Needed: Vision and a Plan

 What differentiates us from people like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and the Walton’s of Walmart? Obviously, one thing is a giant difference in wealth. But what was the key ingredient which created their opportunity?  It was vision, an ability to see, “Over the Horizon”. They then applied science to meet what they envisioned would create opportunity.

I would like to note I have criticisms of their companies, Amazon, Microsoft, and Walmart.  I do not put these people, nor their companies, on pedestals. But, for the purposes of this article, I would like to note they all rose from relatively humble beginnings, worked hard to educate themselves, and developed an ability to see the future. Jeff Bezos was not born into money and was, at one time, a short order breakfast line-cook at McDonalds. Bill Gates was a small kid and a victim of bullying. Sam Walton grew up during the depression on a farm where he, like most kids of his generation, participated in numerous tough chores to keep his family’s financial heads above water. All pursued education and from this developed strategic vision.

While I use business visionaries as an example of why individuals who “See” the future thrive and survive, I could have used military leaders who imagined and built their weapon systems around threats and opportunities they foresaw.  Just today I spoke with a friend, a retired officer who worked in the Pentagon.  His job was to look over the horizon. He lobbied his superiors to plan 20 years out. Today he regrets he did not insist they plan further out.

The same examination via history reveals successful national leaders had vision.

What does Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and the descendants of Sam Walton see on the horizon today? Probably a lot of things but one thing they see clearly, and what should unite us, is the storm clouds of climate change.

Unfortunately, in our rapidly changing world, many of us are susceptible to short sighted arguments. Some of these arguments are made with genuine concern but fail to see “Over the Horizon”.

The recent comment by State Representative Greg Markkanen, regarding Enbridge’s Line 5, is an example of a political messaging which fails to see the big picture. I agree with him we have short-term fossil fuel needs. But he does not acknowledge the danger of burning them. He fails to communicate the link between burning fossil fuels and the continued destruction of our benign climate and the inevitable suffering our children will endure if we do not create a plan to transition away from fossil fuels.

Scientists are, and have been, threatening us with the consequences of burning coal, oil, gas and propane for decades. These are no longer over the horizon threats but disasters happening almost daily. Scientists tell us we have 20 maybe 30 years to phase out fossil fuels to head off uncontrollable consequences. I will be 70 soon. Statistics say I can expect to live, by the grace of God, another 10 to 20 years. Whether we make the transition to clean energy or not, I am mildly confident someone will slide me into my coffin before I suffer the ravages of a deteriorating climate.

But, what about the young? Those who cannot yet vote? Or the yet to be born? Scientist have correctly predicted the rise of global temperatures. Scientists failed to accurately predict when the resultant extreme weather would strike. Extreme weather, pumped up on pollution, is happening more than 30 years earlier than predicted.

It sickens me we may eventually import the world’s dirtiest climate corrupting oil via Line 5, the Alberta Tar Sands. But the BIG question is not if, or if not, a new Line 5 is built. It is, “When will we gather the moral courage to create and implement a PLAN, including legislation, which empowers us to close ALL valves on ALL fossil fuel pipelines in 20 to 30 years?”

I commend State Representative Markkannen’s concern for our short-term needs. He is correct in cautioning us and Governor Whitmer on Line 5.  He is not, though, demonstrating vision.

We cannot blame our representatives for lack of vision if we continue to fail to be visionaries ourselves. If we lead by expressing our science based moral concerns, I am confident politicians will carry out our demands.  We cannot expect them to create science-based policy if we show no effort to be science-based visionaries ourselves.

We have political visionaries in action today. Fortunately, the Biden Administration is healing our Federal Science Institutions which have been ravaged the last four years. These rejuvenated organizations with scientists and engineers worldwide are developing solutions.

Gates, Bezos, and the Walton Family are still visionaries. They see the need to act on climate today. Will we? Can we become climate/energy visionaries? Just remember anyone who talks energy and omits climate is not demonstrating vision. We are obliged, by duty to the common good, to point this out whenever it is omitted in conversation.

We are now challenged, not with the success of a business, nor a national military, nor a nation-state. We are, for the first time in human history, confronted with a planetary emergency. It is an emergency we can solve with our God given ability of vision, moral courage, and resolve.

A book by a visionary: “How to Avoid a Climate Catastrophe” by Bill Gates.

Advice by the National Academies of Science: Downloadable: “A Consensus Study: Accelerating Decarbonization of the U.S. Energy System” via the National Academies Press. (NAP)