Al Gore Should Get a Nobel Prize

Oh wait, he already has. Anyway, if you’re read this far, keep going. Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis is a work of stunning importance. This is the only book I am aware of that lays out a comprehensive picture of the problems causing the climate crisis; the realistic and feasible solutions; and what it will take financially, politically, and emotionally to get there. I heard Al speak in Copenhagen and spoke with him briefly afterwards. On the flight home, I happened to sit next to his environmental advisor and communications manager, and she shared some insights in how the book is being received.

I have spent over a decade being depressed about the state of world affairs. It started with Whitewater and the Republican attack on a very successful Democratic presidency. Then, shall we even speak of the Bush nightmare? Yes, it is true his administration introduced clean diesel legislation, but on every front imaginable, the Bush administration waged war on our environment, on our civil liberties, and on other countries. Join me for a party on 1-20-10 as we celebrate putting one year behind us on those memories!

Dee Hock is a brilliant management thinker and business leader. He created the Visa bank card system. In his later years, he has turned philosopher. His book Chaord, outlines a new vision for creative sharing of power and wealth. (Chaord is a mash-up of chaos and order.) One of my favorite mantras is from Dee:

“Things are far too bad and it is much too late for pessimism.”

Sustainable Futures is focused on positive and practical solutions for a smooth transition to a prosperous post-carbon world. That is why I am so excited by Our Choice.

“Properly understood, the climate crisis is an unparalleled opportunity to finally and effectively address many persistent causes of suffering and misery that have long been neglected, and to transform the prospects of future generations, giving them a chance to live healthier, more prosperous live as they continue their pursuit of happiness.”

The book takes 100 pages to catalog our sources of energy and another 60 pages to describe how we use energy. Gore then focuses on the tough issues like politics and how our way of thinking of the crisis impedes progress.

One fascinating chapter uses neuroscience to explain the challenge of generating urgency about the crisis. Human are predisposed to short term thinking; it is hardwired in our brains to respond to leopards, spiders, and humans with weapons. For instance, “If a snake were to slither into this room, we wouldn’t debate it.” The climate crisis does not stimulate these semi-autonomous brain regions because the crisis is so abstract and seemingly in the distance.

Fortunately humans have evolved a newer part of brain, the lateral pre-frontal cortex, which distinguishes our species from other animals. The pre-frontal cortex has an ability to make decisions based on values and goals that are slow to form, but once formed, are deeply held over long periods of time. Think of how long the Great Wall of China or Notre Dam Cathedral took to build!

More specifically, the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC) prefers to remain on course once we make a decision. The DLPFC, located just above the temples, can get weakened by information overload, which is much higher now than in previous centuries. Our consumption and media-saturated culture make it difficult to sustain long-term initiatives against distant and mis-perceived threats.

In short, brain science can help us fight inertia and also pinpoint the likely roadblocks. Negative, terrifying information can lead to procrastination and denial. As I mentioned above about my own mental states, I have “been there, done that.” One response to inconvenient information is to hope for unrealistic or magical fixes from technology, which can also delay making the tough, but doable, choices today.

The best advice is to:

“Strengthen the linkage between solutions to global warming and solutions to other challenges (national security, food safety, independence from foreign oil) that seem more immediate and are more likely to induce a desire to make the necessary changes.”

I hope Al Gore can add a National Book Award Prize for Best Non-fiction Book to his Oscar and Nobel collection. It is well-deserved!