Innovation and Support

Today, a company in the UK announced the “Urban Car,” a hydrogen car with very little carbon emissions.  (Links at end of post)

What struck me most today about this announcement was that Britain, and many other countries besides the United States, are leading the way with all sorts of innovations to combat climate change and other environmental issues. Cool inventions in the UK for exmaple include things like the solar boat, the Serpentine, on the Thames and a lot of urban wind; and, in general Britain is awash in “climate change awareness,” even several years ago – taxis were off-setting carbon, offices were carbon neutral, signs were everywhere urging people to reduce the use of energy.  We see this kind of public face of climate change now in some places today in the United States, but we are way behind.

I always thought that even in spite of the Bush Administration’s denial of climate change, that innovation would continue in companies and the local level here in the United States. And innovation did continue, but probably not as fast. I realize that the fight that we’ve had to wage here to “prove” the existence of climate change, has slowed even the most visionary way down.  I realize that support is really needed to unleash the infinite possibilities in the minds of a population; and we at this point need all the ideas we can get to beat the many challenges ahead of us.  So all the federal leadership, from Obama all the way through to the EPA to the Dept. of the Interior, to NOAA, is needed so that people across the spectrum can feel good about getting involved and solving problems.

Urban Car
http://www.riversimple.com/

Serpentine Solar Boat
http://www.solarshuttle.co.uk/gallery.htm

Urban Wind
http://www.urbanwindenergy.org.uk/