In search of a better way to think about a sustainable Hawai`i, green economist Ken Stokes covers island markets and watersheds, plus systems thinking, sustainability knowledge, community initiatives, sustainable design, ecosystem management, climate change policy, and ecological footprints.
Abercrombie to KIUC: face up to climate change
Sheesh, it’s only been 18 months since Councilmember Jay Furfaro interrupted my speech to the Filipino Chamber of Commerce on Kauai’s sustainability challenges with his own rant about the uncertainties of climate change and the need to proceed with caution.
And it was only last week that The Garden Island published a puff piece on KUIC’s lobbying on behalf of “Big Coal” against the climate change bill now working its way through Congress
So, it was great to see this morning’s headline with our Congressman, Neil Abercrombe (the apparent front-runner in next year’s governor race) lecturing the KIUC board on how they must “face up to the question of climate change“.
Published by Ken on July 1st, 2009 tagged Energy, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
ebike love II: on days without cycling
Back to e-bikin‘ (yeah), after Bionx sent me a replacement wheel under warranty and suddenly the days are fun again. Bob Stehlik at Blue Planet Surf and Bionic Wheels was super at expediting the exchange (mahalo!).
Oh, and, Stehlik’s got more ebikes on Oahu or can put one together for ya…if you’re ready to step up your own cycling.
Mine is built by Sun (EZ-Sport CX) and powered with BionX (350 watt hub motor). Stehlik
Going a few weeks without cycling is one of the toughest things I’ve done, and I’m surprised at how depressing the car-only option really is.
Published by Ken on July 1st, 2009 tagged Energy, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
faster is better: on energy pathways to economic recovery
“The faster and farther California can improve energy efficiency, while accelerating deployment of renewable energy, the faster the state economy will grow and create jobs”, says a new report on “Energy Pathways” by Berkeley economist, David Roland-Holst (via next10).
If you think this sounds like greener-sooner-cheaper, you’d be right. And if you think the alternative “portends ever greater reliance on out-of-state fuel sources, and therefore greater exposure to fuel price volatility”, you’d also be right.
Just don’t tell KIUC, which recently joined “Big Coal” lobbying in DC to bash climate change legislation on the pretext of keeping energy prices down*.
Published by Ken on June 19th, 2009 tagged Energy, Climate Change | Comment now » |
indigi-new economy: Adamson on sustainability and hard times
“We will find abundance through hard times when we find each other”, says First Nation’s Rebecca Adamson.
“Abundance comes not from stuff…An indigenous system is based on prosperity, creation, kinship, and a sense of enough-ness. It is designed for sharing.”
Adamson’s wisdom flows through a marvelous interview by Sarah Van Gelder in the “New Economy” issue of Yes!
“Fear makes scarcity self-fulfilling. The more fearful, the more you go out and buy. And pretty soon you run out of money and go into debt, and pretty soon the planet runs out of natural resources and places to put all the garbage.”
Published by Ken on June 17th, 2009 tagged Best Practices, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
exploring eco-Edmonton: host with the most for sustainability
Tomorrow will be this city’s turn to shine the light on local initiatives for sustainability.
As host of ICLEI’s triennial World Congress, Edmonton has packed the day with 14 “mobile workshops” that will take the local leaders from 57 countries out into the city and region of Edmonton (by foot, bus or bicycle) to explore sustainability in action.
In a break from traditional congress proceedings, these workshops will “connect leaders by providing a stimulating and contextual networking and socialising opportunity for participants to experience several of Edmonton’s sustainable development projects firsthand.” Want inspiration? Checkout Edmonton’s many collaborating stakeholder groups’ inter-linked initiatives.
Published by Ken on June 15th, 2009 tagged Best Practices, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
energy performance in the tropics: on ceiling fans and retrofits
Our little treehouse is blessed (not) with black asphalt shingles, and enjoys shading only until 1PM, plus there are no ceiling air vents, so we’re big fans of big fans.
Venting the hot air which shouldn’t have accumulated in the first place, is a huge energy drain for us…since we use 2 ceiling fans, 2 window fans, and 4 face fans during a large fraction of our day.
Fact is, fans are our #3 energy user, right behind our water heater and refrigerator.
So, I’ve been looking at fans from an energy efficiency and integrated retrofit perspective. Here’s what I’ve learned, so far…
Published by Ken on June 14th, 2009 tagged Green Building, Best Practices | 1 Comment » |
living building design for the tropics: Kansas it’s not
Notice the kewl trend toward “passive” homes and offices, yet also notice the virtually exclusive focus on buildings in the temperate zone.
Since 1/3 of humans live in the tropics, it bears noting that “passive” design for this climate is exactly the opposite of design for northern climes.
For one thing, “passive” in the north requires airtightness, whereas “open air” is elemental in the tropics as seen in this fabulous “Casa Tropical” design from Brazil (via archmag).
Most notably, this means tropical designs can use the wind to cool and freshen the interior air and vent the hot air.
Published by Ken on June 11th, 2009 tagged Green Building, Island Ecosystems | Comment now » |
tiny card speaks volumes: on reinforcing the footprint message
When I caught this idea at Ogilvy’s “On Recession” site, I went straight into production, and Voila!
Using the “clean edge” business card stock from Avery, I designed a bite-sized layout that prints 4 per card.
Then, I simply fold and snap out the cards and cut each one into fourths.
Hai! Dozo! Yes! Please take it! Herewith, my new business card.
It seems to better fit my footprint reduction efforts, right alongside my tiny treehouse home and my trailered ebike transport.
I’ve tested it with friends in the Lihue Business Association, who seemed to get the message…after they stopped laughing!
Published by Ken on June 10th, 2009 tagged Best Practices, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
on smearing people and mis-stating sustainability science
“Full-time global warming disinformers, like Swift boat smearer Marc Morano and Anthony Watts, have dedicated their lives to promoting disinformation and delay whose inevitable outcome — if a large fraction of people continue to be suckered by them — is unspeakable misery and/or violence to billions of people.”
So says Joe Romm, after his climate change advocacy was labeled “criminal…like murdering people” by a commenter on Watts’ blog.
Romm fires back, noting that such statements from deniers and disinformers “are the equivalent of shouting ‘no fire’ on a burning planet. That is perhaps the most immoral thing any human being can do.”
Published by Ken on June 9th, 2009 tagged Climate Change | Comment now » |
what’s (wrongly) on second: sustainability and the greater good
“Selfish maximizers” are headed for lonely coping with “the privations of a post-peak oil world”, says Kurt Cobb, yet only “altruistic sacrificers” engaged in collective action can “forestall ecosystem collapse” (via oildrum).
Cobb highlights the fatal flaw in “negative freedom” that drives conservative’s anti-government propaganda.
Go ahead and join those “huffing and puffing at the imaginary enemies of freedom”, says Cobb, while “the real basis of your freedom, an intact and functioning nation and community, starts to degrade inexorably”.
Where will “the wealthy backers of fossil fuel intensive industries” be then? “Decamped to their second homes in more habitable places”.
Published by Ken on June 8th, 2009 tagged Systems Thinking | Comment now » |
what needs more explaining? on ignoring idiots
The amazing scientists at RealClimate are getting tired of climate deniers and delayers.
Wouldn’t you, if you faced “the same nonsense, the same logical fallacies, the same confusions - all of which seem to be endlessly repeated.”
Most of us are bystanders as the educated and the idiotic battle it out for headlines and soundbites.
The educated push on “because bystanders deserve to know where better information can be found”, says Gavin Schmidt.
Meanwhile, the idiotic “keep floundering ahead with blind faith in their increasingly fallacious worldview.”
Published by Ken on June 7th, 2009 tagged Climate Change | Comment now » |
who’s on first? sustainability holds up in Hawaii blog world
One never knows how salient the sustainability challenge is to islanders, although I take some comfort in how well SusHI does in Hawaii’s blogosphere.
As shown in this table, SusHI and RaisingIslands (good buddy JanT) hold their own amongst the other largely political blogs.
Two other Kauai blogs also made this top-10 list.
It’s especially gratifying to see the average visitor stays on SusHI for 2.2 minutes. Only Joan Conrow (Kauai Eclectic) and Ian Lind do better on this count.
Our friends on SaveKauai (not shown) are slightly better on traffic, yet way back on PageRank, Authority, Links, and Time.
Published by Ken on June 6th, 2009 tagged Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
don’t build carbon storage, enhance it
Energy firms are pushing billions for building carbon capture and storage (CCS) at power plants, yet there’s a better and cheaper approach for reducing emissions: stopping deforestation, restoring marshes and peatlands, and practicing more sustainable agricultural techniques.
So says “The Natural Fix” from UNEP, looking at the role of ecosystems in climate mitigation (via treehugger).
UNEP’s Achim Steiner notes this is a “tried and tested method” for storing carbon “that has been working for millennia”, and unlike CCS, “delivers improved water supplies, soil stabilization and reduced biodiversity losses alongside new kinds of green jobs in natural resource management and conservation”.
Published by Ken on June 5th, 2009 tagged CO2 Emissions, Climate Change | Comment now » |
thinking about thinking about Hawaii’s food system
Some folks are attracted to “system dynamics” because its tools enable us to practice thinking about human support systems in new ways.
Lord knows we need new ways of thinking…perhaps more so regarding our food system than elsewhere.
Why? Hawaii is stuck at the end of the American ‘food chain’ (heh) and the systems we’ve inherited are not well-suited for sustainability in these tropical islands.
Worse, many otherwise thoughtful studies, such as RMI’s “whole system” food map for Hawaii Island, focus on competing in the existing scheme, whereas we’re better served using these tools to re-invent our Hawaii food system.
Published by Ken on June 3rd, 2009 tagged Food, Systems Thinking, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
keeping track: what happened to sustainable development?
Sheesh! Was it 17 years ago, already, that our eyes turned to Rio and the Earth Summit?
Don’t know about you, but I haven’t been closely tracking the progress of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) that emerged from the Rio deliberations to ensure effective follow-up. Too bad, too!
Howzat? It seems the CSD has been marginalized at precisely the time we need these efforts most. After all, COP-15 in Copenhagen arises because we haven’t done much since Rio…except conduct some important research and draft some strategic plans.
So says Adam Parsons in lamenting this state of affairs (via commondreams).
Published by Ken on June 1st, 2009 tagged Systems Thinking, Climate Change | Comment now » |
Kauai not alone in plan for unneeded generating capacity
Actually, says Gayle the Actuary, “at this time, it is not entirely clear that we need any new electrical production capacity” (via oildrum).
Gayle reports that, “since mid 2008, the use of electricity in the US has been decreasing, but electric utilities made plans for new capacity, as if demand would be increasing. A similar situation is being reported around the world.”
Fact is, this is huge news, since worldwide electricity use has be rising continuously since records began in 1945.
The IEA forecast 3.1% AAGR through 2015, yet actual growth last year was 2.5%, and is projected at -3.5% this year.
Published by Ken on May 31st, 2009 tagged Energy, HI-specific | 1 Comment » |
keywords for sustainability: essential, inevitable, and feasible
Hopefully, folks ‘get’ that “going green” ain’t enough…that there’s no such thing as “sorta sustainable”.
At the same time, this or that “green” initiative may be seen as a “choice”, yet there is no choice but to quickly transition to sustainability. Period.
As the “Transition Town” gang puts it, “climate change makes the carbon reduction transition essential, peak oil makes it inevitable, and transition initiatives make it feasible, viable and attractive.”
Notice we’re talking “3 Spheres“: In economies we will inevitably switch energy, in ecologies we will essentially adapt to climate change, and in communities we will viably re-invent from the bottom-up.
Published by Ken on May 31st, 2009 tagged Systems Thinking, Climate Change, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
six steps from illusion: countdown to copenhagen
Forget the long-term targets for emissions reduction by 2050, and focus on dramatic cuts by 2020, or else none of this matters, says Per Meilstrup (via copenhagenclimatecouncil).
“A (2050) vision without a (2020) plan is a (2009) illusion”, and the US plan for reductions to 1990 levels by 2020 is “simply not enough”, says Meilstrup. “Without a firm emissions target in 2020, a 2050 target is irrelevant…you will never get there”.
“In 2020, at least a 25% reduction for the developed countries – and probably 40% if we are to believe the latest science – is required in 12 years time.”
Published by Ken on May 31st, 2009 tagged Systems Thinking, Climate Change | Comment now » |
KIUC’s unbelievable load forecast (Part III): on sustainability
From a sustainability perspective, each KIUC decision must meet three tests.
First, is it SMART: Does it account for peak oil?
Second, is it SAFE: Does it achieve the required emissions reductions to avoid catastrophic climate change?
Third, is it FAIR: Does it promote equitable access to resources?
A quick assessment of KIUC’s “GenX” proposal suggests that it only partially meets the first test, is not likely to meet the second, and major questions remain regarding the third.
Here’s why. “GenX” uses fossil-fuels, so its purchase would actually move us away from oil-independence in the short run. That’s a show-stopper, right?
Published by Ken on May 27th, 2009 tagged Energy, Best Practices | 1 Comment » |
KIUC’s unbelievable load forecast (Part II): on false choices
KIUC is sitting on a consultant’s forecast that says our morning peak load will need new generating capacity by 2013.
Accordingly, KIUC is now on a fast track to purchase a $75 million 35MW fossil fuel generator, called GenX, to be sited in Kapaia.
…Which is why KIUC lobbied against the legislative moratorium on new fossil fuel plants.
Yet, why did KIUC unquestioningly accept the consultants forecast? And how did fossil fuels emerge as the top candidate?
One might expect KIUC to pull out all stops to avoid any additional fossil fuel reliance, and several alternative strategies come readily to mind.
Published by Ken on May 26th, 2009 tagged Energy, Best Practices | 1 Comment » |
KIUC’s unbelievable load forecast (Part I): on unthinkable acts
Still haven’t seen KIUC’s Energy Management Plan (EMP), just adopted despite opposition by Ben Sullivan in his first KIUC Director’s meeting. (Yeah! Ahh!).
Sadly, the BAU boyz (business-as-usual) ‘freight train’ had a full head of steam before Sullivan came aboard.
Worse, KIUC’s plans could lock us into energy choices that move us in the wrong direction.
Sure, the Strategic Plan talks about transitioning to ‘green’ energy, yet KIUC’s first major expenditure will be for another fossil fuel plant. Yikes!
This prospect should be unthinkable, yet the BAU framework produced this decision…and we’ll need a sustainability framework to produce dramatically different decisions.
Published by Ken on May 26th, 2009 tagged Energy, Best Practices | 1 Comment » |
peak oil come quickly! on reserves and hot air
Don’t even think about “stopping climate breakdown” unless you’re “prepared to impose a limit on the use of the oil reserves already discovered, and a permanent moratorium on prospecting for new reserves”, says George Monbiot (via commondreams).
Why? Because recent ground-breaking science suggests we can’t afford to spew more than 500 billion tons MORE carbon, even though there may be 800 billion tons (carbon equivalent) of oil reserves available.
So, however limited our remaining fossil fuel supplies may be, we can’t use ‘em all or we’re toast.
Monbiot wants to know now which reserves we’re gonna leave in the ground.
Published by Ken on May 19th, 2009 tagged CO2 Emissions, Climate Change | Comment now » |
can we fix sustainability if “sacrifice” is unacceptable?
We will not “take preemptive action to mitigate the consequences” of our unsustainable industrialization, nor will we “choose to modify voluntarily our distorted, cornucopian worldview and our dysfunctional, detritovoric resource utilization behavior”…so we’re headed for “societal collapse”, says Chris Clugston (via oildrum).
Yet, don’t worry: “We will be able to defer the onset of our Societal Collapse until a permanent shortage or disruption in the supply of a critical nonrenewable natural resource permanently disenables our industrial mosaic” says Clugston.
Clugston recommends preparation strategies “for those who believe that survival probabilities and living standards during and after Societal Collapse can be optimized”.
Published by Ken on May 19th, 2009 tagged Energy, Climate Change | Comment now » |
Hawken to seniors: you are brilliant, and the Earth is hiring
Every campus should be lucky as UPortland to have Paul Hawken speak to graduating seniors. Here’s why (via charityfocus).
“Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades”, says Hawken.
“Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don’t be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done”.
According to Hawken, “working for the earth is not a way to get rich, it is a way to be rich.”
Published by Ken on May 18th, 2009 tagged Best Practices, Climate Change | Comment now » |
sustainability needs balanced thinking in everyday life
If recycling your glass bottle could save a quarter-pound of CO2, and if your car spews a pound of carbon per mile, how many bottles could you cart how far in order to capture the maximum recycling benefits?
These “routine calculations” reflect the “necessary resource literacy” we’ll need to “embed balanced thinking in everyday life”, says Craig Simmons (via bestfootforward).
Same goes for your “local, organic” food purchases. Recall that the Seattle food project found that if you drove more than 4 miles to get your “green” plate, you’d blow the whole advantage over the “standard supermarket” plate.
Published by Ken on May 18th, 2009 tagged Systems Thinking, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
how to organize for sustainability: the next question
Folks who know very little about sustainability may not be all that helpful when our communities are trying to chart sustainable pathways.
So, if all we do is ask these innocents, we might expect to get nowhere fast, and the burgeoning mountain of “Action Plans” for local sustainability bear this out.
Engaging citizens in mandatory “community outreach” is one thing. Yet if that’s all we do, that’s all we get.
This tried-and-true approach is deeply flawed, and unless we inject some sustainability thinking and science findings into the planning process, the product will be less than helpful.
Published by Ken on May 7th, 2009 tagged Systems Thinking, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
how to think about sustainability: that’s the question
Never mind the talking heads, because they don’t ‘get’ sustainability.
And, don’t feel rushed if you don’t know what to think about these daunting challenges.
The ‘what’ part can wait; it’s the ‘how’ part that merits our priority attention now.
What’s important is to practice sustainability thinking.
We don’t stand a chance at resolving our sustainability challenges unless we start by learning how to think differently about our world.
Thus spake moi at yesteday’s 1st Annual GreenTech Expo at KCC.
Good fun, too, mixing it up with a savvy gang of expo-goers who took time out for some of my “eye-candy“…*
Published by Ken on May 6th, 2009 tagged Systems Thinking, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
100 days to sustainability vision: Obama’s the ‘green’ FDR
Three “game-changing accomplishments” in his first 100 days oughta get Obama some kind of historical recognition all by itself, says Joe Romm (via worldchanging)
Citing the “green stimulus”, the first “sustainable budget” in U.S. history, and the “regulatory breakthrough” on carbon pollution, Romm claims Obama is “remaking the country through his positive vision”…”the first President since FDR to do so.”
Calling Obama “the first president in history to articulate both the why and how of the sustainable vision — and to actively, indeed aggressively, pursue its enactment”, Romm calls these out-of-the-shute accomplishments “an unprecedented reversal of decades of unsustainable national policy.”
Published by Ken on April 29th, 2009 tagged Energy, Climate Change | Comment now » |
not so fast! on the virtues of slow money for sustainability
Greed got away from us…the quarterly-numbers crew insisted that valuations keep climbing…and lots of folks lost everything.
So, what if we were satisfied with less? What if NOT all our financial resources went into the fastest growing funds?
What if a fund for sustainability initiatives on Kauai was just about the safest place to put your money? How hard could it be to create such a fund?
Been wondering about this as we contemplate our island’s sustainability transition, and assess the scale of new social investment required to get’r done. Naturally, I’ve been inspired by the “slow money” movement (via triplepundit).
Published by Ken on April 29th, 2009 tagged Best Practices, Community Initiatives | Comment now » |
we’re insanely unsustainable, so where are the shrinks?
Psychiatrist Lise Van Susteren is outraged that mental health professionals are not out front in the effort to change behaviors that threaten our planet (via huffpost).
“Scientists all over the world are warning us about the threat of catastrophic and irreversible climate change”, says Van Susteren, so “I am stunned that this threat to the health of the planet and the public is so underplayed.”
Van Susteren wants to know “Why are these organizations and their members, those most skilled at exposing the danger of denial and destructive behaviors, so silent about this crisis? Are they in denial themselves?” Good question!