Brookings Weighs In. Commentary by Carlos Pascual and Strobe Talbott, WashPost, August 28, 2008. "The world may have only seven years to start reducing the annual buildup in greenhouse gas emissions that otherwise threatens global catastrophe within several decades. That means that between Inauguration Day in January 2009 and 2015, either John McCain or Barack Obama will face the most momentous political challenge of all time... Urgent and drastic action by the international community is required... Unless the U.S. acts first, it will have no credibility in persuading other[s]… to do their share... But... while some industries will prosper, other[s]... especially those that produce or rely on coal, steel and cement, will contract. Electricity prices will increase in the near and middle terms. Many workers and households will need help with... transition... The winner in November will need all the help he can get -- including from his opponent... from the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, academia and -- crucially -- citizens who recognize the consequences if they do not consent to sacrifices and changes in lifestyle... Obama can look to his... daughters, and McCain to his... grandchildren [who] are among nearly 75 million Americans -- and 2.2 billion people worldwide -- younger than 18. That generation will be in its 40s or 50s when one of two things happens: Either the temperature of the planet warms more than 4.5 degrees and vast regions slide toward [uninhabitability], or... wisdom... pays off in the ultimate reward -- survival." Carlos Pascual and Strobe Talbott are, respectively, vice president for foreign policy studies and president of the Brookings Institution. They are involved in a joint project with Stanford University and New York University on global governance, including on the issue of climate change.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment