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The Green Wave: Is there really anything to the sustainability buzz?
Professor Kimberly Gray,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Northwestern University
Date: April 16, 2008
Place: The Celtic Knot, 626 Church St., Evanston, IL
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Considering all the recent media attention, one would think that rising energy costs, supply uncertainties, changing climate, and the growing interest in sustainability were breaking news mobilizing not only a serious national discussion, but action. Yet, while these issues have been rumbling around for a long time, it is only of late that they have hit the mainstream and too often, notions of sustainability are invoked merely as marketing ploys. Despite all the magazine covers and special reports, on a national level in the U.S. the drive toward sustainability has shown little political traction. In fact, most of the efforts to limit greenhouse gases, move toward renewable energy, and encourage sustainable development have occurred at the state and local levels – and in my opinion, are woefully inadequate because they are uncoordinated, under-funded and short-sighted.
What exactly does “sustainability” mean? I will discuss the various perspectives on “sustainability,” a term that means very different things to different people, and make the case for why this is a pressing issue to be addressed sooner rather than later. To me the strongest case for changing the patterns by which we live and move can be made by considering the energy picture – supply, demand and consequence.
If we really wanted to, we could make great strides in the short term and with our current technical knowledge in the ways we use energy and resources. But we would still be far from sustainable living. While technical innovations hold many solutions, technology, alone, will not supply the answers. Will market forces guide us along the path to a renewable and sustainable future? Or will this require deep changes in our leadership and culture? All the media hype in the world, though, may not push these changes fast enough to avoid taking the earth to its tipping point.
Science Café sponsored by Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
EAT, DRINK, AND TALK SCIENCE WITH NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS AND OTHER SCIENTISTS!
