Home - The New Green Economy: The New Green Economy

What would a "green economy" look like - be like? Would it be radically different than what we have now? Would we have to give up much that we hold dear? Would going green bankrupt the economy, as some Canadian politicians are saying, and many others are implying by their actions?

What and How to Think

When I began my research into global warming, I found many people who wanted me to think...well, what they wanted me to think. I wanted scientific facts, and they spouted opinions - sometimes very persuasively, and often deceptively.

If you want to know what to think about a green economy, I will show you a story describing how it could be, and how I believe it should and must be if we are continue on this planet in some form of civilisation that we all enjoy. The question is, should you believe me?

That brings us to how to think about a green economy. When doing my climate research, I often found people trying to shape my views by dismissing other people; the favourite ploy these days seems to be to label someone as "left" or "right." Another common trick is to find a small discrepancy or uncertainty in a very large point, and then dismiss the entire point.

Fortunately, common sense is still one of the best ways to navigate reality. Just because someone makes one small mistake does not mean everything they say is wrong. And not many people - or political parties - are really "left" or "right": most of us hold views all across the spectrum.

Reality Check

So, when you're looking at my story of The New Green Economy, use your common sense. In The Train Story, I talk about high-speed trains currently being used in other countries, and in The Home Story, I show examples of low or zero-energy homes that already exist. Ask yourself, if they can do it - why can't we? And not only that, but start envisioning moving in this direction on a large scale - if almost every house used no energy or even contributed to the grid, for example - imagine the tremendous gains that would be possible.

In a multi-part The City and Country Story I show how we can create different densities in our communities, ranging from downtown high-rises through low-rise condominiums and townhouses to the suburbs and finally to tracts of farm and forest. Some of these areas have no roads and no cars because the people who live and work there do not need cars. Before you dismiss this as unrealistic because you can't imagine a world without cars, or because you believe everyone must have a car, or that the economy will collapse if we make fewer cars, give your common sense a moment to kick in. Does everyone have or want a car in our current society? If some people are not making car payments, won't their money be freed-up for other things?

This is a story based on reality, not on some concocted economic theory that requires global corporations and cheap oil. Ask yourself, could it work? Why not? And more importantly, ask yourself: Isn't this the direction we need to start moving - now, rapidly, with determination and vision?