energy climate era
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Highlights of Thomas Friedman's arguments in "Hot, Flat, and Crowded." Lecture prepared by Dr. LaRae Donnellan and shared with her students at Florida A&M UniversityTRANSCRIPT
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Thomas FriedmanHot, Flat, and Crowded
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Industrial Revolution ◦ 18th century◦ CO2 fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
◦ 280 ppm Transportation Revolution
◦ 20th century◦ Urbanization/suburbanization◦ 2007, 384 ppm◦ 2009, 390.18 ppm
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
NASA GISS (i.e. http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/)
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
PCs – Individuals as authors Internet/WWW/browsers Work flow revolution
What’s happened?◦ People rise out of poverty.◦ They consume more.◦ They demand more energy.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
1950: 2.5 billion Today: 6.7 billion people 2050: 9.2 billion people
Who? Where? ◦ Young people◦ Less-developed countries◦ Cities (unprepared for them)
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
1. Growing demand for scarcer resources
2. Petrodictators getting richer3. Disruptive climate change4. Energy poverty (electricity
haves & have-nots)5. Rapidly accelerating
biodiversity loss
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Global energy consumption grew 5% per year from 1951-1970.◦ Post-World War II growth in
U.S., Europe, Japan
2001-2020◦ China, India, other developing
countries consuming more.◦ Infrastructure is energy-intensive.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
1973, 1980, 1990◦ Wars, revolution in Middle East◦ Offset by “shock absorbers”
Spare crude oil Spare refining capacity Spare oil product inventory
2004◦ Sudden leap in demand from China;
no shock absorbers 2008 – skyrocketed prices
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
2.4 billion people living on $2 or less per day.◦ Millions striving for/getting
better lives.◦ Creates enormous demand
for resources. Why law of supply & demand
didn’t work.◦ Subsidies for energy & food
kept prices artificially low.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
We exported our lifestyle (“affluenza”).◦ 2-3x as many living our lifestyle
by 2050.◦ Europe & Japan middle class
consume less.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Most capitalistic country?◦ Communism & socialism were
systems of restraint.◦ Urbanization plan changed things. ◦ Per capita consumption is 11x less
than in U.S., but newly urbanized Chinese will consume 3 ½ x what rural Chinese will consume.
Missing manhole covers◦ What does that mean?
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Lecturing others won’t work. Redefine middle class
lifestyle.◦ Invent sustainability tools &
spread know-how. Eliminate concept of waste.
◦ Stop “downcycling.”◦ Make everything reusable or
biodegradable.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Massive transfer of wealth◦ From energy-consuming countries
to energy-producing countries Implications
◦ Gives power & money to conservative hardliners.
◦ Finances antidemocratic trends.◦ Fuels ugly energy scramble.◦ Funds both sides of the war on
terror.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Rise in Saudi fundamentalist Salafi “desert” Islam.◦ Women’s rights◦ Performing arts◦ Education funding
Rise in revolutionary Shiite Islam from Iran.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
“As the price of oil goes up, the pace of freedom goes down; and as the price of oil goes down, the pace of freedom goes up.”
Countries◦ Bahrain & Lebanon 1st to run out.◦ Angola, Nigeria, Iran, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Indonesia, Gabon, Egypt, Burma
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Thomas Friedman, “The First Law of Petropolitics,” Foreign Affairs 154 (May-June 2006): pp. 28-36.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Taxation effect◦ Relieves social pressures◦ No taxation or representation
Spending effect◦ Greater patronage, less demand
for democracy Group formation effect
◦ Prevents independent groups
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Repression effect◦ More police, security forces
Antimodernization effect◦ Hire others; women held back
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
We still need petroleum-based products (plastics, fertilizers).
We need plentiful renewable energy sources◦ Reduce global demand for oil◦ Oil-rich states will have to diversify
their economies Second Law of Petropolitics
◦ Effective policy realists must be environmentalists.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
IPCC Report:◦ Global warming IS REAL.
Increase in temperature since 1950 caused by humans.
Without dramatic reduction in CO2 by 2012, climate change may bring “abrupt or irreversible” effects.
◦ Hurricane Katrina fed by warmer Gulf waters.
“Avoid the unmanageable & manage the unavoidable.”
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Philosophical question◦ Are hurricanes acts of god …
or man?◦ Are warm winter days a gift …
or a price we’re paying?
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Things are worse than predicted. ◦ “Chicken Little” syndrome?
Hard to grasp exponential change (tipping points)
Three stages of skepticism◦ You’re wrong; I can prove it.◦ You’re right, but who cares?◦ It’s too late to do anything.
Wrong thinking
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
“Global warming” is a misnomer.◦ Not uniform or gradual.◦ Unusual weather events
occurring rapidly. Need for “thematic,” not just
“episodic” stories.◦ Meteorologists are the key.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Access to electricity is essential to compete, connect, collaborate.
Creating a world of energy haves and have-nots.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
1 of 4 don’t have electricity.◦ Dark nights for 1.6 billion people.◦ 75% of Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding
South Africa)◦ 50% of South Asia (90% of rural)
Indoor air pollution◦ 1.6 million deaths/year
Ineffective utilities◦ Caused by misgovernance and/or war◦ Perpetuates social inequality
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Being energy-poor is not what it used to be.◦ Hot world: more punishing.◦ Flat world: can’t compete.◦ Crowded world: can’t thrive.
The poor will suffer most. We need to tap into their
creativity & innovation.◦ Get balance between localization
& globalization.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Deforestation ◦ Losing an acre/second
Species disappearing
Biodiversity tipping point?◦ 2006 loss of the river dolphin –
first GENUS loss in 50 years
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
We’re causing the flood & must save species by creating “arks.”◦ One species goes extinct every
20 minutes.◦ Natural cures, industrial
materials, biological insights? Ecosystem services
◦ Provide fresh water, filter pollutants, provide breeding grounds, buffer storms, take in CO2, etc.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Humans are the only species that no animal or plant depends on for survival.◦ We need the web of life to survive –
it doesn’t need us. Biodiversity is about saving
humanity.◦ “Later is over.”◦ We’d better start saving now!
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
Sought peace & security, economic development, human rights.
Ignored environmental imperative.◦ Kyoto Protocol in 1997
Can’t have one without the other.
Lecture Notes Prepared by Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, Florida A&M University
What’s Next? What do you think needs to be done? What are YOU willing to do?
To contact your elected officials, go to:http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml