Our Last, Best Chance to Cool the Earth | Bill McKibben | TED

The Earth is producing about a third The Earth is producing about a third more power from the Sun this spring than more power from the Sun this spring than more power from the Sun this spring than last. last. last. That solar power is suddenly so cheap That solar power is suddenly so cheap That solar power is suddenly so cheap and abundant that Australians will soon and abundant that Australians will soon and abundant that Australians will soon get 3 hours of electricity free every get 3 hours of electricity free every get 3 hours of electricity free every afternoon. Free. afternoon. Free. afternoon. Free. After 400,000 years of working hard for After 400,000 years of working hard for After 400,000 years of working hard for energy from gathering firewood to paying energy from gathering firewood to paying energy from gathering firewood to paying the power bill, some humans will the power bill, some humans will the power bill, some humans will suddenly have access to this commodity suddenly have access to this commodity suddenly have access to this commodity for nothing. for nothing. for nothing. California, fourth largest economy in California, fourth largest economy in California, fourth largest economy in the world, now produces most days more the world, now produces most days more the world, now produces most days more than 100% of its electricity from than 100% of its electricity from than 100% of its electricity from renewable energy at night. When the Sun renewable energy at night. When the Sun renewable energy at night. When the Sun goes down, big new batteries on the grid goes down, big new batteries on the grid goes down, big new batteries on the grid turn dark into daylight. In Pakistan, turn dark into daylight. In Pakistan, turn dark into daylight. In Pakistan, peasant farmers who used to pay through peasant farmers who used to pay through peasant farmers who used to pay through the nose for diesel power to run their the nose for diesel power to run their the nose for diesel power to run their irrigation pumps are using 30% less of irrigation pumps are using 30% less of irrigation pumps are using 30% less of the fuel than they were 2 years ago.

the fuel than they were 2 years ago. the fuel than they were 2 years ago. In large part because they've imported In large part because they've imported In large part because they've imported millions of cheap Chinese solar panels millions of cheap Chinese solar panels millions of cheap Chinese solar panels and gone on YouTube to figure out how to and gone on YouTube to figure out how to and gone on YouTube to figure out how to connect them up. They often lack the connect them up. They often lack the connect them up. They often lack the money to build the money to build the money to build the steel scaffolding we're used to seeing steel scaffolding we're used to seeing steel scaffolding we're used to seeing at solar farms. No matter, they just lay at solar farms. No matter, they just lay at solar farms. No matter, they just lay them on the ground and point them at the them on the ground and point them at the them on the ground and point them at the Sun. Sun. Sun. In a world where many, many big things In a world where many, many big things In a world where many, many big things have taken a very dark turn this decade, have taken a very dark turn this decade, have taken a very dark turn this decade, this is the one big thing that is going this is the one big thing that is going this is the one big thing that is going right. We have quite suddenly the right. We have quite suddenly the right. We have quite suddenly the opportunity to build a clean, abundant opportunity to build a clean, abundant opportunity to build a clean, abundant future if we simply seize it, but most future if we simply seize it, but most future if we simply seize it, but most of us don't recognize how huge this of us don't recognize how huge this of us don't recognize how huge this moment is. moment is. moment is. In part, that's because we've spent In part, that's because we've spent In part, that's because we've spent decades calling this stuff alternative decades calling this stuff alternative decades calling this stuff alternative energy and it's blinded us to the fact energy and it's blinded us to the fact energy and it's blinded us to the fact that it's now the obvious common sense that it's now the obvious common sense that it's now the obvious common sense straightforward way to power the future. straightforward way to power the future. straightforward way to power the future. Roughly 90% of new electric generation Roughly 90% of new electric generation Roughly 90% of new electric generation around the world last year came from the around the world last year came from the around the world last year came from the sun and the wind and that in turn is sun and the wind and that in turn is sun and the wind and that in turn is because earlier this decade we crossed because earlier this decade we crossed because earlier this decade we crossed some invisible line where it became some invisible line where it became some invisible line where it became cheaper to produce power from the sun cheaper to produce power from the sun cheaper to produce power from the sun than from burning coal and gas and oil.

than from burning coal and gas and oil. than from burning coal and gas and oil. Let me repeat, we live on a planet where Let me repeat, we live on a planet where Let me repeat, we live on a planet where the cheapest way to make power is to the cheapest way to make power is to the cheapest way to make power is to point a sheet of glass at the sun. point a sheet of glass at the sun. point a sheet of glass at the sun. >> [applause] >> If we can keep the staggering growth of >> If we can keep the staggering growth of the last 36 months going, then we could the last 36 months going, then we could the last 36 months going, then we could enter an extraordinary new age. enter an extraordinary new age. enter an extraordinary new age. Consider, Consider, Consider, 8 or 9 million people a year die from 8 or 9 million people a year die from 8 or 9 million people a year die from breathing the combustion byproducts of breathing the combustion byproducts of breathing the combustion byproducts of fossil fuel. That's one death in five on fossil fuel. That's one death in five on fossil fuel. That's one death in five on this planet. this planet. this planet. But the Chinese cities whose air was so But the Chinese cities whose air was so But the Chinese cities whose air was so foul a few years ago that you couldn't foul a few years ago that you couldn't foul a few years ago that you couldn't see across the street are suddenly much see across the street are suddenly much see across the street are suddenly much cleaner. Most of the cars sold there now cleaner. Most of the cars sold there now cleaner. Most of the cars sold there now come with a plug and it connects them to come with a plug and it connects them to come with a plug and it connects them to the vast solar and wind farms that the the vast solar and wind farms that the the vast solar and wind farms that the Chinese are building faster than anyone Chinese are building faster than anyone Chinese are building faster than anyone on Earth. on Earth. on Earth. More fundamentally, this energy More fundamentally, this energy More fundamentally, this energy transition is our only real chance of transition is our only real chance of transition is our only real chance of even starting to catch up with the even starting to catch up with the even starting to catch up with the physics of climate change. It's too late physics of climate change. It's too late physics of climate change. It's too late to stop global warming.

to stop global warming. to stop global warming. But it's not too late to shave tenths of But it's not too late to shave tenths of But it's not too late to shave tenths of a degree off how hot the planet a degree off how hot the planet a degree off how hot the planet eventually gets and each tenth of a eventually gets and each tenth of a eventually gets and each tenth of a degree that we raise the temperature degree that we raise the temperature degree that we raise the temperature moves a hundred million of our brothers moves a hundred million of our brothers moves a hundred million of our brothers and sisters out of a safe climate zone and sisters out of a safe climate zone and sisters out of a safe climate zone and into a more perilous one. and into a more perilous one. and into a more perilous one. This new age would come with one other This new age would come with one other This new age would come with one other great bonus. great bonus. great bonus. Unlike fossil fuels, which are Unlike fossil fuels, which are Unlike fossil fuels, which are concentrated in a few places, the sun's concentrated in a few places, the sun's concentrated in a few places, the sun's energy is available everywhere. Instead energy is available everywhere. Instead energy is available everywhere. Instead of, say, attacking Venezuela to secure of, say, attacking Venezuela to secure of, say, attacking Venezuela to secure its oil or threatening to cut off its oil or threatening to cut off its oil or threatening to cut off Europe's gas supply to force the Europe's gas supply to force the Europe's gas supply to force the subjugation of Ukraine, we get to subjugation of Ukraine, we get to subjugation of Ukraine, we get to imagine a world where hydrocarbons no imagine a world where hydrocarbons no imagine a world where hydrocarbons no longer equal wealth and power. Imagine longer equal wealth and power. Imagine longer equal wealth and power. Imagine how many fewer wars and coups and how many fewer wars and coups and how many fewer wars and coups and terrorist plots we would have seen in terrorist plots we would have seen in terrorist plots we would have seen in the last century of oil and been of the last century of oil and been of the last century of oil and been of trivial value. trivial value. trivial value. As this spring has reminded us, humans As this spring has reminded us, humans As this spring has reminded us, humans are all too good at starting wars, but are all too good at starting wars, but are all too good at starting wars, but even for us, figuring out how to fight even for us, figuring out how to fight even for us, figuring out how to fight one over sunshine will be tricky.

one over sunshine will be tricky. one over sunshine will be tricky. Sunlight travels 93 million miles to Sunlight travels 93 million miles to Sunlight travels 93 million miles to reach the Earth, but none of those miles reach the Earth, but none of those miles reach the Earth, but none of those miles go through the Strait of Hormuz. go through the Strait of Hormuz. go through the Strait of Hormuz. >> [applause] >> So, what good news. >> So, what good news. Unless, of course, you own an oil well Unless, of course, you own an oil well Unless, of course, you own an oil well or a coal mine. or a coal mine. or a coal mine. Then the rise of clean energy becomes an Then the rise of clean energy becomes an Then the rise of clean energy becomes an extraordinary threat, one that mobilizes extraordinary threat, one that mobilizes extraordinary threat, one that mobilizes you to fight back. In the US, for you to fight back. In the US, for you to fight back. In the US, for instance, candidate Trump told the oil instance, candidate Trump told the oil instance, candidate Trump told the oil industry that if they donated huge sums, industry that if they donated huge sums, industry that if they donated huge sums, he would have their back. In his first he would have their back. In his first he would have their back. In his first year in office, he shut down huge wind year in office, he shut down huge wind year in office, he shut down huge wind farms off the Eastern Seaboard, killed farms off the Eastern Seaboard, killed farms off the Eastern Seaboard, killed solar farms across the country. solar farms across the country. solar farms across the country. Now, Now, Now, Trump can't stop clean energy Trump can't stop clean energy Trump can't stop clean energy single-handedly. It's not like he's single-handedly. It's not like he's single-handedly. It's not like he's Jesus or something. Jesus or something. Jesus or something. Um Um Um It It Indeed, It It Indeed, It It Indeed, indeed, the economics are so favorable indeed, the economics are so favorable indeed, the economics are so favorable that even in the US, most new electric that even in the US, most new electric that even in the US, most new electric generation last year came from the sun generation last year came from the sun generation last year came from the sun and the wind. And the biggest growth was and the wind. And the biggest growth was and the wind. And the biggest growth was in the state of Texas, the home ground in the state of Texas, the home ground in the state of Texas, the home ground of big oil.

of big oil. of big oil. But Trump and Russia and Saudi Arabia, But Trump and Russia and Saudi Arabia, But Trump and Russia and Saudi Arabia, and a handful of other world powers may and a handful of other world powers may and a handful of other world powers may be able to slow that shift. America's be able to slow that shift. America's be able to slow that shift. America's Secretary of Energy, against all global Secretary of Energy, against all global Secretary of Energy, against all global evidence, has said there's no climate evidence, has said there's no climate evidence, has said there's no climate crisis and we're not in the middle of an crisis and we're not in the middle of an crisis and we're not in the middle of an energy transition, either. energy transition, either. energy transition, either. So, he's been subsidizing coal instead So, he's been subsidizing coal instead So, he's been subsidizing coal instead of embracing the clean energy that would of embracing the clean energy that would of embracing the clean energy that would say, "Let us build any data centers we say, "Let us build any data centers we say, "Let us build any data centers we actually needed quickly and cheaply." As actually needed quickly and cheaply." As actually needed quickly and cheaply." As the Chinese have amply demonstrated, the Chinese have amply demonstrated, the Chinese have amply demonstrated, solar fields can sprout in a matter of solar fields can sprout in a matter of solar fields can sprout in a matter of weeks. weeks. weeks. America's effort to delay this America's effort to delay this America's effort to delay this transition is not just economically transition is not just economically transition is not just economically stupid, it also endangers the last best stupid, it also endangers the last best stupid, it also endangers the last best hope of cooling this Earth. Sure, in 40 hope of cooling this Earth. Sure, in 40 hope of cooling this Earth. Sure, in 40 years we will run the planet on sun and years we will run the planet on sun and years we will run the planet on sun and wind because it's cheap, but if it takes wind because it's cheap, but if it takes wind because it's cheap, but if it takes us anything like 40 years to get there, us anything like 40 years to get there, us anything like 40 years to get there, then the planet we run on sun and wind then the planet we run on sun and wind then the planet we run on sun and wind will be a broken planet. will be a broken planet. will be a broken planet. So, those of us who hope for a different So, those of us who hope for a different So, those of us who hope for a different future need to fight for it, and with future need to fight for it, and with future need to fight for it, and with the cheap solar panel we finally have a the cheap solar panel we finally have a the cheap solar panel we finally have a real weapon in that struggle. We need to real weapon in that struggle. We need to real weapon in that struggle. We need to push in every country and at every level push in every country and at every level push in every country and at every level of government for a faster move toward of government for a faster move toward of government for a faster move toward cheap, clean power.

cheap, clean power. cheap, clean power. We started Sunday in the US last year on We started Sunday in the US last year on We started Sunday in the US last year on the autumnal equinox. Across the nation, the autumnal equinox. Across the nation, the autumnal equinox. Across the nation, 500 events from solar-powered concerts 500 events from solar-powered concerts 500 events from solar-powered concerts to the installation of solar panels on to the installation of solar panels on to the installation of solar panels on Habitat for Humanity homes helped spread Habitat for Humanity homes helped spread Habitat for Humanity homes helped spread this new energy gospel. We'll do it this new energy gospel. We'll do it this new energy gospel. We'll do it again on the summer solstice in 2027, again on the summer solstice in 2027, again on the summer solstice in 2027, and this time we will do it globally. and this time we will do it globally. and this time we will do it globally. Days like this help us build the Days like this help us build the Days like this help us build the political power we need to push these political power we need to push these political power we need to push these things ahead. things ahead. things ahead. Americans, for instance, right now pay Americans, for instance, right now pay Americans, for instance, right now pay three times what Europeans or three times what Europeans or three times what Europeans or Australians pay for solar power, mostly Australians pay for solar power, mostly Australians pay for solar power, mostly because of unnecessary bureaucracy at because of unnecessary bureaucracy at because of unnecessary bureaucracy at the state and local level. So, free the the state and local level. So, free the the state and local level. So, free the rooftop is a cry that appeals to rooftop is a cry that appeals to rooftop is a cry that appeals to conservatives as much as liberals. Utah conservatives as much as liberals. Utah conservatives as much as liberals. Utah became the first American state last became the first American state last became the first American state last year to legalize small-scale plug-in year to legalize small-scale plug-in year to legalize small-scale plug-in solar, opening the door for the kind of solar, opening the door for the kind of solar, opening the door for the kind of simple installations that have sprouted simple installations that have sprouted simple installations that have sprouted on the balconies of millions of European on the balconies of millions of European on the balconies of millions of European apartments in the last 3 years.

apartments in the last 3 years. apartments in the last 3 years. Maine and Virginia joined Utah last Maine and Virginia joined Utah last Maine and Virginia joined Utah last week. week. week. So, yeah, as we push ahead with this So, yeah, as we push ahead with this So, yeah, as we push ahead with this work, we need to talk about its work, we need to talk about its work, we need to talk about its scientific necessity and its economic scientific necessity and its economic scientific necessity and its economic pragmatism, but we have one other ace to pragmatism, but we have one other ace to pragmatism, but we have one other ace to play, and that's the sheer beauty of play, and that's the sheer beauty of play, and that's the sheer beauty of power from the sun. We have a deep human power from the sun. We have a deep human power from the sun. We have a deep human connection to our local star. connection to our local star. connection to our local star. We don't We don't We don't know for sure how prehistoric people know for sure how prehistoric people know for sure how prehistoric people thought about things because being thought about things because being thought about things because being prehistoric, they failed to write it prehistoric, they failed to write it prehistoric, they failed to write it down, but we do know that every pile of down, but we do know that every pile of down, but we do know that every pile of rocks they left behind, like Stonehenge, rocks they left behind, like Stonehenge, rocks they left behind, like Stonehenge, seems to point to the equinox or the seems to point to the equinox or the seems to point to the equinox or the solstice. solstice. solstice. Do you not break into an involuntary Do you not break into an involuntary Do you not break into an involuntary grin when the sun comes out from behind grin when the sun comes out from behind grin when the sun comes out from behind a cloud and hits you on the shoulder a cloud and hits you on the shoulder a cloud and hits you on the shoulder blades? If you don't get enough sun, you blades? If you don't get enough sun, you blades? If you don't get enough sun, you literally get can get sad, seasonal literally get can get sad, seasonal literally get can get sad, seasonal affective disorder. affective disorder. affective disorder. So, the mantra for this moment is clear. So, the mantra for this moment is clear. So, the mantra for this moment is clear. Energy from heaven, not from hell.

Energy from heaven, not from hell. Energy from heaven, not from hell. And And And >> [applause] [applause] [applause] >> And with that slogan, what a >> And with that slogan, what a >> And with that slogan, what a breakthrough moment this could be. I breakthrough moment this could be. I breakthrough moment this could be. I mean, humans have been burning things mean, humans have been burning things mean, humans have been burning things since the dawn of time. Uh Darwin said since the dawn of time. Uh Darwin said since the dawn of time. Uh Darwin said language and fire were the two things language and fire were the two things language and fire were the two things that set our species apart. And fire was that set our species apart. And fire was that set our species apart. And fire was mostly good. We learned to cook, which mostly good. We learned to cook, which mostly good. We learned to cook, which gave us the big brain. We could move gave us the big brain. We could move gave us the big brain. We could move north and south from the equator. The north and south from the equator. The north and south from the equator. The anthropologists even think that eons of anthropologists even think that eons of anthropologists even think that eons of standing around the campfire every night standing around the campfire every night standing around the campfire every night help explain some of the social bonds help explain some of the social bonds help explain some of the social bonds that mark our species. Think of it as a that mark our species. Think of it as a that mark our species. Think of it as a sort of primitive TED Talk. Uh sort of primitive TED Talk. Uh sort of primitive TED Talk. Uh when we learned to control the when we learned to control the when we learned to control the combustion of coal and oil and gas, that combustion of coal and oil and gas, that combustion of coal and oil and gas, that was the Industrial Revolution and it was the Industrial Revolution and it was the Industrial Revolution and it gave us modernity. gave us modernity. gave us modernity. But now the cost of those fires has But now the cost of those fires has But now the cost of those fires has simply grown too high. The very future simply grown too high. The very future simply grown too high. The very future of the climate on which we depend is of the climate on which we depend is of the climate on which we depend is being overwhelmed by their smoke. So, being overwhelmed by their smoke. So, being overwhelmed by their smoke. So, what sweet relief that in this exact what sweet relief that in this exact what sweet relief that in this exact moment we can, if we want, put out those moment we can, if we want, put out those moment we can, if we want, put out those fires. The big ones in our power plants, fires. The big ones in our power plants, fires. The big ones in our power plants, the smaller ones in our furnaces and the smaller ones in our furnaces and the smaller ones in our furnaces and under the hoods of our cars.

under the hoods of our cars. under the hoods of our cars. The sun already gives us light and The sun already gives us light and The sun already gives us light and warmth and via photosynthesis our warmth and via photosynthesis our warmth and via photosynthesis our supper. Now it is willing to provide us supper. Now it is willing to provide us supper. Now it is willing to provide us with all the power we could ever need. with all the power we could ever need. with all the power we could ever need. This gift has come at the last possible This gift has come at the last possible This gift has come at the last possible moment. It would be an extraordinary sin moment. It would be an extraordinary sin moment. It would be an extraordinary sin to waste it and it would be a beautiful to waste it and it would be a beautiful to waste it and it would be a beautiful beautiful project for humans to build it beautiful project for humans to build it beautiful project for humans to build it out across our hot and tired Earth in out across our hot and tired Earth in out across our hot and tired Earth in the next few years. the next few years. the next few years. In advance of your participation in that In advance of your participation in that In advance of your participation in that fight, fight, fight, let me just say thank you. let me just say thank you. let me just say thank you. >> [applause] >> Woo! >> Woo! >> [applause]