I went on a three day yoga retreat last weekend with a group of very nice folks who all seemed to lean in the direction of support for a fossil free economy as soon as possible. One conversation in particular highlighted for me the crux of our challenge with our collapsing climate. Even while promoting her support for Green New Deal policies, one of the other ladies was lamenting the high cost of her aging New England oil furnace and explained why she wouldn't replace it with more modern clean heating technologies this way - they don't plan on staying in the home long enough to offset the cost of replacing aging furnace.
It's not that she couldn't afford a new heat pump for her home. She was quite proud of all the money she was putting into savings for her grandchildren's college fund. How ironic that she was willing to invest in her grandchildren's education, but not in the climate they will inherit!
The Dems all laid out their grand plans to address our climate challenges this week.  But our climate collapse won't be averted by any of these plans.   It's not up to the politicians or the utilities or the Government in general. It's up to YOU and ME, to leave the legacy of energy responsibility to the next generation. Getting up to date clean technology installed in our homes and small businesses can't be 'voted' in. It has to be DONE, not talked about. The green economy and our planet will thrive when the people speak with their pocketbooks and adoption of renewables, storage and clean technology becomes a mainstream obligation.
How do we change the conversation? How do we shift people's mindset to realize that we must each invest where ever we can when ever we can in measures to save the pending collapse of our climate. How can I convince my friend to replace her aging oil furnace, not because it will benefit her economically, but because it is the right thing to do? Until we can answer that question, I fear the grand plans laid out by our politicians this week won't matter.