In a recent article in The New Republic, Al Gore explained that the disastrous BP Oil Spill is but one aspect of a much larger issue:
The continuing undersea gusher of oil 50 miles off the shores of Louisiana is not the only source of dangerous uncontrolled pollution spewing into the environment. Worldwide, the amount of man-made CO2 being spilled every three seconds into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding the planet equals the highest current estimate of the amount of oil spilling from the Macondo well every day. Indeed, the average American coal-fired power generating plant gushes more than three times as much global-warming pollution into the atmosphere each day—and there are over 1,400 of them.
And he blew a hole in the argument that more offshore oil drilling can help resolve our energy needs:
Here at home, the illusion that we can meaningfully reduce our dependence on foreign oil by taking extraordinary risks to develop deep reserves in the Outer Continental Shelf is illuminated by the illustration below. The addition to oil company profits may be significant, but the benefits to our national security are trivial. Meanwhile, our increasing appetite for coal is also creating environmental and human catastrophes.
And he then elucidated some of the impacts. The entire article should be read, and here I'm summarizing:
Ocean acidification undermining the base of the ocean food chain.
The melting of almost all the world's mountaintop glaciers.
The possible disappearance of the North Polar Ice Cap.
The world's two largest ice caps- on Greenland and Antartica- already melting much more extensively than had been predicted
Millions of climate refugees (I would add that the IPCC estimates at least 20 million).
Deeper and longer mid-continent droughts.
Larger and more frequent forest fires.
Tropical diseases expanding their territories into what are now temperate regions.
Possibly the highest extinction rate in 65 million years.
Increasingly destructive tropical storms.
Increased flooding, from more intense rainstorms. The world's water cycles already are radically changing.
And, of course, with the world in crisis, the politics has been hijacked.
Gore:
During the last 22 years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has produced four massive studies warning the world of the looming catastrophe that is being caused by the massive dumping of global-warming pollution into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, this process has been vulnerable to disruption and paralysis by a cynical and lavishly funded disinformation campaign.
But Gore points out that the BP Oil Spill is awakening people and creating the opportunity for the politics finally to catch up to the urgency of the issue:
It is understandable that the administration will be focused on the immediate crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. But this is a consciousness-shifting event. It is one of those clarifying moments that brings a rare opportunity to take the longer view. Unless we change our present course soon, the future of human civilization will be in dire jeopardy. Just as we feel a sense of urgency in demanding that this ongoing oil spill be stopped, we should feel an even greater sense of urgency in demanding that the much larger and more dangerous ongoing emissions of global warming pollution must also be stopped to make the world safe from the climate crisis that is building all around us.
And consciousness does seem to be shifting. A new poll (pdf), commissioned by Clean Energy Works, and conducted by President Obama's chief pollster, Joel Benenson, finds strong public support for a strong new energy bill. As broken down by Greg Sargent:
* Overall, 61% of 2010 voters support and just 31% oppose a bill "that will limit pollution, invest in domestic energy sources and encourage companies to use and develop clean energy. It would do this in part by charging energy companies for carbon pollution in electricity or fuels like oil."
* 54% would be more likely to re-elect their Senator if he or she voted for the bill (just 30% would be less likely to re-elect).
* 51% would be less likely to re-elect their Senator if he or she voted against the bill (just 30% would be more likely).
* 39% of voters now say they are more likely to support it in the wake of the oil spill.
Additionally, only 31% believe such a bill will hike gas prices and hurt the middle class.
Sargent:
"The American people think it's more urgent to take action now," Benenson tells me. "Americans don't find credible the scare tactics of those who remain opposed to this. It's a potentially potent issue with American voters. It is kind of issue that for many key constituencies defines the basic values of their elected officials and candidates."
The time has come. The time is now. Given the accelerating impacts of climate change, it may be the last time.