Show us the money, Obama! Tom Kelly from Berkeley’s KyotoUSA / HELiOS Project “sees yellow in Copenhagen, COP15!”

Axis:Image: 

Show us the money, Obama! Tom Kelly from Berkeley’s KyotoUSA / HELiOS Project “sees yellow in Copenhagen, COP15!”

Communiqué Tom Kelly from Berkeley’s KyotoUSA / HELiOS Project

That, friends, is the $64,000 question. If you have been following the news in the months leading up Copenhagen and now from the hourly reports, you’ll be hard pressed to know if the negotiations will achieve a binding international agreement that will lead to significant reductions in climate altering greenhouse gas emissions. Imagine 192 nations, broken into several major blocks, most emphasizing economic development as the driver for the negotiations – quite an amazing undertaking and fraught with complications!

Many of the poor countries want financial and technical assistance to help them develop, pointing out that the rich countries accumulated their wealth and standard of living without any emissions limits on their development. That seems like a fair and just demand. Other poor countries already hard hit by rising sea levels and climate extremes are seeking help to avoid the worst impacts on their populations. Again, a fair and just demand.

The rich countries are split – the European Union appears to be willing to address the concerns of the developing world, but are certainly constrained by the global economic downturn and their desire to see the US step up and do more. The US position has been cautious as the US negotiators in Copenhagen look over their shoulders at the Congress who are still a long way from being able to agree on legislation that isn’t watered down by politics and reaction.

And then you have those countries like China and India who are major GHG emitters, but who also want to be able to develop their economies as we have done – and who are acquiring the wealth and expertise to be able to do so. And it looks as if these countries are willing to get a handle on their emissions if we in the US and Europe will put our money and actions where our words have been.

Regardless of how things play out in Copenhagen, the real work associated with achieving dramatic carbon reductions will occur with each one of us. We all have a role to play in the planet’s recovery. In fact, an astounding amount of progress is already underway. One doesn’t have to look very far to see that the Bay Area is one of the most remarkable incubators of innovation and transformation. We have the opportunity here to demonstrate to other regions in the state and country that it is possible to make deep reductions in carbon emissions and provide jobs and fairly distributed economic benefits, reverse environmental degradation, and improve health as we reduce our exposures to the by-products of fossil fuel combustion.

Here at KyotoUSA we have been working with school districts throughout the state to help them find smart ways to reduce their energy costs and to install renewable energy systems. We’ve seen an incredible increase in interest over the past six months from school districts, especially as we demonstrate how it is possible to achieve better energy efficiencies and acquire renewable energy systems without putting undue pressure on their General Funds that pay for teachers and programs. In some instances, it has been possible to demonstrate that these energy improvements can actually be revenue generating.

On that note, we will be co-hosting (with SunPower Corporation) a free webinar aimed at school district officials (superintendents, board members, facilities directors) and others interested in seeing our public schools achieve climate and grid-neutrality. Please put public school officials in touch with us so that we can provide details on the webinar. The date for the event is February 10, 2010 which we believe will be a month or so prior to the release of the next round of low interest bonds called Qualified School Construction Bonds – an excellent financial vehicle for the installation of renewable energy systems. We helped districts in northern California (as well as the UC and community college system) qualify for over $60M in federal bond programs – and we’ ll continue to help districts as well as we are able without cost or obligation.

Finally, if you’re still thinking about where you might place a year-end tax deductible contribution, please consider KyotoUSA. We continue to operate as a completely volunteer organization on a shoestring budget, but we do have some modest expenses that we have to cover. If you can help, we’d be grateful. Thank you!

You can donate on line: DonateNow or send a check payable to Sequoia Foundation/KyotoUSA, 800 Hearst Ave., Berkeley, CA 94710.

Connections –

KyotoUSA / HELiOS Project

(510) 704-8628 (w)
(510) 684-6484 (c)
Kyotousa at sbcglobal dot net

KyotoUSA is a sponsored project of the Sequoia Foundation