A number of issues in the modern world have the capacity to severely change society, or even civilization as a whole. The threat of terrorism and nuclear warfare, severe overpopulation, and recent climate change are all extremely fragile subjects that modern man will be required to confront sooner than later in order to continue advancing positively.  In particular, the problem that we are best suited to remedy is the issue of global warming. Over the past few years especially, enumerable advances in modern sustainable technologies have been made, but not yet implemented for reasons largelyrelated to policy control and lack of governmental/social interest. If change is in the future, it is going to have to be accepted by a powerful and demanding network of individuals.

There are many other ways to stimulate sustainability awareness, thereby inducing an information/interest cascade in sustainable technologies. For example, the government should enforce much more emissions/energy efficiency standards than what are currently in place. With any luck, the outcome of the 2008 election will favorable put America in the right direction for this. Secondly, the government should offer rebates to Americans for investing in sustainable technologies. When you buy a sustainable car, or put solar panels on your house, etc. there should be tax write-offs available. Nothing will motivate people more than essentially getting “free money.” But really, this money isn’t free. It is essentially an investment that can help pull us out of our oil dependence and stimulate the American manufacturing market with a new rise of American developed sustainability technologies, potentially pulling us out of a near recession. Pro-sustainability commercials should be made, and, also, perhaps a Michael Moore type documentary could motivate the young-college generation to take policy change into their hands. This generation will need to stop climate change if it is going to be effectively defeated.

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/