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 Michael Oppenheimer is the Albert G. Milbank professor of geosciences and international affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School and the Department of Geosciences at Princeton University. He's also a long-time participant in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Here, he shares his views on climate change and how we can do our part. Q: You say "there's no magic bullet" that's going to get us out of the climate problem, but "a lot of small pieces that can be put together." What pieces are you talking about? A: The first steps are also money-savers. If you drive a car that has fuel economy; purchase high-efficiency light bulbs and appliances; paint your roof silver to reflect the sun and use less a/c; plant extra trees, which eat CO2 and shade your home. Q: What about in the near future? A: Then eventually we'll get to another phase in 20 or 30 years where we'll be implementing technology like carbon capture and storage, burying carbon emissions underground, perhaps using advanced forms of nuclear power, and converting sunlight into energy. These are the things we have technology for, but they are untested. Q: How is the average Joe affected by things that are happening worldwide? A: Well, we have record heat, drought in the Southwest, more fires, less water, rising sea levels drowning the wetlands, as well as a complete remake of how the U.S. looks. That's a start. Q: What do you do to help the environment? A: I live in Manhattan, so I don't have a car -- that's one thing. I buy the most efficient appliances. I recycle. Almost every light bulb at home is a compact fluorescent bulb. But it's not about being a saint. Q: Do you find that your friends make it a point to recycle around you -- that you're like an environmental policeman at a dinner party? A: My attitude is nobody's perfect. I'm not holier than thou; I'm not holier than anybody. You do what you can do as an individual. Q:Do you still come across people who think global warming is a liberal creation? A: I hear less and less of that. At least, people don't say it around me! I think the science is really solid, and the analyses show that most people believe that global warming is real and changes must be made. Q: The giant snowstorms in China have had people saying, "So much for global warming." What would be your response to that? A: One of the predictions is that under global warming, rain AND snowstorms become more intense, but the snow season shrinks. That means in the middle of winter, there could well be some heavy, heavy snowstorms. Q: Do you think countries like China and India are being let off the hook by the same people who are castigating the U.S.? A: I look at the U.S. and China as two sides of the same coin -- both use large amounts of fossil fuels and both pollute the Earth. But the U.S. has been polluting the world for 200 years, and China just started. They won't change unless we do. Q: Will the electric car change the way we look at the automobile? A: I'm not sure. So far they haven't fulfilled their promise, in that the batteries that allow the cars to travel long distances are not available. Though there are better batteries being developed now. This is another case where the government can't choose technology. Years ago, California chose the electric car, but the technology wasn't ready for it to make a breakthrough. It turned out the hybrid car was the way to go. Q: Of all the achievements you've made in your field, what are you the most proud of? A: I guess I'm really proud of the scientific community coming together for the IPCC. It made me proud of my fellow scientists. |
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