Bill McKibben and Henry Paulson Agree

Both are convinced that we need to act now if we are to survive climate change. Both cite a study of the West Antarctic ice sheet that shows that water is eating away at this ice sheet. Couple this with the numerous reports of the Arctic seas melting. As this photo shows, you gotta problem, my friend.



Surprisingly, Paulson seems more anxious and results-driven than McKibben.  He compares the climate change crisis with the Great Recession and concludes we are making the same mistakes in that we are refusing to acknowledge that there is, in fact, a crisis. As with the Great Recession, we can't afford to keep ignoring that fact. Nor can we assume that other nations will act without some strong action by us. We must act now.

His initial action is a carbon tax. He admits that the details need to be worked out, but he seems to be of the mind that half a loaf is better than none. The tax would likely lead to innovation leading to technological benefits and jobs.

Key to Paulson's efforts is cooperation between the United State and China. As he says,

The key is cooperation between the United States and China — the two biggest economies, the two biggest emitters of carbon dioxide and the two biggest consumers of energy.When it comes to developing new technologies, no country can innovate like America. And no country can test new technologies and roll them out at scale quicker than China. 

His conclusion is worth quoting:

Climate change is the challenge of our time. Each of us must recognize that the risks are personal. We’ve seen and felt the costs of underestimating the financial bubble. Let’s not ignore the climate bubble.