Recent Poll Says We Can Reverse Climate Change: Yet the Facts Bear Out Differently, Experts Say
By Marc Nelson, Survey Analyst / November 10th, 2021
This year, we’ve experienced a record number of unexpectedly severe weather-related crises, from hurricanes to massive regional fires, record breaking heat waves and never-seen-before flooding all around the world. It seems that year after year, climate change is affecting how we manage our lives, costing billions in damage or realized losses. What gives? Let’s review what our Skytop readers think about how we might turn the trend around.
Question #1: How realistic do you think it is that meaningful action on climate change will happen in your lifetime?
Skytop readers are optimistic, with 38.1% very likely, and 39.1% somewhat likely that meaningful change will be realized in this lifetime. 22.9% disagree, saying that it is not at all likely that this will occur.
Let’s unpack this question a bit further.
The data suggests that many cities across the world are already making efforts to ameliorate climate change. According to the CDP, “399 cities across the world have climate action plans and 339 cities have emissions reductions targets. In addition, 100 cities across the world now get 70% of their renewable energy from sources such as hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind”.
An impressive advance? Maybe.
Adding to the question, experts in climate change, renewable energy or related areas point out that this progress is hindered if more countries are not involved in the progress. As Lawrence Graev of the GlenRock Group and Skytop Sponsor, inventor of a groundbreaking water technology (https://seas-sa.com/), shares that, “There is little hope of successfully addressing the issues unless ALL industrial nations–especially China and India–conform to the climate change goal.” Join Larry at our conference, entitled “Water & Long-Term Value”, in San Francisco, on April 12, 2022 for a full day drilldown with experts, including our presenter, Dharisha Mirando, from China Water Risk, who we will stream in live from Hong Kong to discuss water scarcity actions underway throughout Asia.
Continuing his point, he adds that “China and India have increased coal production resulting in increased carbon pollution.” Apparently, the Paris Accords do not require China and India to comply with the collective climate change goal for ten years. This is one of the greatest deficiencies in the Paris Accords, a drag on reversing the dangerous pattern we are now experiencing.
Further to this point, CDP data suggests “41% of cities have not yet carried out a climate risk and vulnerability assessment, a key step in climate preparedness where the city identifies people, infrastructure, and resources at risk from the growing physical hazards of a changing climate.”
The problem is big and requires a proportionate response.
Specifically, it will take the actions of individuals, businesses, and governments working together to tackle climate change. Scott Poynton, Founder of the Pond Foundation and Skytop Contributor, suggests that individuals need to take a deep level of personal responsibility on this issue, suggesting that “It very much depends on individuals and businesses understanding that they can’t wait for governments to solve the problem for them.”
Tom Polton, founder of NV Sustainability and Skytop Contributor, echoed this sentiment. “Financial leaders and government experts understand the required commitment, but I don’t think the general public is yet onboard with making significant change.” He argues, adding that “Not making the investment will be far more costly than kicking the can down the road.” Join Tom at our ESG6 conference in New York on April 5, 2022, along with institutional investors, company executives and market experts for a detailed exchange on the role of environmental, social, and governance standards in creating long term shareholder value.
Optimism is fine. However, without collective action it will prove to be hope alone.
Question #2: How will we reconcile the fact that most of the clean energy methods require resources and materials that must be obtained from other countries and climates that have their own issues?
The majority of Skytop readers are skeptical about supply chain issues in politically or socially challenging countries. 61.5% answered “It’s questionable.” 7.7% replied with, “It’s not going to happen” and only 30.8% responded with, “It’s possible”
Poverty, inequality, deprivation, despots, human trafficking, and abuses toward women and children are issues that are pervasive in some of the world’s countries that hold the most plentiful resources for fighting climate change. In fact, The Atlantic pointed out that “There are twenty-three countries in the world that derive at least 60 percent of their exports from oil and gas and not a one is a real democracy.” Another troubling statistic was pointed out by Deloitte when they noted “Almost 21 million people are victims of forced labor and that forced labor in the private economy generates illegal profits of $150 billion per year.”
So, how can we grapple with this frightful condition?
Lawrence Graev of the Glen Rock Group shares that “Obviously, we should not rely on countries to support any program–climate change or otherwise–if they have their own internal problems that could impact a desired outcome.”
But, is this realistic?
Eric Israel, the Founder of NWIC and Skytop Contributor, points out that many companies benefit from the current climate-damaging set up, stating that “A clear problem is that there are influential countries that benefit from the current carbon economy status quo. We, therefore, need to acknowledge that there will be resistance that is further intensified by politically powerful countries with fossil fuel addictions.”
Scott Poynton of the Pond Foundations takes a more optimistic view and offers that, “Buyers–individuals, businesses, and governments–do have the power to influence the way resources they buy are produced. If they use that power in a constructive, climate friendly way, we could see major changes the world over.” Using the climate change fight to help solve other world issues would certainly be a step in the right direction. Scott has more to share on this topic. Join Scott at our conference on renewable energy innovation entitled, “Powersurge”, in Washington DC on May 17, 2022, as renewable energy innovation, linked to climate change, and climate change is linked to water-related issues for public companies and their stakeholders.
Question #3: What should be the energy source for the future?
Skytop readers are most confident in better battery technology, which leads the way with 53.8% of replies. 38.4% voted for expansion of underwater current generation while 7.6% voted for iron batteries.
DARPA gave their opinion on this topic in 2018 when they founded a single-hyper efficient motor that can power large UAVs, electrical generators, and robots. The motors are so small that even soldiers can carry them.
Nevertheless, there seems to be a consensus that avoiding fossil fuels and instead embracing hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind should be a priority as we plan for and move into the future. Tom Polton of NV Sustainability wrote, “The energy solution will likely require embracing a variety of energy sources – renewables such as wind, hydro, and solar, biofuels, hydrogen, preferably generated by power from renewable sources.”
Larry Graev of the Glen Rock Group seconded the notion that the future of energy depends on using a wide variety of courses. As he asserted, “Alternative energy (solar, wind, biofuels, etc.) will grow as a percentage of global energy production, with carbon fuels shrinking. This is already happening. Many oil producing nations are already planning for post-fossil fuel economies.”
However, Eric Israel of NWIC points out that, “It should not be a surprise that oil companies have small renewables portfolios, less than 10%. Clearly, there is more work to be done in this regard.” Eric will offer additional insights on this topic at Powersurge, scheduled for May 17,2022, in Washington DC, with special emphasis on corporate governance and how leaders can set the course of change within their companies in the areas of renewable energy innovation.
What are your thoughts on this earthly topic? We welcome you to use the comment box below and weigh-in.
