US must lead on clean technology
In the midst of new developments in the climate-science debate, Tom Friedman’s column rightly highlights the real issue of who will gain the monopoly on clean technology – because its clear that if the US doesn’t, other countries like Russia and China will. He writes:
Even if climate change proves less catastrophic than some fear, in a world that is forecast to grow from 6.7 billion to 9.2 billion people between now and 2050, more and more of whom will live like Americans, demand for renewable energy and clean water is going to soar. It is obviously going to be the next great global industry.
China, of course, understands that, which is why it is investing heavily in clean-tech, efficiency and high-speed rail. It sees the future trends and is betting on them. Indeed, I suspect China is quietly laughing at us right now. And Iran, Russia, Venezuela and the whole OPEC gang are high-fiving each other. Nothing better serves their interests than to see Americans becoming confused about climate change, and, therefore, less inclined to move toward clean-tech and, therefore, more certain to remain addicted to oil.
There you have it. We can feed right in our adversary hand’s or we can rise to the challenge and become the leader in renewable energy. Not only will this keep us less dependent on foreign nations for oil, but we will begin to deplete the funds that indirectly fund terrorism. That’s something we all can get behind.
