AltEnToday

The major economies of the world took a step in the right direction on greenhouse gas emissions by proposing a 50-percent reduction in worldwide emissions by 2050. Sadly, this proposal again lays the burdens of environmental stewardship, clean air rights, and global climate change on the shoulders of my generation and the generations to come.

42 years, however, seems an unnecessarily long time to hold these nations accountable. If you listen to the voices of numerous geologists worldwide, you’ll realize that our global oil supplies are currently going through a “peak” phase and in 42 years we’ll likely be sipping a mere percentage of our current consumption from the planet’s remaining oil reserves. Coal will also likely have peaked - even at present usage (fairly high) our next 42 years of coal use will likely only increase in the face of increased consumer demand. The next 42 years will be marked by the dramatic consumption and subsequent drop-off of our carbon-based fuel sources; and 2050 will find us dependent on a non-carbon based energy world. But will the damages already have been done?

I admire the fact that the world leaders of these powerful nations concur that greenhouse gases and other emissions are harmful to the environment. We’re on the verge of seeing powerful global carbon markets take hold. Future energy prospects are looking good. But to truly spur mine and the next generation of workers and dreamers - can’t we set the goal a little higher? By 2050 I’ll be well in to my retirement (ideally by then that’ll be retirement 4 or 5 ;)). What we desperately need, as a nation and as a global community, are strong leaders to challenge the masses to create a global energy, production, and transportation infrastructure that is sustainable in to not just the next half century but far beyond.

Our little planet is reaching its capacity. We can do better than setting 42 year objectives for securing its future.