Global Warming taken seriously
Global warming is being taken seriously across the country, even in Houston, Texas, a city known for the oil and the petrochemical industry.
In the past few months there has been a sea change in public opinion and rhetoric regarding global warming.
The few who doubt global warming is caused by human activity have faded into the background as top news stories report evidence that global warming is real and Wall Street tells energy companies that they better watch their carbon emissions.
These changes cannot come too fast, according to Joe Romm, author of “Hell and High Water: a book about the politics of global warming and the solutions. According to Romm, Houston is one of the most vulnerable cities in the world because it’s going to face both hurricanes and sea level rise.
Bill White, mayor of Houston, the largest city in Texas, says he agrees change must happen fast. He says he has seen a profound transformation in the way people are responding to global warming. He cites the Houston Chamber of Commerce’s recent endorsement for limiting emissions in the city. Steps Houston is taking to reduce energy consumption and emissions include working with low-income neighborhoods to help increase home energy efficiency. The city also is working to replace fossil fuel with renewable energy. Plans include using wind power to supply almost one-third of the energy used to run city facilities. Mayor White says Houston will save money by changing to clean, renewable energy in the long run if natural gas prices remain at the current level or higher.