On September 14, 2010, Tim DeChristopher addressed the Governors Energy Task Force in Salt Lake City. The public meeting was held to gather input as the state develops its 10-year energy plan. Governor Gary Herbert was in attendance.
“But even if the state of Utah chooses to ignore the science of climate change, please understand that there are many of us who do take that threat very seriously. For those of us who do take that threat seriously, a continued focus on the development of fossil fuels is a declaration of war against the living.”
[Transcript] Our concern is that in addition to the many economic reasons that make renewable energy good policy for the state of Utah, when we also factor in the science of climate change, the sole focus on renewable energy becomes an absolute necessity.
There are 80 scientific bodies, including our own national academies of science which have declared that climate change is happening, that it is largely caused by fossil fuel emissions, and that it imposes a severe threat to our civilization. On the other hand, there are zero scientific bodies of the other side that have opposing positions. And I understand that much of our Utah government has made the choice to side with those zero scientific bodies, who say “we have nothing to worry about.”
But even if the state of Utah chooses to ignore the science of climate change, please understand that there are many of us who do take that threat very seriously. For those of us who do take that threat seriously, a continued focus on the development of fossil fuels is a declaration of war against the living.
The development of all the hydrocarbons in this state will condemn the young to an unlivable future. And the interesting thing that happens when you condemn people, is that they realize that they have nothing to lose by fighting back. And the fossil fuel industry’s war against the living has only been allowed to continue because it is a slow, quiet, and hidden war. But that’s something that’s changing. With every passing oil spill and disaster, that war becomes a little louder. With every natural disaster that breaks new records, that war becomes a lot more urgent. People are beginning to respond in kind; and the continued focus on fossil fuel development, and that continued war against the living, will be answered in kind.
So its along those lines that I urge this task force, when doing cost/benefit analysis for the continuing development of fossil fuels, please factor in the increasing cost for security that will be necessary and increasing cost in the state budget for corrections and prosecution for all those who are fighting for a livable future. Thank you.
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