Background
Through the nature of my work, I've been exposed to climate change. A majority of my career has been overseas working on climate change related matters. Through those experiences, I've had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people who were adversely impacted by climate change. Over time, those experiences and relationships started to build a sense of passion and empathy. I hope to help people through the mitigation of climate change.
By way of background, I grew up in coal country, Kentucky, where my great uncle, Charles Carpenter, was the CEO of a large coal mining operation. In those days, the environmental impact of deforestation and coal mining (fossil fuel) was not well understood. But, as time has elapsed, as scientific discovery has progressed and as data has corroborated, it is apparent that the consumption of fossil fuels needs to transition to a cleaner, less harmful energy source. My time, energy and passion is dedicated to educating people on the value of a clean energy future.
Greenhouse Gas
The activities of both burning fossil fuels and deforestation has led to global warming, which is caused by a substantial increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The major sources of impact are three-fold: energy, land use and transportation.
Global warming is caused by the massive increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, as a byproduct of deforestation and burning of fossil fuels.
Linking global warming to climate change is an important step. The sensitivity of global climate to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide is difficult to analyze. Like any model, there are variables, coefficients, mu factors (unknowns) and exponential factors. Climate change takes place in pockets of the globe—regional temperature changes such as ice glaciers melting, sea level changes, precipitation changes, storm intensities, and vegetational structure changes.
Getting educated
The Global Change Research Act 1990 is a United States law requiring research into global warming and related issues. It requires a report to Congress every four years on the environmental, economic, health and safety consequences of climate change. In 2017, a fourth national climate assessment was submitted to congress and the executive branch. The report entails the impacts on communities, the economy , water supply, health, indigienous peoples, ecosystems, agriclture, infrastructure, military defense, oceans and tourism.
The report is both fascinating and disturbing as it provides statiscal models of impacts based on climate variables such as temperature and precipitation. Models provide a range of predictions related to sea level rise along the entire US coastline, changed in population as a function of demographic shifts and migration, and changes in land use driven by population changes.
Technology and Capital
Climate change is a topic that impacts billions of people. While governments and NGOs have attempted to push forward on solutions, the results are not enough. To this extent, I don't particularly subscribe to politics to help solve the climate crisis.
I believe the solution lies within the private sector. With a combination of technology, capital and optimism, a new economy will emerge from the climate change crisis.