Plant and Animal Spirits
The world is in a frenzy mood to tackle climate change and halt greenhouse emissions. Copenhagen had been flooded with government leaders, climate change negotiators, energy executives, environmentalists and advocates. The world is at a knife edge of history to discuss how we want to save the breath of the next generation. We are looking for an update on the Kyoto protocol and how developed countries and highly emitting countries will set targets to cut global emissions. The world is inching for huge financial aid to the poor developing countries who feel the effects of climate change most. Announcements are to be made to help developing countries to mitigate against the adverse effects of climate change and we understand these are not moments for loud applause and vain oratory, we all demand forthright action.
With green the buzzword on every lip, the world is bracing up for a new revolution that will create jobs, raise fresh entrepreneurs, investment opportunities, ground breaking technology and highly competitive products. The growth of internet and computing in 1990s evolved large companies with huge influence globe. Google, Amazon, Apple, Twitter, Facebook are the few of leading examples that are products of the glorious era. As talks on cutting carbon emissions intensify, the growth of clean technologies is definitely the next field global ecosystem will interplay. We are bracing up for stellar innovations in materials efficiency, recycling, renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation and so on. Corporate organisations are developing platforms to consider profit, people and the planet.
The atmosphere of incredible possibilities is definitely going to be led to private companies. Capitalism goes to test again as companies with use creativity, innovation and investment opportunities to harness all forms sustainable energy. We all expect to see an astronomical growth in green technology in the nearest future as the market is evolving and consumers more inquisitive about the ‘behind scenes’ of their products. We hope to witness better and economical wind farms, solar power panels, carbon capture storage systems, retrofitting homes, electric vehicles, bio fuel solutions and so on. As we watch the looming dangers of climate change in desertification, droughts, higher temperatures, melting ice, lost homes, are we going to leave the growth of green energy to the wheels of the capitalist engines? Do these executive who see money as their saviour care for the planet?
Capitalism as evangelized by America and its Wall Street managers has led to rapid trade exchange, knowledge transfer and labour mobility and so on. Capitalism has appreciated the ingenuity of innovative thinkers who brought about spectacular solutions to the world. We now understand that when the wheels are driven in a reckless fashion and the toxic fumes are bound exported across borders. A mortgage bubble created multiple effects on the world economy and led to massive loss of monetary value and unemployment. It only validates the overall effect of globalisation and global trade.
The perilous times had been rescued by government (the riled enemy of corporate executives) usually turns out save it from recklessness. We were all afraid the last financial crisis could cripple investment in green technologies even though it has had an effect, we have seen a huge rebound. The question lies in fact are leaving green technology developments to the hunger of capitalist? Or the government needs to step in boldly and smartly understanding the huge social cost of climate change. We understand the crude capitalism had the profit has theonly end in mind. Consumers are gradually understanding on how we need sustainable technologies to save the environment.
Renewable energy has not been cost competitive to fossil fuel. The race to deliver carbon efficient technologies have begun and we believe massive collaboration will drive down costs and enhance quality of green products. This seems like explaining elementary economics whose effect will trickle down to the global populace. But in face of the looming dangers of climate change doesn’t the corporate world see green technology more of social responsibility than profit making schemes or brand enhancement. Don’t we need more cross-fertilization of ideas, knowledge sharing , open source technologies , global technology standards, global scientists and innovators collaboration of idea to accelerate green technologies? Nothing brings more understanding of how national borders are illusions than the fact deforestation in Amazon is melting ice in the Antarctica. We don’t need to revel in protectionism, nationalistic tendencies and complex intellectual property now, when the bell is ticking for change.
Governments have been playing huge roles through carbon credit schemes, carbon financing, Clean Development Mechanism of United Nations, carbon tax and subsidy understanding the social impact of inaction. This has gradually infused the understanding that capitalism without government oversight or their smart input leads the world on path of wreckage. The animal spirits of Wall Street bankers cannot be left tinker solutions with the government standing aloof.
In the race to fight climate change considering the lost swathes of the Sahara, disappearing tuna, rising tidal waves, declining agricultural and steep erosion, we will disappoint the future if the commit green surge to hands of capitalist. Governments around the world need better oversight over the green entrepreneurs. They should not stifling creativity but use antitrust policies effectively. The world needs better collaboration more than ever to save the breath of the unborn. The ingenuity of entrepreneurs in this clime cannot be imagined but we must watch bubbles which emerge after overinvestment and lax regulation as witnessed with dot.com crisis and US mortgage bubble. The world has been clamouring for better corporate governance and financial market complex instruments reform. We need to strengthen the rules of the green market. We need to understand the advocacy of Climate Justice as we ponder, is capitalism on the green movement side? Government needs to tame its animal instincts of greed of capitalism and resurrect its social consciousness to save the future. Let’s keep a vigil at switchboard; the next bubble might be green.
Oluseun Onigbinde is a climate change and green technology advocate. He is currently the Director, Green Acts Nigeria and writes on his blog http://oluseunoni.tigblog.org

The Curious Case of Climate Change
Can bicycle pedals light up Christmas tree? This is certainly happening in Copenhagen and if you desire to live in future tense, brace up more exciting surprises. The world leaders meet in Copenhagen not for tea party but to articulate a treaty that combats the adverse effects of Climate change. Copenhagen, the Danish capital in the Scandinavian zone a leading region in green energy is chosen to host the epic event. Environmentalists and scientists have provided us damning proof of how our planet is warming and how emissions will pollute the breath of the unborn. The campaign for salvation of the earth takes the center stage as global leaders thrash out policies negotiate deals and commitments.
The rising current sea levels, erosion of coastal areas, increasing global temperatures, melting ice of Antarctica, disappearing tuna and so on are the hazardous consequences of Climate change. The Kyoto treaty in Japan (predecessor to Copenhagen) has not been religiously pursued. America with Bush and its Congress refused to sanction the treaty making its toothless. The treaty expires in 2012 and that it excludes critical issues like deforestation makes Copenhagen treaty highly important.
The Climate change summit is a place of global intrigues as interests will interplay by the leading global emitters and developing countries. We are gradually inundated wih possibilities of light in the horizon. China has promised to half its emissions by 2020. India is set to cut his emissions by 24% and Obama in his lifeless cap and trade bill proposes 17% global emission cut by 2020. All these represent a beam of hope but are global leaders just babbling for the moment to receive the loudest applause. We all are witnesses of how financial aid is promised to Africa at G8 and how promises by the developed world are reneged.
China is the world largest emitter producing 40% of the world coal production to oil its engines. China had shown promises in Olympic green city and Dongtan (a potential green city). How will the World’s largest creditor play out it much needed role ? Will it provide much needed aid for ravaged developing countries rather than looking for minerals in despotic regimes? How will China see the climate change as a turf of the future where it needs be a shinning example to stand a chance of the next World superpower? Will we continue to hear bickering that Developed countries due to their dismal carbon past should bear the brunt by providing finance?
We all trust the Obama with a thought provoking speech at Copenhagen and we expect memorable quotes from its lines. He will sensualize our nerves to start acting now on global emission cuts. How far will he go with commitment that might not meet reality in America Congress? Guantanamo bay, Israel freezing of settlements, scary unemployment figures have shown that talk might really be cheap. Facing the realities, America is the world largest debtor and will it continue to fuel carbon emission cuts through its taxpayers fund that bailed out Wall Street bankers? Will America not cut its spending plans as its debt to China is almost a staggering $800bn? Will his reputation be tattered if he promises in Copenhagen and Congress throws the ratifications into dust bins? The European Union is speaking tough on why the world emitters need to do more to help developing countries. Do we expect to see a unified voice that also stands by its word? Brazil, India and Japan are also expected to make commitments but are we not rehearsing cliché?
The global financial crisis united the world on need to find a common framework to resolve the crisis. Trillions of dollars flowed out of government vaults to save the financial system from utter collapse. Will we also rally round and match actions with word? The problem does not lie in technology, markets or policies to churn out green technology. It lies in political will to understand that the hearts and mouths of global leaders mean the same. We know the world needs green computing, biotechnology, electric vehicles, carbon capture techniques and so on. These all represent a fraction of the possibilities that innovative minds cross-fertilized across the globe can birth. Masdar, a green city in the United Arab Emirate portrays what things will look like in the future.
Many believe Copenhagen might end up to be a talkshop where we all adorn photo portraits with gleaming smiles. It took Kyoto protocol five years to come to force with Americas the notorious dissent. Who will fail this time to agree to the Copenhagen treaty? Will just it be a place of understanding where we all agree on the problems and postpone the full details? Will the rich world give bogus cash to the developing countries? What will the supervisory structure like Nigeria who plunders its ecological fund? Will there be a newly agreed carbon credit scheme and carbon tax for countries?
Numerous questions ponder my heart for curious concern at the Copenhagen Climate Summit that starts in next few hours. The world needs action, not oratory, beautiful pix, gleaming smiles, half filled bottled water….Believe green,lets save the breath of the unborn

To know how you can be part of the Green Revolution for a post-carbon world join ‘green acts” group on facebook and get details on the Climate Change, its aftermath and how you can live in greenery.For more comments email [email protected]