Monday, December 21, 2009

My letter to President Obama about COP15

Dear President Obama,

I am very disappointed by your unwillingness to take a leadership role on addressing climate change. You well know that your lackluster proposal at Copenhagen of 17% reduction of CO2 from 2005 levels falls FAR short of the challenge of getting our planet to 350 PPM CO2. It also falls short of the offers from most other industrialized nations. What sort of leader are you to propose such a less-than-bare-minimum reduction in CO2 emissions? You cannot simultaneously "lead" while you sit in the back of the class drafting off of the activities of others. It is time for you to educate the American public about the severity of the issue and to truly lead us into a future that celebrates the transition to a renewable economy.

I voted for you primarily because I felt that you were uniquely suited to elevate the level of dialogue about this issue and to take a courageous position that takes the best, most current science into account when advocating for policy. Please do not squander your opportunity to lead on this issue-- otherwise I will likely squander my opportunity to vote for you in 2012. Meanwhile I will be forced to prepare myself to explain to my grandchildren why I let their country destroy their planet. I cannot even begin to imagine what you will tell your children about this poor performance of yours. You should be absolutely ashamed.

For guidance on the best approach that I have found for solving these problems, please read Plan B 4.0: http://www.earth-policy.org/index.php?/books/pb4

Sincerely Yours,
Mark Dixon