Regular readers of this blog are
fully aware that I am convinced that the scientific evidence clearly
demonstrates that climate change is real.
But I am equally convinced that it is possible to address climate change
in ways that can enable us to prosper.
Reducing CO2 emissions can both
save dollars and make business sense.
Climate change is an issue we cannot ignore, but disaster is not
inevitable. There are pragmatic
approaches to dealing with it that we can begin to implement now that can also
provide economic benefits.
I am particularly encouraged by a
recent report from World Resources Institute (WRI) called Seeing is Believing: Creating a New Climate
Economy in the United States that
found that “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the US doesn’t hurt the
economy—in fact, it can actually benefit the economy by saving businesses and
consumers money and improving public health.”
This report confirmed the science
behind climate change and pointed to weather problems in the U.S., such as the
drought in California, the heat wave in Texas, and a historically cold winter
in New York as evidence of the problem.
It also noted that there is a widespread misperception in this country
that addressing climate change will automatically result in negative economic
consequences. Instead, the report
stressed that it is possible to reduce climate risks and at the same time
create jobs and boost economic growth.
The five strategies that the
report identifies would address the sources of 55 percent of U.S. greenhouse
gas emissions. They include:
·
Reducing the carbon emissions associated with
electricity generation
·
Improving energy efficiency for consumers
·
Building cleaner, more fuel-efficient passenger
vehicles
·
Reducing waste from natural gas systems, and
·
Reducing consumption of hydrofluorocarbons.
How does this work? The bottom line is that newer, more efficient
technologies are becoming available that enable us to either reduce energy
consumption and/or use cleaner fuels (natural gas) or sources (wind, solar,
biogas) to produce that energy.
For example, the WRI study found
that by 2025, new cars should be about twice as fuel-efficient as those on the
dealers’ lots today. That will save
dollars for drivers and reduce the environmental impact at the same time. Plugging methane leaks in natural gas systems
can cut air pollution and save the gas industry millions per year. Switching to safer and cheaper refrigerants
would be less expensive, plus it would cut hydrofluorocarbon emissions.
Changes already in progress are making
a difference. But the WRI report also proposed
additional steps we can take to reduce CO2 emissions further while saving money. Many of these are policy recommendations that
will help align a commitment to address climate change with incentives to
reduce energy use, increase efficiency and opt for cleaner choices where
possible. Other strategies involve focusing
research and development to drive further technological improvements that lower
emissions as well as encouraging investment in those technologies.
The WRI study largely bypassed
looking at the agriculture community which is okay for now. However, the time is coming for those of us
in agriculture to look for the same type of win-win opportunities and actions
that we can take when it comes to climate change. Closely examining energy efficiency, food and
feed waste, crop and livestock efficiency will all lead to the same conclusions
in our community. We can, in fact, save money while reducing climate
impacts. We have a unique opportunity and
potential in agriculture to mitigate climate impacts through our production
actions.
Improving the environment we all
share and strengthening bottom lines for agricultural producers, manufacturers,
service providers and consumers go together.
There are common sense solutions available that save dollars. Addressing climate change can be a win-win
proposition if we simply have the vision to see it and the will to insist upon
it.
About the author: Bruce I. Knight, Principal,
Strategic Conservation Solutions, was the Under Secretary for Marketing and
Regulatory Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2006 to
2009. From 2002 to 2006, Knight served as Chief of Natural Resources
Conservation Service. The South Dakota native worked on Capitol Hill for Senate
Majority Leader Bob Dole, Rep. Fred Grandy, Iowa, and Sen. James Abdnor, South
Dakota. In addition, Knight served as vice president for public policy for the
National Corn Growers Association and also worked for the National Association
of Wheat Growers. A third-generation rancher and farmer and lifelong
conservationist, Knight operates a diversified grain and cattle operation using
no-till and rest rotation grazing systems
#30
For more news go to www.Agri-Pulse.com