Cate Marquis

Congress’ failure to pass a market-based cap-and-trade solution to address climate change, a method that worked against acid rain, occurred despite: wide public support for taking action on climate, a Democratic president and majorities in Congress, Obama’s campaign promises, and even an environmental disaster caused by a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The results of this failure may be catastrophic for all of us, as it closes the door on the best chance to mitigate the worst of global warming and preserve a livable planet. Where does that leave us now?

While the rest of the world has accepted the facts of climate change and moved forward, our country remains mired in a political debate that continually questions well-established science. Caught in this paralyzing loop, backed by “old energy” companies, we are choosing to benefit oil and coal companies short-term at the expense of the rest of us long-term.

Global warming is underway already, so these late-date efforts were to soften its blow. Unlike health care and other social issues, nature only ever afforded us a limited window of opportunity to act on climate change. That window is closing now, so it will be up to the rest of the world, along with individuals and local governments here, to do want they can. Like a house afire, throwing a bucket of water on the problem four years from now is meaningless.

There is an additional cost to the U.S. in this failure. By choosing to stay with oil and coal, we will miss out on economic opportunities in the coming switch to renewable energy. Even China, a major coal-burning nation, is investing in green energy technology, due to economic opportunity. Yet, as Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman recently wrote in his New York Times column “American Goes Dark,” our nation is already in economic decline due to failure to build for the future.

However, Congress may yet revisit the issue this fall and despite Congress’ failure, there are a few things individuals and communities can do.

Communities can require new roofs, or if they are progressive, existing roofs, to be white rather than black to reflect solar energy. Local incentives for living “green roofs” and energy-efficient building should be encouraged.

Following California’s lead, states can offer low-interest loans to finance conversions to solar or wind energy. Such conversions require a big upfront investment but then provide cost-free energy. A loan program of this type would allow towns to build wind turbines or homes to add solar panels, providing local jobs while providing a steady revenue stream to local government.

For national security reasons, we should break the stranglehold of dependency on foreign oil. Deep-sea drilling, with its inevitable spills, is not the only option. Local tax incentives to buy plug-in electric cars would help, along with community-built charging stations. Light-rail public transportation needs to be favored over highways as a commuter solution. Energy efficiency needs to become the norm.

Utilities should be held accountable in adding renewable energy, not allowed to simply game the system. Combinations of decentralized energy production, like small no-dam hydropower, solar arrays and wind farms, should be encouraged. With our big river systems, small hydropower has enormous potential in Missouri. Unlike wind and solar, water always flows so it supplies power continuously. The technology is available now and has no negative environmental impact. Elsewhere, tidal-surge turbines or geothermal sources hold potential.

Congress’ failure to act on climate change is shameful, but we must continue to do what we can, as long as we can.