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The solution to climate change is profoundly simple - effective leadership. This country has enjoyed varying degrees of success in many different areas - all guided by strong leaders. Woodrow Wilson brought a unified nation through The Great War. Franklin Delano Roosevelt shepherded a dispirited citizenry to prosperity and hope. Dwight D. Eisenhower used humility and wisdom to keep our country moving forward after WWII. Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush trail blazed through the Cold War into the 21st Century.
As a former Marine myself, I have deeply embedded beliefs and definitions surrounding leadership - the most foundational of which is that a true leader leads by example. During the first Phase of boot camp, we are taught the 11 Leadership Principles of a Marine. We are first taught that none of these is greater than the others and that they all must be integrated as part of a Marine's persona and used more effectively and accurately than the rifle we are issued. There is truth to the interconnectedness of the 11 Principles, though I found 3 to be especially foundational. A leader Makes Sound and Timely Decisions based on a knowledgeable assessment of the situation. Through prior planning and the trust and consideration of your team, you are able to make a rapid estimate and proceed confidently. A leader Seeks Responsibilities and Takes Responsibility by pursuing opportunities, performing all tasks with the same dedication and shouldering the consequences from the actions of those you lead. Most importantly, a leader Sets the Example. Leaders do not ask more from others than they are willing to do themselves. Leaders do not command from the rear. Leaders do not reflect badly upon themselves, their subordinates or their unit. Leaders are out in front with professional competence, courage and integrity. Leaders understand that leadership is taught by example.
Today our threat is not from an external tyrant or autocrat. Instead, we are facing a possible sixth mass extinction due to anthropogenic climate change. Is there a leader to guide us through this "existential crisis"?
As Bonnie Tyler might say, "Where have all the good men gone?"
Well, first of all, we've always had good men (and women) around, we just don't seem to be very good at listening to them. From Dr. James Hansen in 1988 to Greta Thunberg in 2019, we have been warned and chided.
On June 23, 1988 Dr. James Hansen of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources First Session on the Greenhouse Effect and Global Climate Change. In his prepared statement he succinctly concluded the Earth was warmer in 1988 than at any time in the history of instrumental measurements, global warming (a new term at the time) was large enough to show causality from the greenhouse effect, and this greenhouse effect is already large enough to begin to effect extreme weather events. It is important to note these observations have been repeated in nearly every climate related report since that time. In fact, nearly every year since 1988 has been "the hottest" year, we now have such overwhelming evidence that climate change is directly related to enhanced greenhouse effect caused by human activity that scientists have named this geologic era The Anthropocene, and extreme weather events are quickly becoming the norm.
And yet, we are now numb to the repetitive statistic that this year is the hottest year, our country is now the only country not included in the Paris Agreement, and we continue to question if "super storms", decadal droughts, and more are connected to global warming. What will it take for the U.S. to seriously act on climate change?
Senator Bernie Sanders (I), VT, is well known for his position as a "Democratic Socialist" and historic life of working on issues relating to class, income and equality. Some may argue that he did not take a deliberate stance on the environment until his 2016 presidential bid, though I would counter that his tireless work around income inequality, social justice and healthcare are all directly or indirectly tied to the environment. Nevertheless, his environmental ideals are not difficult to ascertain or understand. In the spirit of one of his predecessors, a Green New Deal bill was developed and introduced. As a 2020 presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders promised to boldly embrace the moral imperative of addressing the climate crisis and act immediately to mobilize millions of people across the country in support of the Green New Deal. Sen. Sanders' proposal is made up of seven key tenets ranging from broadly vague - "End the greed of the fossil fuel industry and hold them accountable" - to the claerly specific - "Save American families money with investments in weatherization, public transportation, modern infrastructure and high-speed broadband." Many of these sound and feel like talking points for a PAC-sponsored ad or a 90-second spot on CNN. Leadership however, especially the kind of leadership needed for this crisis, does not stem from talking points. But, in this case, does Bernie Sanders have a track record of Making Sound and Timely Decisions? Does he Seek Responsibility and Take Responsibility? Does Sen. Bernie Sanders Set the Example?
Perhaps the best way to answer that is to go back to his beginning. Bernie's first successful excursion into the political arena was in 1981 as a mayoral candidate for Vermont's most populous city, Burlington. Though he was already widely known as a "socialist", he ran as an Independent, narrowly defeating the incumbent Democrat. Fast forward to May 26, 2015 when over 5,000 people came to Burlington's Waterfront Park for the first official campaign rally for Sanders' 2016 presidential bid. A gathering like this would not have been possible prior to Bernie's three terms as Burlington mayor.
Before Bernie, the city's Lake Champlain waterfront was home to a coal-fired electric generating plant as well as a storage area for coal and petroleum products. Upon entering office, Bernie successfully halted a development project set to build a hotel, marina, retail space and condominiums in 18-story buildings. But, he wasn't able to get the voters to back his original waterfront plan, taking the no vote as direction to create something better. Working on his vision of a "people's waterfront", Michael Monte, former director of the newly created Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO) recalls, "Bernie wanted to make sure that it was a place with plenty of open space and public access, where ordinary people could rent a rowboat and buy a hot dog." Through Sanders' willingness to listen to everyone involved, the waterfront has been transformed into Waterfront Park with a community boathouse, sailing center, fishing pier, science center, eight-mile bike path, and public beaches. And, thankfully, the coal plant has been decommissioned and abandoned.
Burlington's revitalized Waterfront Park is but one example of Bernie Sanders' environmental leadership over the last four decades, but it is an important one. Not only does it show his passion for the environment, it also shows his leadership wisdom through his ability to bring together seemingly opposing views to create workable solutions for all. This is true leadership and we are "so thirsty for it [we'll] crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when [we] discover there's no water, [we'll] drink the sand".
And yet, on April 8th, Senator Sanders suspended his 2020 presidential campaign stating the delegate lead of former Vice President Joe Biden was nearly impossible to overcome and that he "cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere with the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour."
Where does that leave us? Without Bernie are we doomed to a lemming-like march off the edge of the Anthropocene, plunging headfirst into the depths of the sixth mass extinction?
Joe Biden's campaign site lists 29 plans, and buried deeply is his 19th plan listed as "Joe's Plan for a Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice." The five main points of his plan are not only more nebulous than Sanders', they all are found lacking in even remote specificity. With ambiguous goals like "Build a stronger, more resilient nation", "Rally the rest of the world to meet the threat of climate change", and "Stand up to the abuse of power by polluters", the former Vice President comes off more like a candidate for Captain of the Pep Squad rather than for President of the United States.
While he recognizes the importance and significance of the Green New Deal, he is not willing to go that far with his proposals or policies, preferring instead to remain a centrist candidate, purportedly able to bring together differing views to reach consensus. Does his record reflect this ability? Yes and no. The League of Conservative Voters has given him an overall scorecard rating of 83 in the environmental arena and his record as Vice President is fuzzy at best. Instead of demonstrating environmental leadership, his political career is more an example of how to be a centrist. That is, it seems he has spent his career much more concerned about making everyone happy rather than doing the right thing. This is neither leadership nor following - it is political shapeshifting. A leader doesn't try to please everyone. A leader sets a goal, inspires the many and gets out in front to blaze the path.
I believe Bernie Sanders is the leader we so desperately need. Losing the opportunity to have President Bernie Sanders next January will potentially prove disastrous for our nation and the world. But, regardless of the Oval Office occupant, there is still much we can do. Perhaps more important than changing the bearer of the POTUS title is changing the makeup of the Senate. Senatorial power includes sway over federal judgeships, justice appointments and all legislative activity. And, of course, there are the state and local elections. Much of the important environmental work is being done at this level and it is imperative that we continue. Finally, we must remain vigilant and active. For far too long, a majority of Americans have been blissfully ignorant of our political systems and malfeasance. This must end now. Be informed, be active, be heard.
Perhaps it is best said by Greta Thunberg:
"Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!
For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you're doing enough, when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight."
Craig Williams II
Masters of the Environment Program
Environmental Policy
Longmont, CO 80504
This is an opinion piece that was submitted to the Longmont Observer and does not necessarily represent the opinion of the Longmont Observer. If you have an opinion piece you'd like published, please visit our 'Submit an Opinion' page.
