capacity what if we can’t do it here
capacity what if we can’t do it here what reason is there to think we could
what reason is there to think we could
what reason is there to think we could do it there I can’t see any reason so if
do it there I can’t see any reason so if
do it there I can’t see any reason so if we can sustain the life support capacity
we can sustain the life support capacity
we can sustain the life support capacity here we ought to just do that where
here we ought to just do that where
here we ought to just do that where everybody will benefit and if we can’t
everybody will benefit and if we can’t
everybody will benefit and if we can’t sustain the life support capacity here
sustain the life support capacity here
sustain the life support capacity here it’s not gonna do any good to go to Mars
it’s not gonna do any good to go to Mars
it’s not gonna do any good to go to Mars because we won’t be able to sustain it
because we won’t be able to sustain it
because we won’t be able to sustain it there either
there either
there either so a friend of my younger friend of mine
so a friend of my younger friend of mine
so a friend of my younger friend of mine I don’t know much about video games I’m
I don’t know much about video games I’m
I don’t know much about video games I’m too old but a younger friend of mine
too old but a younger friend of mine
too old but a younger friend of mine said sustaining the life-support
said sustaining the life-support
said sustaining the life-support capacity to Earth that’s like beating
capacity to Earth that’s like beating
capacity to Earth that’s like beating the video game on easy mode but creating
the video game on easy mode but creating
the video game on easy mode but creating ecosystems on Mars and sustaining those
ecosystems on Mars and sustaining those
ecosystems on Mars and sustaining those that’s like trying to beat the video
that’s like trying to beat the video
that’s like trying to beat the video game on expert or or maybe even
game on expert or or maybe even
game on expert or or maybe even impossible mode
impossible mode
impossible mode so I think the obvious conclusion is not
so I think the obvious conclusion is not
so I think the obvious conclusion is not to damage the life-support capacity of
to damage the life-support capacity of
to damage the life-support capacity of this planet
this planet
this planet well how are we doing in that regard not
well how are we doing in that regard not
well how are we doing in that regard not very well
very well
very well there are millions literally millions of
there are millions literally millions of
there are millions literally millions of people doing great work and there all
people doing great work and there all
people doing great work and there all kinds of minor victories but the major
kinds of minor victories but the major
kinds of minor victories but the major trends are in the wrong direction we are
trends are in the wrong direction we are
trends are in the wrong direction we are depleting forests depleting fisheries
depleting forests depleting fisheries
depleting forests depleting fisheries depleting aquifers depleting the soil
depleting aquifers depleting the soil
depleting aquifers depleting the soil we’re changing the chemical composition
we’re changing the chemical composition
we’re changing the chemical composition of both the atmosphere in the oceans and
of both the atmosphere in the oceans and
of both the atmosphere in the oceans and causing climate change and maybe most
causing climate change and maybe most
causing climate change and maybe most profoundly of all were depleting
profoundly of all were depleting
profoundly of all were depleting biodiversity and the ecosystems upon
biodiversity and the ecosystems upon
biodiversity and the ecosystems upon which both we and that biodiversity
which both we and that biodiversity
which both we and that biodiversity depend the trends are in the wrong
depend the trends are in the wrong
depend the trends are in the wrong decision there must be something
decision there must be something
decision there must be something terribly wrong with our decisions we’re
terribly wrong with our decisions we’re
terribly wrong with our decisions we’re damaging life-support capacity of the
damaging life-support capacity of the
damaging life-support capacity of the only place in the universe known to
only place in the universe known to
only place in the universe known to support life now we haven’t always made
support life now we haven’t always made
support life now we haven’t always made bad decisions my parents generation the
bad decisions my parents generation the
bad decisions my parents generation the grandparents of the students in the
grandparents of the students in the
grandparents of the students in the audience made some very good decisions
audience made some very good decisions
audience made some very good decisions this is a graph of the number of major
this is a graph of the number of major
this is a graph of the number of major environmental laws passed in the United
environmental laws passed in the United
environmental laws passed in the United States per decade since the 1950s and
States per decade since the 1950s and
States per decade since the 1950s and what you see is the 1960s 70s and 80s
what you see is the 1960s 70s and 80s
what you see is the 1960s 70s and 80s were the heyday of passing environmental
were the heyday of passing environmental
were the heyday of passing environmental laws some of your younger may not even
laws some of your younger may not even
laws some of your younger may not even realize what these laws did this is a
realize what these laws did this is a
realize what these laws did this is a picture of air pollution in Beijing
picture of air pollution in Beijing
picture of air pollution in Beijing today believe it or not American cities
today believe it or not American cities
today believe it or not American cities looked like this in the 50s and 60s but
looked like this in the 50s and 60s but
looked like this in the 50s and 60s but they don’t anymore thanks to one of
they don’t anymore thanks to one of
they don’t anymore thanks to one of those laws the Clean Air Act
those laws the Clean Air Act
those laws the Clean Air Act likewise incredibly rivers used to be so
likewise incredibly rivers used to be so
likewise incredibly rivers used to be so polluted in many American cities that
polluted in many American cities that
polluted in many American cities that they literally caught fire but they
they literally caught fire but they
they literally caught fire but they don’t anymore thanks to the Clean Water
don’t anymore thanks to the Clean Water
don’t anymore thanks to the Clean Water Act so these laws worked but something
Act so these laws worked but something
Act so these laws worked but something has happened since then since the 1990s
has happened since then since the 1990s
has happened since then since the 1990s this country has passed
this country has passed
this country has passed no major environmental laws there has
no major environmental laws there has
no major environmental laws there has been no major progress during the
been no major progress during the
been no major progress during the lifetimes of today’s students even
lifetimes of today’s students even
lifetimes of today’s students even graduate students in some cases well
graduate students in some cases well
graduate students in some cases well environmental protection threatens
environmental protection threatens
environmental protection threatens profits of environmentally damaging
profits of environmentally damaging
profits of environmentally damaging activities and some certainly by no
activities and some certainly by no
activities and some certainly by no means all but some people whose profits
means all but some people whose profits
means all but some people whose profits are threatened therefore object to
are threatened therefore object to
are threatened therefore object to environmental protection
environmental protection
environmental protection and what’s happened since then is
and what’s happened since then is
and what’s happened since then is they’ve tricked us into not passing any
they’ve tricked us into not passing any
they’ve tricked us into not passing any laws see they can’t argue that
laws see they can’t argue that
laws see they can’t argue that environmental protection is a bad idea
environmental protection is a bad idea
environmental protection is a bad idea or that damage to the planet is a good
or that damage to the planet is a good
or that damage to the planet is a good thing nobody’s going to buy that and
thing nobody’s going to buy that and
thing nobody’s going to buy that and they can’t argue that their profits are
they can’t argue that their profits are
they can’t argue that their profits are more important than the planet nobody’s
more important than the planet nobody’s
more important than the planet nobody’s going to buy that so they have to take a
going to buy that so they have to take a
going to buy that so they have to take a different approach and the approach
different approach and the approach
different approach and the approach they’ve taken is to work behind the
they’ve taken is to work behind the
they’ve taken is to work behind the scenes to manipulate public debate and
scenes to manipulate public debate and
scenes to manipulate public debate and they do this several ways I have time to
they do this several ways I have time to
they do this several ways I have time to talk about four ways that were been
talk about four ways that were been
talk about four ways that were been tricked and for short to help you
tricked and for short to help you
tricked and for short to help you remember them I’m gonna refer to them as
remember them I’m gonna refer to them as
remember them I’m gonna refer to them as certainty freedom jobs and profit well
certainty freedom jobs and profit well
certainty freedom jobs and profit well let’s begin with certainty no matter how
let’s begin with certainty no matter how
let’s begin with certainty no matter how good our understanding of an
good our understanding of an
good our understanding of an environmental problem opponents of
environmental problem opponents of
environmental problem opponents of environmental protection will argue that
environmental protection will argue that
environmental protection will argue that we just don’t understand it well enough
we just don’t understand it well enough
we just don’t understand it well enough to act this has been going on with
to act this has been going on with
to act this has been going on with regard to climate change for decades
regard to climate change for decades
regard to climate change for decades even though well over ninety percent of
even though well over ninety percent of
even though well over ninety percent of qualified scientists think we do
qualified scientists think we do
qualified scientists think we do understand it well enough to act in this
understand it well enough to act in this
understand it well enough to act in this is a double standard in other
is a double standard in other
is a double standard in other circumstances we understand the danger
circumstances we understand the danger
circumstances we understand the danger of putting off decisions indefinitely if
of putting off decisions indefinitely if
of putting off decisions indefinitely if you are ill if one of your loved ones is
you are ill if one of your loved ones is
you are ill if one of your loved ones is ill you go to the physician you expect
ill you go to the physician you expect
ill you go to the physician you expect the physician to analyze the situation
the physician to analyze the situation
the physician to analyze the situation carefully examine the patient run the
carefully examine the patient run the
carefully examine the patient run the necessary tests and come up with a
necessary tests and come up with a
necessary tests and come up with a treatment plan but not put off years and
treatment plan but not put off years and
treatment plan but not put off years and years and years before deciding what to
years and years before deciding what to
years and years before deciding what to do
do
do running more and more and more tests
running more and more and more tests
running more and more and more tests because the patient could die
because the patient could die
because the patient could die in the mean time right students in the
in the mean time right students in the
in the mean time right students in the room I hope you choke it considered your
room I hope you choke it considered your
room I hope you choke it considered your college choices options carefully but
college choices options carefully but
college choices options carefully but what you didn’t do is you didn’t spend
what you didn’t do is you didn’t spend
what you didn’t do is you didn’t spend years and years and years at home after
years and years and years at home after
years and years and years at home after high school studying colleges in more
high school studying colleges in more
high school studying colleges in more and more gruesome detail right if you if
and more gruesome detail right if you if
and more gruesome detail right if you if my sons had done that guess what they’d
my sons had done that guess what they’d
my sons had done that guess what they’d be home I’d be driving them crazy right
be home I’d be driving them crazy right
be home I’d be driving them crazy right and if everybody did that all the
and if everybody did that all the
and if everybody did that all the colleges and universities would have
colleges and universities would have
colleges and universities would have closed right because everybody been home
closed right because everybody been home
closed right because everybody been home studying so not studying studying
studying so not studying studying
studying so not studying studying studying colleges so so in normal
studying colleges so so in normal
studying colleges so so in normal circumstances we understand that delay
circumstances we understand that delay
circumstances we understand that delay and indecision is dangerous it has a
and indecision is dangerous it has a
and indecision is dangerous it has a cost but when it comes to environmental
cost but when it comes to environmental
cost but when it comes to environmental issues we get paralyzed we made this
issues we get paralyzed we made this
issues we get paralyzed we made this mistake over and over we made this
mistake over and over we made this
mistake over and over we made this mistake for a long time with regard to
mistake for a long time with regard to
mistake for a long time with regard to stratospheric ozone depletion and with
stratospheric ozone depletion and with
stratospheric ozone depletion and with regard to acid rain and with regard to
regard to acid rain and with regard to
regard to acid rain and with regard to the health effects of smoking for
the health effects of smoking for
the health effects of smoking for decades right the the by the way the
decades right the the by the way the
decades right the the by the way the history of this is really well
history of this is really well
history of this is really well documented in a book called merchants of
documented in a book called merchants of
documented in a book called merchants of doubt’ by Naomi Oreskes and Eric
doubt’ by Naomi Oreskes and Eric
doubt’ by Naomi Oreskes and Eric Connelly
Connelly
Connelly so we’re making this mistake now with
so we’re making this mistake now with
so we’re making this mistake now with climate change this is a double standard
climate change this is a double standard
climate change this is a double standard in other circumstances we know we can’t
in other circumstances we know we can’t
in other circumstances we know we can’t delay decisions until we have perfect
delay decisions until we have perfect
delay decisions until we have perfect understanding we need to make decisions
understanding we need to make decisions
understanding we need to make decisions in a timely fashion but with regard to
in a timely fashion but with regard to
in a timely fashion but with regard to environmental problems we get paralyzed
environmental problems we get paralyzed
environmental problems we get paralyzed another flawed argument that has been
another flawed argument that has been
another flawed argument that has been used as a basis for rejecting good
used as a basis for rejecting good
used as a basis for rejecting good environmental ideas are appeals to
environmental ideas are appeals to
environmental ideas are appeals to freedom when environmental protection is
freedom when environmental protection is
freedom when environmental protection is proposed opponents will argue that it
proposed opponents will argue that it
proposed opponents will argue that it would infringe upon freedom and the
would infringe upon freedom and the
would infringe upon freedom and the right it would infringe upon one type of
right it would infringe upon one type of
right it would infringe upon one type of freedom it would infringe upon freedom
freedom it would infringe upon freedom
freedom it would infringe upon freedom to damage the environment they never
to damage the environment they never
to damage the environment they never seem to mention that it would do so in
seem to mention that it would do so in
seem to mention that it would do so in order to protect freedom from
order to protect freedom from
order to protect freedom from environmental damage so environmental
environmental damage so environmental
environmental damage so environmental protection works exactly like the
protection works exactly like the
protection works exactly like the prohibition on smoking in this room
prohibition on smoking in this room
prohibition on smoking in this room because of that prohibition we’re all
because of that prohibition we’re all
because of that prohibition we’re all free to breathe clean air so when you
free to breathe clean air so when you
free to breathe clean air so when you hear appeals to freedom ask yourself is
hear appeals to freedom ask yourself is
hear appeals to freedom ask yourself is the speaker or the writer only
the speaker or the writer only
the speaker or the writer only considering freedom to damage the
considering freedom to damage the
considering freedom to damage the environment are they considering all the
environment are they considering all the
environment are they considering all the relevant freedoms freedom to damage the
relevant freedoms freedom to damage the
relevant freedoms freedom to damage the environment but freedom for everybody
environment but freedom for everybody
environment but freedom for everybody from environmental damage we make
from environmental damage we make
from environmental damage we make exactly the same mistake with regard to
exactly the same mistake with regard to
exactly the same mistake with regard to jobs when environmental protection is
jobs when environmental protection is
jobs when environmental protection is proposed opponents will argue that jobs
proposed opponents will argue that jobs
proposed opponents will argue that jobs will be lost in affected industries
will be lost in affected industries
will be lost in affected industries nowadays one hears this most often with
nowadays one hears this most often with
nowadays one hears this most often with regard to attempts to shift to clean
regard to attempts to shift to clean
regard to attempts to shift to clean renewable energy sources
renewable energy sources
renewable energy sources opponents argue this is a disparage this
opponents argue this is a disparage this
opponents argue this is a disparage this as a war on coal a war on coal well I
as a war on coal a war on coal well I
as a war on coal a war on coal well I don’t mean to make light of lost jobs
don’t mean to make light of lost jobs
don’t mean to make light of lost jobs however in that particular instance for
however in that particular instance for
however in that particular instance for example there are already more jobs in
example there are already more jobs in
example there are already more jobs in the solar energy industry than in the
the solar energy industry than in the
the solar energy industry than in the coal industry right so if somebody is
coal industry right so if somebody is
coal industry right so if somebody is really motivated by jobs they ought to
really motivated by jobs they ought to
really motivated by jobs they ought to be an enthusiast for solar power again
be an enthusiast for solar power again
be an enthusiast for solar power again this is a double standard the folks that
this is a double standard the folks that
this is a double standard the folks that object to environmental protection don’t
object to environmental protection don’t
object to environmental protection don’t object to other societal developments
object to other societal developments
object to other societal developments and initiatives that cause job losses
and initiatives that cause job losses
and initiatives that cause job losses for example they don’t object to
for example they don’t object to
for example they don’t object to entrepreneurship or technological
entrepreneurship or technological
entrepreneurship or technological innovation but entrepreneurship and
innovation but entrepreneurship and
innovation but entrepreneurship and technological innovation lead to new
technological innovation lead to new
technological innovation lead to new products and
products and
products and industries which make old products
industries which make old products
industries which make old products obsolete and put old industries out of
obsolete and put old industries out of
obsolete and put old industries out of business but you won’t hear any
business but you won’t hear any
business but you won’t hear any complaints about that just jobs lost
complaints about that just jobs lost
complaints about that just jobs lost from environmental protection even if
from environmental protection even if
from environmental protection even if more jobs are being created as a result
more jobs are being created as a result
more jobs are being created as a result of the Environmental Protection and the
of the Environmental Protection and the
of the Environmental Protection and the last one of these double standards that
last one of these double standards that
last one of these double standards that I’d like to mention is insistence to
I’d like to mention is insistence to
I’d like to mention is insistence to Environmental Protection turn a
Environmental Protection turn a
Environmental Protection turn a short-term profit as if it were say a
short-term profit as if it were say a
short-term profit as if it were say a business investment in expanding a toy
business investment in expanding a toy
business investment in expanding a toy factory or a smartphone app now
factory or a smartphone app now
factory or a smartphone app now sometimes environmental protection does
sometimes environmental protection does
sometimes environmental protection does turn a short-term profit for example
turn a short-term profit for example
turn a short-term profit for example this college Austin College has cut its
this college Austin College has cut its
this college Austin College has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half
greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half
greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half over the last several years nearly half
over the last several years nearly half
over the last several years nearly half in the course of doing that we’ve saved
in the course of doing that we’ve saved
in the course of doing that we’ve saved almost not quite but almost a half a
almost not quite but almost a half a
almost not quite but almost a half a million dollars a year well how is that
million dollars a year well how is that
million dollars a year well how is that possible well you see in part of the way
possible well you see in part of the way
possible well you see in part of the way we’ve cut the greenhouse gas emissions
we’ve cut the greenhouse gas emissions
we’ve cut the greenhouse gas emissions is to learn to use efficient energy more
is to learn to use efficient energy more
is to learn to use efficient energy more efficiently in running the buildings and
efficiently in running the buildings and
efficiently in running the buildings and so we don’t have to buy as much energy
so we don’t have to buy as much energy
so we don’t have to buy as much energy and because we’re not to buy as much
and because we’re not to buy as much
and because we’re not to buy as much energy we save money so we’ve cut our
energy we save money so we’ve cut our
energy we save money so we’ve cut our greenhouse gas emissions and save money
greenhouse gas emissions and save money
greenhouse gas emissions and save money at the same time it wasn’t very hard but
at the same time it wasn’t very hard but
at the same time it wasn’t very hard but we good environmental protection ideas
we good environmental protection ideas
we good environmental protection ideas can be rejected if they’re required to
can be rejected if they’re required to
can be rejected if they’re required to have an immediate cash profit like that
have an immediate cash profit like that
have an immediate cash profit like that often society important societal
often society important societal
often society important societal decisions require an upfront investment
decisions require an upfront investment
decisions require an upfront investment and then a payoff over the long term
and then a payoff over the long term
and then a payoff over the long term again this is a double standard
again this is a double standard
again this is a double standard we don’t expect major decisions in other
we don’t expect major decisions in other
we don’t expect major decisions in other contexts to turn a short-term profit
contexts to turn a short-term profit
contexts to turn a short-term profit we don’t expect grade schools to turn a
we don’t expect grade schools to turn a
we don’t expect grade schools to turn a short-term profit we don’t expect basic
short-term profit we don’t expect basic
short-term profit we don’t expect basic medical research to turn a short-term
medical research to turn a short-term
medical research to turn a short-term profit we certainly don’t expect space
profit we certainly don’t expect space
profit we certainly don’t expect space exploration to turn a short-term profit
exploration to turn a short-term profit
exploration to turn a short-term profit if we did only wealthy children would
if we did only wealthy children would
if we did only wealthy children would have schools to go to and we wouldn’t do
have schools to go to and we wouldn’t do
have schools to go to and we wouldn’t do any basic medical research to cure any
any basic medical research to cure any
any basic medical research to cure any diseases and we wouldn’t be talking
diseases and we wouldn’t be talking
diseases and we wouldn’t be talking about whether we could escape to Mars
about whether we could escape to Mars
about whether we could escape to Mars because we wouldn’t do any space
because we wouldn’t do any space
because we wouldn’t do any space exploration so this is a fourth double
exploration so this is a fourth double
exploration so this is a fourth double standard so I’ve talked about four
standard so I’ve talked about four
standard so I’ve talked about four objections that are used as a basis for
objections that are used as a basis for
objections that are used as a basis for rejecting good environmental protection
rejecting good environmental protection
rejecting good environmental protection ideas fortunately my parents generation
ideas fortunately my parents generation
ideas fortunately my parents generation didn’t fall for these arguments or our
didn’t fall for these arguments or our
didn’t fall for these arguments or our cities would still look like Beijing
cities would still look like Beijing
cities would still look like Beijing does today so my task
does today so my task
does today so my task for you is to watch for these arguments
for you is to watch for these arguments
for you is to watch for these arguments when you hear them point them out to
when you hear them point them out to
when you hear them point them out to others because as long as these tricks
others because as long as these tricks
others because as long as these tricks continue to work will continue to fail
continue to work will continue to fail
continue to work will continue to fail to make good environmental decisions and
to make good environmental decisions and
to make good environmental decisions and continue to grind away at the planets
continue to grind away at the planets
continue to grind away at the planets life support capacity but once the
life support capacity but once the
life support capacity but once the tricks no longer work Environmental
tricks no longer work Environmental
tricks no longer work Environmental Protection progress will resume so I
Protection progress will resume so I
Protection progress will resume so I want to leave you with two final
want to leave you with two final
want to leave you with two final thoughts the first one is this is
thoughts the first one is this is
thoughts the first one is this is actually good news we could make a great
actually good news we could make a great
actually good news we could make a great deal of progress if we would simply
deal of progress if we would simply
deal of progress if we would simply reject biased arguments and double
reject biased arguments and double
reject biased arguments and double standards and thereby make wiser
standards and thereby make wiser
standards and thereby make wiser decisions and finally I think our
decisions and finally I think our
decisions and finally I think our country could use some sort of noble
country could use some sort of noble
country could use some sort of noble challenge to get behind and I can’t
challenge to get behind and I can’t
challenge to get behind and I can’t think of anything better than leaving
think of anything better than leaving
think of anything better than leaving our descendants all of our descendants
our descendants all of our descendants
our descendants all of our descendants and everybody’s descendants a healthy
and everybody’s descendants a healthy
and everybody’s descendants a healthy planet thank you
”
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