Clean Electricity is Essential for Sustainable Development

Letter from Peter Meisen, Global Energy Network Institute

29 October, 2009

Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

In December, the world will be watching Copenhagen as all nations convene to define new rules and targets for climate change. The outcome will affect everyone on the planet as new CO₂ emissions stay in the atmosphere for centuries: causing stronger storms, sea level rise and disease migration. The stakes are very high.

Within your delegation, we ask you to consider a larger question that encompasses both human needs and environmental protection. From the World Game™ simulation, the key question was asked:

How do we make the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological damage or disadvantage to anyone?

The premier strategy of the World Game^TM offers a collaborative solution amongst all nations -- link renewable energy resources around the world. That is, all countries would interconnect their electric power grid systems between regions and neighbor nations, and tap the abundant renewable energy resources in each region. Five developed nations already use hydro and geothermal energy almost exclusively: Brazil, Canada, Iceland, New Zealand and Norway. Solar, wind and geothermal resource maps reveal plentiful clean energy potential on each continent.

How can you translate this grand scheme into policies and targets? We offer several key mechanisms:

1. Stop building new coal-fired power plants unless the CO₂ is sequestered. Make 350ppm CO₂ the global target.
   
   
2. Provide incentives to build large-scale solar and wind farms and access to high-voltage transmission lines.
   
   
3. Put a price on carbon and other greenhouse gases through a tax -- or a cap and trade program.
   
   
4. Make energy efficiency a priority of your government, your business leaders and your cities. Teach conservation to all your citizens. The cheapest form of energy is the kilowatt you don't have to produce.
   
   
5. In developing nations, leapfrog the fossil-fuel path with decentralized clean energy technologies.

These strategies are critical to meeting the growing energy needs of 9 billion people by 2050. Most nations agree that CO₂ must be reduced by 80% while the world economy is projected to double. This will require what visionary engineer Buckminster Fuller called a "Design Science Revolution." -- i.e. using new technologies that make the old ones obsolete. Citizens in every nation are counting on your delegates to cooperate for the benefit of all countries -- and humanity. Your choices will affect the world we live in and the world we leave to our children.

In partnership for the planet,

Peter Meisen, President

enclosed:

• "Flip the Energy Model Upside Down" -- conservation, efficiency and renewables are the priorities
• "How to Meet the MDGs using Clean Energy" (abstract) -- clean water and energy for rural development (full report)
• "There's No Energy Crisis" CD -- there's abundant clean energy potential if nations cooperate
• "NASA's Earth at Night map" -- linking renewables will mitigate climate change and reduce poverty
  

The Global Energy Network Institute focuses on the interconnection of electric power networks between nations and continents, with an emphasis on tapping abundant renewable energy resources. This strategy is the highest priority of the World Game simulation developed by Dr. Buckminster Fuller three decades ago. Linking renewables between nations will mollify conflicts, grow economies and increase the quality of life and health for all.