Powering Up Clean Energy

Climate Emergency Forum focuses on the urgent need to transition to clean energy in response to the escalating climate crisis.

This video was recorded on July 24th, 2024, and published on September 12th, 2024, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.

The participants discuss the record-breaking heat waves, devastating wildfires, and other extreme weather events occurring globally, emphasizing the immediate necessity for action. They highlight the progress made by some countries in adopting renewable energy sources, with China leading in clean energy investments and smaller nations like Costa Rica, Iceland, and Uruguay achieving near-total renewable electricity production.

The conversation also addresses the challenges in implementing clean energy solutions, including the powerful influence of fossil fuel corporations and their lobbyists on government policies. The speakers stress the need for a large-scale, coordinated effort akin to the Manhattan Project or Marshall Plan to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels. They discuss various clean energy options, including solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear, while also mentioning the potential for new technologies and approaches to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.

The dialogue concludes by highlighting the devastating health impacts of air pollution caused by fossil fuel combustion, with millions of deaths attributed to it annually. The speakers emphasize that transitioning to clean energy is not just an environmental imperative but also a matter of public health and survival for humanity. They call for strong government action, reallocation of resources from military budgets to clean energy development, and public engagement to drive the necessary changes for a sustainable future.

Links:

• New record daily global average temperature reached in July 2024

• Oregon Wildfires

• Analysis: Clean energy was top driver of China’s economic growth in 2023

• Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climae Crisis

• Manhattan Project

• What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?

• When Corporations Rule the World

• Red Alert: Planet in Peril (CEF Video)

• Not the End of the World

• Global Warming in the Pipeline and Earth’s Energy Imbalance (CEF Video)

• Coronavirus death toll

Regular Panelists:

• Dr. Peter Carter - MD, Expert IPCC Reviewer and the director of the Climate Emergency Institute

• Paul Beckwith - Climate Systems Scientist. Professor at the University of Ottawa’s Paleoclimatology Laboratory as well as at Carleton University

• Regina Valdez - Program Director, Climate Reality Project, NYC. GreenFaith Fellow and LEED Green Associate

Video Production:

• Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader

• Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.

Attributions:

Background Music:

• Title: Through the City II
• Author: Crowander
• Source: crowander.com

Image and Video:

• Image and Video Attributions