Transforming Business

Just when some movement seemed to be around the corner on climate change, peak oil is beginning to become more widely known. The confluence of these two events is going to force us (i.e. humanity) to dramatically rethink many of the societal systems that we count on, from transportation to food supply.

It will start with the diminishing availability of oil, but as other resources become limited (in part as a consequence of climate change), we will have to deal with questions that we having been putting off for a long time. Questions like: what is the carrying capacity of the earth? From where are we going to get our energy, water and food to feed the billions of us? Which practices must be ended and which new ones should be started? For instance, in a world with a diminishing energy supply, it will be impossible to prove the value of carbon credits and I expect that industry in its present form to collapse. Ditto for cap and trade systems.

And while we use up the remaining oil, thus putting even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, we will continue to make climate change worse. The impacts of climate change are projected to be severe especially if we reach any of several tipping points. As Nobel Laureate Steven Chu points out, everything you've been told about climate change is wrong: it's much worse than you've been told.

Less Fossil Fuel To Go Around

But we may have a bit of unexpected breathing room. It turns out we don't have as much fossil fuel left to burn as we thought. The curves showing ever-increasing carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil-fuel alone are almost certainly not going to come true.

That's the good news. The bad news is that it turns out we don't have as much fossil fuel left to turn into energy, either.

How will this impact us? What steps do we need to take right now? What does this mean for climate change?

Mostly this blog will look at these issues through the lens of business. It's not the only lens through which to look. Government, individuals and non-profits all have an important role to play. Like these other areas, business is populated by intelligent, creative and committed people. The goal of Inspiring Green Leadership is to engage and support these people as they deal with climate change and peak oil — while creating a sustainable business presence on the planet.

What's the Future? We Get to Create It

What I see possible is the collaboration of human beings on a scale never seen before. And I say that the intelligent, creative and committed people I am fortunate to work with in business should lead the way.

Please feel free to comment on the blog entries but I do ask that you keep a respectful tone with me and others. Sign up for the newsletter to be notified of new blog entries, which will cover events as they unfold.

The first entry that deals with what we know now is entitled "Peak Oil and Climate Change." You will find it here. See you in the comment section.

-André Angelantoni
San Rafael, California