IDEAL OR REAL? "Plan B" is an integrated program with four interdependent goals: drastically cutting carbon dioxide emissions, stabilizing population, eradicating poverty, and restoring the Earth's natural systems. Pictured: Mr. Brown and the first Plan B book, published in 2003. There have been three subsequent editions.
Image: Earth Policy Institute
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Dear EarthTalk: Some friends of mine were talking about a book called Plan B that proposes a plan for rescuing the environment and ending poverty around the world. Is it a realistic plan or just some utopian pipe dream?—Robin Jackson, Richmond, Va.
What started as a book has grown into a movement known as “Plan B” which presents a roadmap for achieving worldwide goals of stabilizing both population and climate. According to Lester Brown, author of the 2003 book, Plan B (and three subsequent updates) and founder of the non-profit environmental think tank, Earth Policy Institute, the plan is based on replacing the fossil-fuel-based, automobile-centered, throwaway economy with a new economic model powered by abundant sources of renewable energy.
Brown argues for transportation systems that are diverse and aim to maximize mobility, widely employing light rail, buses and bicycles. “A Plan B economy comprehensively reuses and recycles materials,” he says. “Consumer products from cars to computers are designed to be disassembled into their component parts and completely recycled.”
Brown even proposes a budget for eradicating poverty, educating the world’s youth and delivering better health care for everyone. “It also presents ways to restore our natural world by planting trees, conserving topsoil, stabilizing water tables, and protecting biological diversity,” says Brown. “With each new wind farm, rooftop solar water heater, paper recycling facility, bicycle path, marine park, rural school, public health facility, and reforestation program, we move closer to a Plan B economy.”
Plan B is an integrated program with four interdependent goals: cutting net carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent by 2020, stabilizing population at eight billion or lower, eradicating poverty, and restoring the Earth’s natural systems. Where Plan B really hits home is in the numbers: Brown puts realistic dollar values on the various aspects of his plan, and compares these costs with current military spending. Needless to say, restoring the environment and economy looks like a bargain when viewed against what the developed nations of the world spend on being ready for battle.
The beauty of Plan B is that it is feasible with current technologies and could well be achieved by 2020 with a concerted international effort. Brown reportedly wrote the latest incarnation of Plan B as a warning call for leaders of the world to begin “mobilizing to save civilization” given that time is more than ever of the essence. Luminaries from Bill Clinton to E.O. Wilson to Ted Turner have spoken highly of Plan B, and at least one university (Cal State at Chico) has made the latest version of the book(Plan B 4.0) required reading for all incoming freshmen.
Those looking for more up-to-date information on the evolution of the Plan B model and progress toward its goals should tune into the website of the Earth Policy Institute, the think tank started by Brown in 2001 and currently used as a central node in the growing network of thousands of entities and individuals around the globe supportive of making Plan B into reality. Prior to founding Earth Policy Institute, Brown was well known in environmental and policy circles for his work with the Worldwatch Institute, a pioneering environmental think tank he launched back in 1974.
CONTACT: Earth Policy Institute, www.earth-policy.org.
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10 Comments
Add CommentIt is an unrealistic plan that fails to recognize the realities of how our planet is actually governed. The planet is governed by roughly 200 independent nations with their own goals and priorities.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe goals of one nation often conflict with the goals of the citizens of other nations. Historically, there is no duty for the people of one nation to suboptimize the lives of their citizens so that the citizens of another nation can improve their standard of living.
Confucius say:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Someone who proposes replacing trucks with bicycles has never had to pedal their bicycle home while carrying a sheet of drywall."
As with all the idealistic pronunciations of the Hippies in the 1960's, it all sounds bloody marvelous until you have kids. Once you start changing diapers the world takes on a whole different look.
"Brown argues for transportation systems that are diverse and aim to maximize mobility, widely employing light rail, buses and bicycles."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe operative terms here are "diverse" - as in having lots of different components to meet different needs - and "widely" - as in using light rail, buses and bikes where appropriate (as these are often, though of course not always, ideal solutions when properly implemented). Plan B does not force you to give up your truck for a bike.
Like a typical conservative, you have completely failed to grasp the underlying concept and have instead based your entire argument on your misinterpretation of a single concept taken entirely out of context.
And that tendency is why we are making no progress. It's not that conservatives have no good points to make. It's that you folks so often seem incapable of disentangling the good points you have from the BS you confabulate to avoid having to consider anyone else's point of view.
Derick-
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDo you jump to prejudical conclusions typically or is this a isolated incident? What would make you conclude that Shoshin is a conservative, or on what issues does he/she support what are typically described as conservative.
Sisko: I've been called a hippy by dozens, if not hundreds, of self-described conservatives that I've debated with both in person and online.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNever been called a hippy by a liberal or a centrist.
Prejudice generally has no basis in fact. My assumption that Shosin is a conservative is based on lots and lots of experience. I may be wrong about him, and if I am I apologize.
That being said, his argument IS based on a misunderstood (or intentionally misstated - but I gave him the benefit of the doubt on that) idea taken out of context. And that's another thing that I've seen conservatives do WAY more than liberals or centrists.
And actually, if you read what I actually said I didn't say he's a conservative - I said he's made an argument like one. THAT's what has me so pissed off - I don't care if Shosin, or anyone else, is a conservative. A robust democracy needs BOTH libs and cons (though god luck finding a Republican who thinks that). Both sides have valuable points to contribute. But by calling someone a "hippy" as Shoshin did, or "soft-headed" or "a kook" or any of the other typical right-wing nicknames for liberals, any possibility of intelligent discussion is lost and empty, meaningless rhetoric takes over.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe need intelligent, rational, mature discussions, and right-wing name-calling and intransigence prevent that from happening anymore.
As a parent, my primary concern for my children is what kind of a planet I leave behind for them and their children. While not all of Plan B's goals are immediately feasible, it is important to keep in mind that we are only here for a short period of time and it is our responsibility to leave things in at least the same condition that we found them, if not in better condition. This isn't hippie bullcrap, it's common sense and species survival.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIs it possible that Plan B will have conflict with "Plan A" someday?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe world's problems are caused by the failings of democracy. For democracy to work, all the world's future generations should vote now, as today's decisions will directly affect them.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAlternative green technologies are available now.
See for example : www.coolplanetbiofuels.com : People that invest in fossil fuels will get their fingers badly burnt when they have to pay for the pollution they are creating....
The world is made up of 200 independent nations and most are not close to being democratic. These 200 different countries have their own goals that are frequently in conflict with those of one or more other countries. Try to be a bit more realistic in your assessment of the world.
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