2017 Predictions
While waiting a few more days for the New Year…
here’s what I think we’ll see in 2017. Top 5:
- California and China will lead the global green movement as the incoming U.S. federal government leadership seeks what’s clean about “clean coal” and de-funding actions based on the “climate-denier” mindset.
- Ocean acidification, blanching coral at The Great Barrier Reef, wild fires, extreme heat events, and major ice and snow mass shrinkage will increase while the leadership of Miami/Dade struggles with the mountainous costs of resilience there–fending off sea level rise.
- U.S. and other corporations around the globe will remain steady in their quest for more sustainable, if not just, operations. Non-profits looking to fund green opportunities will seek relentlessly to step up their ability to effect climate rescue.
- U.S. federal subsidies for the green economy may be trimmed, even in face of related, job-growing opportunity, but any slack will be overcome by corporate, foundation and innovative lending programs in the U.S. and other 2016 Paris Accord signer nations.
- Millenials, with Bill Nye-like science learned, first-hand experience and an attitude like “you think you’re going to leave us with that?!,” will increasingly hold the older generations to further accountability for environmental healing.
Disappointed by new leadership coming to Washington and certain state governments. But unbowed.
Environmental stewardship is rewarding, necessary work– from water tributary clean-up in our communities to renewable energy and other international platforms geared to slowing greenhouse gas emissions now poisoning our biosphere.
P.S. Hesitant to predict anything along the lines of decency and (self-)respect in the political realm in the new year. Former Republican nominee for NY governor, Carl Paladino, couldn’t present a shockingly sadder picture of 2016.