Climate Courage
Courage: the ability to do something that frightens one. In Chapter 1 (“Reframing the Narrative”) of Climate Courage (Beacon Press), author Andreas Karelas quotes Dr. Kate Marvel, a climate scientist, who says, “We need courage, not hope, to face climate change.”
We are in an era of major change, which can be scary. However, what is more concerning is losing our quality of life if we do not begin to really confront the climate issue, and soon. Yet, Karelas is excited nowadays and one reason is that clean energy jobs are already the fastest growing sector of the economy.
Climate Courage is a smartly crafted read that is easily accessible, with a hopeful message highlighting the bright spots in this fight. A lot of ground is covered in the book, and it is very timely given both Earth Day plus having a new Administration strongly focused on tackling the climate crisis and its push for clean energy jobs through its infrastructure bill.
At the outset, Karelas says the climate fight is not a left or right issue and that most U.S. citizens view it similarly, with over two-thirds of Americans understanding that climate change is real and caused by humans. What’s more, 85 percent of citizens want 100 percent clean energy and for their elected officials to take action on this critical issue. 85 percent! There aren’t many issues these days that have that many sharing the same opinion.
As a seasoned campaigner from Maine, the book really lays out some key points reminding us not to give up and that the climate issue is one about humanity, as the clock is ticking. We all see the weather changes and the impacts on the environment worldwide. Andreas says we can and need to come together and empowers us through our shared values of wanting to protect the environment while also helping the economy through even our own local efforts.
An example of such an effort is the author’s own nonprofit. Karelas walks the walk as the founder of RE-volv.org, a clean energy leader that helps get solar energy into nonprofits in neighborhoods across the country. That work is implemented by their ambassador program of college students and others, thus helping to substantially lower the electric bills of the nonprofits it assists.
Climate Courage essentially says we need to embrace clean energy ourselves. Karelas cites five of the top six companies in America have already done so by investing in clean energy without government support. This, despite the infrastructure bill being fought back by a handful of fossil fuel companies. More forward-thinking companies see long-term savings in clean energy.
Andreas says this is America’s chance to be a worldwide leader in clean energy technology, which could spur major growth in some two million high-paying union jobs. He also believes we will get to 100 percent clean energy and, when we do, there will be $1 trillion in annual savings for people in their energy bills. Already, two cities are 100 percent clean energy powered: Burlington, VT, and Georgetown, TX. He highlighted the Sierra Club’s “Ready for 100” campaign efforts, which now sees results in that one-third of Americans actually live in a place where they have obtained 100 percent clean energy commitments by their local elected officials.
Toward the end, Karelas argues that a shift needs to happen in our consumer-focused society, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who in 1967 aptly noted, “if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values.” Karelas added, “it’s not going to be easy to change the values of our culture, but nothing of great benefit comes easily. It will be worth it. It will pay more dividends than we could ever imagine. A stable climate, a clean, healthy environment. More caring for each other, more sharing of resources, more concern for the well-being of others.”
Isn’t that what we all want, deep down, for us and for future generations?
