book.chapter Current position overview

The world is currently facing a self-inflicted crisis as several trends converge, creating unstable conditions. At the same time, America is dealing with its own unique challenges, having lost its sense of direction in recent times. The optimal solution for America's problem lies in leading the resolution of the world's major issues. If America can develop the necessary tools, systems, energy sources, and ethical frameworks to enable sustainable global growth, it will reequip itself to thrive in the future. Three key global trends define the present era. Firstly, there is a widespread scientific consensus that our planet is undergoing a warming trend that surpasses natural fluctuations, largely attributed to human activities linked to large-scale manufacturing. This is the cumulative effect of burning fossil fuels for electricity, deforestation, significant changes in agriculture, and industrialization, all of which have led to unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Secondly, the economic landscape has somewhat leveled, enabling more individuals than ever before, from virtually anywhere in the world, to participate in the global economy. This has resulted in millions more people being classified as middle-class consumers. The catalysts for this trend have been the personal computer, digitization, the Internet, and a revolution in collaborative work practices. Thirdly, the world's population is projected to triple between 1950 and 2050, reaching over 9 billion people. The majority of this growth will occur in countries least prepared to support it, leading to a large pool of young individuals susceptible to instability and extremism. This is largely due to advancements in healthcare, disease eradication, and economic aid programs. The convergence of these three trends has ushered in a new era for the global economy, conveniently denoted by marking 2000 as the first year in the "Energy-Climate Era". The management of these three global trends or challenges is crucial. If left unaddressed, sweeping irreversible changes with the potential to affect multiple future generations will occur. New tools, infrastructure, and mindsets will be necessary to tackle these issues. Bill Collins, a climate modeler at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, warns that we're running an uncontrolled experiment on the only home we have. Michael Mandelbaum, a professor, notes that the green issue, particularly climate change, doesn't pit the rich against the poor, but rather the present against the future. Rob Watson, CEO of EcoTech International, states that we are either going to be losers or heroes – there’s no room anymore for anything in between. David Rothkopf, a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment, believes that the hallmark of thriving companies and countries is their ability to continually reinvent themselves. John Dernbach, an environmental law expert, argues that the decisions Americans make about sustainable development are not merely technical or environmental decisions, but decisions about our identity, values, and legacy. Thomas Friedman asserts that we are the first generation of Americans in the Energy-Climate Era. This is not about the whales anymore. It’s about us. And what we do about the challenges of energy and climate, conservation and preservation, will tell our kids who we really are. Stephen Schneider, a Stanford climatologist, questions whether democracy can survive complexity. That is what this energy-environmental problem represents. Michael Maniates, a professor of political science, believes that the greatest environmental problem isn't the physical changes to our environment, but the lack of leadership and initiative in addressing these issues.