Thanks Barry. These are interesting topics you bring up!

Survey Results – ”Climate Change – Fact or Fiction”
http://barryonenergy.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/climate-change-fact-or-fiction-global-warming/

This posting is a summary of the results of an informal Survey I designed and conducted 4Q2009, though the results may be outdate, it does serve as a framework for discussions.

The results are provided in several sections consisting of:
I. SURVEY – AS POSTED,
II. RESULTS,
III. NOTES,
IV. SUMMARY,
V. PERSONAL COMMENTS, AND
VI. EXCERPTS FROM VARIOUS COMMENTS

I. SURVEY – AS POSTED

This survey was designed to better understand how members feel towards Climate Change. For the purpose of this survey, ”Climate Change” is that induced by human activities. Also, as used in this survey, ”Remediation” is understood to include governmental controls taken through regulations and laws.

Please indicate your choice by placing an ”X” in front of the appropriate number. After selecting your choice, please feel free to post any relevant comments.

___ 1. ”Climate Change” is a problem that requires immediate remediation by all countries only if a worldwide accord has been reached.
___ 2. ”Climate Change” is a problem that requires immediate remediation by each individual country, independent of a worldwide accord.
___ 3. ”Climate Change” is a problem that requires immediate remediation through a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and China, only.
___ 4. ”Climate Change” is a problem that requires immediate control by the U.S., independent of a worldwide accord.
___ 5. ”Climate Change” is a problem that needs a worldwide accord before any remediation is taken, even if takes another 5 years.
___ 6. ”Climate Change” is a problem that needs a worldwide accord before any remediation is taken by any country including the U.S. and China, even if takes 10 years.
___ 7. ”Climate Change” maybe a problem that should be watched over the next 10 years before any debate is taken by any country including the U.S. and China..
___ 8. ”Climate Change” lacks evidence, not a problem and requires no action by any country including the U.S. and China.
___ 9. ”Climate Change” is an illusion and should be taken out of the vocabulary.

II. RESULTS

A. General Information:

1. Survey was restricted to 50 LinkedIn Groups.
2. Approximately 80% of the LinkedIn groups sampled were ”Energy” related.
3. Total Number of Groups Responding from Posting in 50 Groups: 38 (66%)
4. Total Number of Comments Received: 1107
5. Total Number of Responses Received with a Clear Choice Given: 343 (31%)
6. Number of Responses Received with a Choice Given >9: 16 (5%)
7. Responses Received as Private Emails from LinkedIn Member: 53
8. Additional Responses Received as Private Emails from LinkedIn Member: 53
9. Number of Pages at Arial (10 pt), Single Spaced: 369

B. Data:

Individual Choices – by Rank
Choice………..%
2…………..48.4%
8…………..15.2%
9…………..13.4%
7…………..11.1%
1…………….6.1%
4…………….3.2%
7…………….1.7%
5 ……………0.9%
6…………….0.6%

Combined Choices – Three Groupings
Choices……….%
1,2,3,4……58.9%
7,8,9………39.7%
5,6…………..1.5%

Logical breaks dictated by a demarcation between those who believe Climate Change requires action: ”IMMEDIATELY” (Choices 1, 2, 3 and 4), ”WITH IN 10 YEARS” Choices 5 and 6) and ”MORE THAT 10 YEARS” (Choices 7, 8 and 9).

Combined Choices – Two Groupings
Choices………………%
1,2,3,4,5,6…….60.3%
7,8,9…………….39.7%

Logical break dictated by a demarcation between those who believe Climate Change ”IS” and ”MAY NOT” be a problem.

III. NOTES

1. Percentages (%) determined from respondents that selected a Choice.
2. Respondents providing multiple Choices were tallied in the lower or higher Choice that best matched their comment.
3. Choices given >9 (not a survey Choice) were included in Choice 9, but noted separately.
4. This survey was not designed, executed and polled on a scientific basis.
5. Best effort was made to accurately record, tabulate and summarize the responses.. Unintentional errors may exist due to the copious amount of responses and the manual method of tabulation.

IV. SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Nearly forty-nine (49%) percent of the respondents reported that they believe ”Climate Change” is a problem that requires immediate remediation by each individual country, independent of a worldwide accord. Choice #2

As a distant second, fifteen (15%) percent of the respondents felt that Climate Change” lacks evidence, not a problem and requires no action by any country including the U.S. and China. Choice #8.

Thirteen (13%) percent of respondents indicated ”Climate Change” is an illusion that should be taken out of the vocabulary. Choice #9

Combined, about fifty-nine (59%) percent of respondents felt that ”Climate Change is a problem that requires immediate action. Choices 1,2,3 and 4.

Combined, nearly forty (40%) percent of respondents felt that ”Climate Change” is possibly not a problem and no action is required within the next 10 years. Choices 7, 8 and 9.

Combined, less that 2% of the respondents felt that ”Climate Change” is a problem and some action should take place within the next 10 years. Choices 5 and 6.

Similar percentages of 60% and 40% were given by respondents when choices were combined into two groups consisting of those that consider ”Climate Change” ”IS” and ”IS NOT” a problem, respectively. Choices 1, 2, 3 ,4 and 5 (IS) verses Choices 7, 8, and 9 (IS NOT).

V. PERSONAL SUMMARY AND COMMENTS

The most obvious conclusion of this survey is the extreme polarization of people into two camps of about equal size (60 % vs. 40%)

Notably, in a strong reflection of recent scientifically structured polls on this subject, this survey showed a similar trend that a large number of people believe that Global Warming is a natural cycle of the Earth rather than the result of human activity.
See Gallup Poll (http://www.gallup.com/poll/126560/Americans-Global-Warming-Concerns-Continue-Drop.aspx).

With strong and unwavering beliefs on both sides, the challenge is not to change beliefs but to find a uniform path that achieves separate goals for a collective win-win solution. One away is move from ”Climate Change – Fact or Fiction,” to ”Economics. – Strength or Weakness.” It is useless to argue whether anthropogenic GHG emissions cause climate changes or global warming. However, agreement can be reached by looking at the economics of exporting dollars for foreign oil. The answer is plain dollars and cents and not El Niño, La Niña, unseasonable climate conditions, hurricanes, melting ice, non-attainment zones, etc. For the most part, how much is spent, how much is owed and how much is in the bank is undisputable. Just, ”Follow the Money.”

To the extent that the U.S. uses petroleum and other oil derived products, the nation exports about $2 million a minute, $117 billion a month and more than $1 trillion a year for foreign oil (all countries: Persian Gulf, OPEC and Non OPEC). Since viable alternate energy options exist, why is it so difficult for the U.S. to expand usage. Europe and other countries are able to do so. Without exception, continuing this path is economic suicide. Significant reductions in the amount we spend on foreign oil will: stimulate the economic landscape; keep dollars in the U.S. for job creation, R&D, development and manufacturing; and by the way reduce GHG emissions.

This is not to imply that the transition from foreign oil to renewable and sustainable forms of energy has not started. It has but at a snail’s pace. With the abundance of affordable (with a little help from Uncle Sam) and reliable alternative solutions, the U.S. should be moving much faster.

For the most part, no technological breakthroughs are needed to use the vast supply of natural gas under our feet, nuclear energy, domestically made solar panels, wind turbines and adopting across the board energy efficiency measures. The lack of infrastructure keeps coming up as a reason for the freeze on using natural gas as a fuel for vehicles. Had the U.S. allocated $15 billion from the ARRA for natural gas fueling station, at least 15,000 natural gas filling stations could have been built across the nation. By design this would create jobs for land developers, civil engineers, architects, local equipment manufacturers, construction companies, station owners and workers.

It is not so surprising that a key impediment comes from our own government and regulatory agencies, such as the EPA. In some cases, the regulations make it so costly and difficult to adopt alternatives, that cheap foreign oil, remains the best option.

The question comes up ”What is the true cost of petroleum?” In simple terms, the everyday price of oil does not reflect many hidden costs, such as the escalating trade deficit, decline in foreign investment in T-Bills, added health-care and protection of our overseas oil supply lines by the DoD. There is also the duality of purchasing oil from petro-oligarchs with regimes, which may conflict with U.S. interests. One can argue with credibility and certainty that our government is subsidizing the oil industry and other sovereign nations.

Finally, in terms of GHG emissions, there is no question that carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride are GHGs. However. water vapor, which is a more abundant and effective greenhouse gas is not generally discussed in the context of regulations. The EPA characterizes water vapor as a strong GHG. However, it is removed from the regulated list on the pretext that water vapor results from climatic feedbacks related to the warming of the atmosphere rather than a direct result of industrialization.

In closing, whether GHGs are the cause of climate change or global warming, is therefore questionable but the simple fact remains – WHY GAMBLE ON THE FUTURE when alternatives exist that result in economic and environmental vitality.

VI. EXCERPTS FROM VARIOUS COMMENTS

Climate has always changed and always will……………..

Placing the blame for climate change solely on mankind is ignorant…………….

Climate change will occur on our planet regardless to what we do…

The question is do we continue to implement harmful technologies and contribute additional greenhouse gases which we know in cases can cause negative effects?

This survey is irrelevant. Whether you believe there is climate change or not, there is very little you can do about it.

I believe human activity is contributing closer to 3% of the total CO2 emissions. Kinetics will tell us that this should not cause doubling the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. If man has done anything wrong it is not CO2 emission it is deforestation.

The argument in political and populist circles seems to have taken an almost religious tone, ”do you believe….”. Much like creation and evolution, one topic is about faith and belief, the other is about science.

”Dozens of scientists are demanding that their names be removed from a widely distributed Heartland Institute article entitled 500 Scientists with Documented Doubts of Man-Made Global Warming Scares.” I will look some more.

___ 10. ”Climate Change” is a scare tactic and a political instrument that is being used to redistribute wealth from the rich nations, primarily the USA to poor nations, with the poor nations having no cap on the amount of pollution they can produce.

___ 11. ”Climate Change” is a natural occurrence in nature, as we have had both warming and cooling periods through out history. Science has proven this.

___ 12. ”Change” is a natural occurrence in the earth’s life-cycle, as is continental drift, creation of mountains, desserts, erosion and the rising and falling of the tides.

Worse than marketing. Perpetuating Ignorance. Non-Stop bombardment of mis-information & ill defined real explanations.

Personally remove all the hype controversy, political and vested interests and I believe we are already in serious trouble, satellite images past and present are not reassuring

Since carbon dioxide is 3% of the total and humans contribute a WHOPPING .038 of the 3%. I would be concerned as well… Wow!

It’s a complete illusion, and serves no other purpose than to construct a new trade commodity, namely – carbon credits.

Climate change is real, has been going on since the the beginning of time and it is only the arrogance of a few to think they can change conditions of planet.

__X__ 10. ”Climate Change” is real, but the cause is not clear. Both the cause and the possible actions to address and adapt to it deserve serious and thoughtful study.

Climate Change – Let’s see, 25,000 years ago, the Great Lakes was covered by an ice sheet 5,000 feet thick.

Care for the world that we have been allowed to live on is the responsibility of every human being. It is not governments, countries or others that need to treat other human beings, living things and earth with respect it is the duty of everyone to treat our home with care and respect.

”…Even if we do not yet fully understand all the mechanisms of climate change, we do understand enough of it to know that it is a serious problem…”

Green and renewable energy simply makes sense.

The only hurdle, then, is to make international direct investment in green technology into a valid business proposition.

So that we get to know each other, please introduce yourself to the group. Shed light on who you are, both professionally and personally. No structure, do as you see fit. Just have fun and get know your fellow members. One thing we do know about each other is a shared interest in climate change. This common thread creates a fabric upon which we either – believe, question, or disbelieve in climate change and/or anthropogenic climate change.

Here I go.

My background is all about innovation, commercialization and moving technology into the marketplace. Overall, my value lies in judiciously leading technology driven startups and mature ventures through ideation, development and commercialization to provide superior products ahead of the competition and deliver bottom line results.

I am defined by:

• Over 25 years of proven highly productive senior management and business / product development experience leading globally competitive and demanding environments to higher levels of profitability and growth with RCA, CBS, Eastman Kodak, Memory-Tech a Mitsubishi joint venture, Alcon Labs., RadioShack and TBD America, Inc. a technology business development group.

• Leading R&D, engineering, development, manufacturing, operational, sales and marketing organizations as well as international cross functional activities to higher levels of productivity and quality and ultimately to critically acclaimed products. Former invertor and rights holder of Kodak’s Photo CD.

• Managing a wide variety of revenue-generating ventures with more profitable product lines including several high-tech manufacturing start-ups.

• A depth and breadth of experience in the natural gas, renewable energy, utility scale solar and wind power generation stations, consumer electronics, chemicals & plastics, advanced materials, medical device, technology and manufacturing industries.

• Other accomplishments, including five U.S. patents, many publications, presentations and receipt of several recognition awards for turning creativity into reality.

• Earning a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Rutgers University – Newark, a M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry from Rutgers University – New Brunswick, and a B.S. in Science (triple-major: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) from Fairleigh Dickenson University where I graduated Magna Cum Laude.

• My wife of 38 years, two grown and happily married children and one beautiful, fun and loving granddaughter. Being a grandpa is so enriching and rewarding.

In closing, I am an avid writer on the technical, political, social, economic and environmental impact of renewable and sustainable energy in America and around the world.

Now it’s your turn.

Dear Fellow Members,

Last week I was appointed moderator of Comment:Visions’ Climate Change networking group, aka CCNG.

CCG offers our Members a place to meet, interact, and share ideas with each other. Our charter is to encourage debate on how we approach the environmental and energy challenges that we face.

Diversity and differences of opinion are healthy and affords a framework to grow upon. I ask all members to respect the feelings and ideas of others. In such a controversial subject like climate change, this can be rather difficult. So let’s lean on each other, be supportive, learn and have fun. Treat others how we would like to be treated.

The website is includes:
• Streaming of the Comment:Visions programme that airs on euronews in the first week of each month, and which interviews visionaries on different aspects of the energy and environmental debate.
• Videos and transcripts from the Comment:Visions events, in Brussels.
• An on-line forum where invited, informed guests can share their opinions and visions on different topics.

I look forward to your participation in our Climate Change Networking group. Ask you colleagues and associated to join.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at: barry@tbdamericainc.com

In closing, I share with you something I developed during my career. If you keep this in mind, it can help formulate ideas and provide a mechanism to address others’ ideas and feelings.

”Knowledge comes from finding the answers to questions, but understanding the meaning of those answers is what brings wisdom.”

I appreciate your support and consideration.

Many thanks,
Barry

Who is more responsible for combating climate change — nation-states or local governments?

See article I found: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=local-governments-lead-efforts-to-combat-climate-change