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Health & Fitness

The Cutting Edge of Climate Change Solutions: interview with Peter Barnes

Interview: Climate change thought-leader and sustainable business innovator Peter Barnes. Appearing at the Earth Day Marin Festival and Climate Change Solutions Day of Action Sunday, April 21st

Hannah Doress, director of the Earth Day Marin Festival and Climate Change Solutions Day of Action, interview with climate change solutions thought-leader and sustainable business innovator Peter Barnes.  Peter is the cofounder of Working Assets/Credo Mobile and the Mesa Refuge, a retreat for writers working on environmental and social issues in Point Reyes. He is author of Climate Solutions: A Citizen's Guide, Who Owns the Sky? and Capitalism 3.0: A Guide to Reclaiming the Commons

Peter, thank you for being part of the Earth Day Marin Festival in a discussion with Dr. Peter G. Joseph (Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Climate Reality Project, co-founder California Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility) and renewable energy and microgrid expert Peter Asmus (of KWMR’s Eyes Wide Open and environmentalist band Space Debris).  We are looking forward to a lively, cutting-edge discussion.

Before we launch into the meaty subject of climate change solutions, would you tell us more about your background so people have a sense of the work that has shaped your thinking? Many people know about your work founding Working Assets/Credo Mobile, but what did you do before then?

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I was a journalist for Newsweek and the New Republic and then for 6 years I was president of a a worker-owned solar energy business called The Solar Center. The company was doing quite well until Reagan eliminated the solar tax credits.  That was the end of the solar industry at the time. I was looking for something new to do, and I knew a bank president in San Francisco, Jerome Dodson, who had set up a financing program with my solar company, and together we came up with the idea of socially responsible mutual fund.

Hannah: So that became Working Assets – how was that company different?

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Peter: Yes, we started Working Assets, which later morphed into a credit card and telephone company known as Credo Mobile.  We always wanted to be more than a mutual fund or phone company, to add political value to everyday products, so we came up with two ways, one - to donate a percentage of each bill to good nonprofits, and two - to use our phone and billing system as a political organizing tool.  Credo continues with both of these services today.

Hannah: When did you found the Mesa Refuge?

 Peter: After I retired from Working Assets, I moved to Point Reyes and went back to a writing mode.  That’s when I decided to found the Mesa Refuge, which is a beautiful house overlooking the Giacomini Wetlands which hosts 3 writers at a time, typically writing about environmental and social issues.  Over 600 writers have used the space, including Michael Pollan, Terry Tempest Williams and Van Jones. 

Hannah:

This year our theme at Earth Day Marin is action on climate change solutions.  You are the author of a book on this topic.  What kind of solutions are you focused on? 

My book focuses on national rather than local solutions. At the national level it looks at three models: cap and trade, cap and dividend and a carbon tax — plus a variation of that called fee and dividend.  I look at how they would work environmentally and economically.  All of them will have a large impact on the economy and our own pocketbooks because we will have to pay more for the energy that’s embedded in just about everything we buy or do.  I look at the different options to understand who would pay for them and who would benefit. 

I think it is critical that we have a physical cap that descends to a level that will be safe for future generations.  Whether that level is 350 parts per million or something else is something we can work out, but we must have a physical cap in place.  Putting a price on carbon alone is not going to get us where we need to go fast enough.  Secondly, after we put a cap in place, we must avoid all the shenanigans associated with carbon trading (currently in place in California).  Trading undermines the effectiveness of the cap by allowing polluters to continue to pollute.  The cap has to be solid - if it leaks it's no good. We should have permits that every polluting company needs to buy with a firm limit on total pollution.  Then we reduce the number of permits each year to get to our goal. 

The solution I favor is cap and dividend, where every energy supplier has to buy permits for the carbon content of their fuels, and the money that is collected from selling the permits goes back to the people, one person, one share.  Everyone would get dividends wired to their bank accounts that would come from the higher prices we will pay for dirty energy.  In my book Who Owns the Sky?, I promote the idea of a national Sky Trust, which would operate on behalf of all residents of the US (or whatever nation is implementing it).  I argue that we, the people, should own the sky, limit pollution and earn the income from any pollution we allow.

A cap and dividend bill was introduced in Congress in 2009 by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), so it was a bipartisan effort. It didn't go very far, unfortunately.  The main bill debated was cap and trade, which was defeated in the end.

Hannah: What would you say are the political barriers to legislation on these issues?

Peter: The main barrier is that fossil fuel companies have tremendous political power. Another is that virtually the entire Republican party is in denial and they control one house of Congress and can stop anything.

What can regular people do to help?

At the national level the main thing to do is join 350.org.

Hannah’s note: A Marin Chapter of 350.org has just been founded and will be tabling at the Earth Day Marin Festival & Climate Change Solutions Day of Action so you can learn more on Sunday 4/21/13.

Peter: It's important to keep our eyes on the prize.  While we are doing what is doable now, which is often local things, we need to stay focused on our whole economy.  The change we need has to be economy-wide, which is very hard because there are so many vested interests that are opposed to changes at that level.  We have to keep fighting and pushing for that, as long as it takes. 

Hannah: What are the climate change risks that we are up against?

Peter: The big risk is that we are approaching the tipping point or have gone past it. The problem is not that we have 390 parts per million of C02 in the atmosphere now, but that at some point we trigger a runaway feedback loop.  We melt polar ice, which reduces reflection, which puts more heat and moisture in the air, which traps more heat and moisture, and so on.  We get a spiraling effect once the C02 concentration gets past a certain point.

The real concern is that we'll run out of time.  So it's critical to do everything we can to avert a runaway catastrophe.  Even if the odds of catastrophe are just 10% we don't want to play Russian roulette with the planet. Some scientists say we have a 20% chance of catastrophe, but whatever it is, it’s clear we don't want to get into that runaway zone. We must do everything we can to get on the right track now.

Hannah: In the face of those political barriers and how serious the situation is, what do you recommend that people do?

Peter: I think signing up and being active with 350.org is the best thing to do. We should be dramatically growing that organization, so we have more political clout and can move forward with economy-wide solutions.

Hannah: What are you doing personally about your carbon footprint?

Peter: I have a photovoltaic system on my roof, a Prius plug-in hybrid, an energy efficient home, and I have deep green energy (100% renewable) from Marin Clean Energy.

To learn more about national, local and personal climate change solutions that you can take action on and participate in, come to the Earth Day Marin Festival and Climate Change Solutions Day of Action. You will be rewarded with a free raffle ticket (grand prize is 2 nights at Hale Akua Eco-Resort in Maui) for each action you take including biking to the event, bookmarking the real time Marin Transit website (or programming the real time number on your phone), choosing 100% renewable energy with Marin Clean Energy, joining Resilient Neighborhoods and ‘losing 5,000 unsightly lbs of C02 in 6 weeks, writing letters to decision makers with a wide variety of groups, and many, many more ways to make a difference. The focus of the event will be on positive solutions to climate change and to participating in group efforts where you will be supported with information and see the impact of your efforts, so you know you are being effective and are part of a bigger effort that will make a difference.

Join us on Sunday, April 21st, 11-5pm at Redwood High School in Larkspur.

Breaking news: Environmental Forum of Marin and other organizations will join Earth Day Marin in presenting the local world premiere of 350.org's new film "Do the Math". The film features Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein and Bishop Desmond Tutu with an urgent and inspiring call to action. It will screen nationally on "Earth Night". The screening will take place at 5pm at the end of the Festival just after the live on stage interview with Canada's international award-winning Tar Sands photographer and TEDx sensation, Garth Lenz.

Additional speakers include Supervisor Kate Sears, Blogger James Bikes Green Sievert of Safe Routes to Schools, Planning Commissioner and Marin Grassroots Associate Director Ericka Erickson, Damon Connolly / San Rafael City Council and Marin Energy Authority, Peter Joseph / Citizens Climate Lobby, Peter Barnes / International thought leader and author of “Climate Solutions: A Citizen’s Guide”, Peter Asmus / microgrid and renewable energy expert, Tamra Peters / Resilient Neighborhoods, Lori Grace of Sunrise Center and Adam Scow of Food and Water Watch on fracking in the bay area, David Escobar, Betsy Bueno and Irving Magallan of Viviendo Verde Ya, Jack Broadbent / CEO of BAAQMD on black carbon and how it impacts us

This will be a fun, free event for all ages featuring comedy with Swami Beyondananda, music, inspiring speakers, actions to take, Sea Party – a carnival for children created by Greenwood School 7th and 8th graders, delicious, affordable local organic food for all diets and preferences from Drake’s Bay Oysters, Lydia’s OrganicsBarbary Coast Bistro, Kara's Cupcakes, comedy and more.

Performers include rising star Matt Jaffe (opened for Tommy Castro, Graham Parker), Sol Doc (Far West Fest), Dore Coller (Savannah Blu, Jerry Garcia, Youngbloods), Spark & Whisper (Kate Wolf Festival), Peter Asmus of Space Debris (Whole Earth Fest) and you – join in with carbon free acoustic jams at 11:30 and 3pm – bring your string or wind instruments. There will be puppet shows from Next Generation at 1 and 4pm and Miwok music and instruments at 11:30 and 2pm from American Indian Museum/Camp Coyote. Plus games, facepainting, hands on fun and more.

Join in with a fun (and pretty flat) group bike ride to Earth Day Marin from The Bicycle Works in San Anselmo to the event in Larkspur, led by Renee Goddard, Jelani Bertoni and Mountain Biking Hall of Famer Jacquie Phelan. Celebratory attire encouraged. Secure Valet Bicycle Parking Provided By Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

Earth Day Marin is a nonprofit free event produced by Hannah Doress Events, and is a fiscal project of MarinLink

Visit http://www.EarthDayMarin.org for more details. 

RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook now: https://www.facebook.com/events/135614633280557/

Invite your friends in Spanish: https://www.facebook.com/events/236674873140416/ 

Volunteer: http://www.earthdaymarin.org/involved.html

Donate: http://www.earthdaymarin.org/donate.html

Exhibit (limited space still available): http://www.earthdaymarin.org/sponsors.html

Fan us: https://www.facebook.com/earthdaymarin

Friend us: EarthDay Marin on Facebook 

Follow us: @EarthDayMarin 

Earth Day Marin is supported by private donors, sponsors and inkind partners including MCEMarin TransitSunrise CenterCitizen’s Climate LobbyGood Green MovingLilyPad SGS – Small Green Spaces, Resilient NeighborhoodsMarin Sanitary ServiceConservation Corps North BayZero Waste MarinBay Area Air Quality District/Spare the AirThe Pacific SunMarin County Bicycle CoalitionUnited Parcel ServiceCentral Marin Sanitation AgencyLas Gallinas Valley Sanitation DistrictNovato Sanitation DistrictSewerage Agency of Southern MarinSausalito-Marin City Sanitation DistrictSanitary District No. 5 – Tiburon and BelvedereMarin Independent Journal, Transportation Authority of Marin, Bradley Real EstateMarin Municipal Water DistrictALLY Electric and SolarIn Defense of Animals,Viviendo Verde YaFamilies for Clean Air, Transportation Authority of Marin, Stagehand Systems, GREENUP LEARNINGGathering ThymeLiving Tree Community FoodsCurious Jane CampA1 Sun Inc., Mary’s Organic Chicken, The Bicycle Works, Mayacamas Mountain Spring WaterLocal Music VibeAdvanced Home EnergyWACCOBB.net, Rich Frye PhotographyMill Valley ServicesUrban Bird DesignOn the One MerchIsbridge.com, iGreen Woman Magazine, KWMR and MyWebPresenceNow.comGood Earth Natural Foods is the 2013 T-shirt Sponsor. If you feel mobilizing Marin residents to take positive action on climate change solutions is important, please make a donation. Volunteers who give 3 hours or more and donors who give $35 will receive a free t-shirt while supplies last.

Earth Day Marin is a Zero Waste event thanks to the major sponsorship of Marin Sanitary Service,Conservation Corps North Bay and Zero Waste Marin. Funding to support this effort also comes from CalRecycle and the County of Marin JPA Zero Waste Grant.

Earth Day Marin’s host committee includes Haideh Sobhi, Holly and Larry Bragman, Peter Joseph, Rachel Ginis, Susan Goldsborough, members of Citizen’s Climate Lobby, E. Ilana Trumble, Lac, Jonathan Cook, Susan Arati, Rich Frye, Alia Stenback, Barbara Monty, Marnie Glickman, David Curtis and Stacie Saraswati, Wayne and Kathleen Stranton, Amber Merino, Fiona Gillan, Belynda Webb Marks, Erin Duggan, Monica Bonny, Jen Jones and Meegan lee Ochs among others. Members of the public are invited to become a host of Earth Day Marin by committing to attend and invite their friends. Visit http://www.earthdaymarin.org/host.html for details.

 

Earth Day Marin leadership includes:

Director: Hannah Doress

Production Planner: Meredith Law

Sponsorship Director: Nina Carlin

Marketing Manager: Alejandro Morales

 

Earth Day Marin Advisors:

Earth Day Marin Director Hannah Doress is a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program and principal of Hannah Doress Events. She is well known for her work as Events Programmer at San Geronimo Valley Community Center and for her promotional efforts for the Dipsea Hike for Zero Breast Cancer. She lives in Fairfax with her wife, Soprano Emily Bender and their son, chicken farmer Abraham Bender-Doress.

Earth Day Marin is also promoting an April Series of Events. Please visit http://www.EarthDayMarin.org for more information. 

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