Wired's "Inconvenient Truths"

While serving on Jury Duty last week, I had the opportunity to read the entire June 2008 edition of Wired Magazine. Hey, what else was there to do?

Anyway, just over two years after Al Gore appeared on the cover of Wired's "green issue", the editors published the above, eye-catching, controversial cover, calling for difficult decisions to be made in the name of curbing Global Warming.

I have to say, I was a bit puzzled by the cover's language:

Attention Environmentalists: Keep your SUV. Forget Organics. Go Nuclear. Screw the spotted owl.

Still, I'm an open minded person, so I decided to dig into the article and see what it was all about. Basically, the authors presented a case that challenges many of the environmental movement's sacred cows, in the name of reducing greenhouse gasses. Do you want to reduce Co2 and cool the planet? Here is Wired's proposal, and my reaction:

*Live in Cities: check, I live in a city, too.

*A/C is OK: They argue that A/C is better for the planet than heating. That may be true, but living in Phoenix's sprawl is not good for the planet. It kind of balances out.

*Organics are Not the Answer:If you use less hormones and pesticides, more cows are needed to meet beef demand. Therefore, there will be more "emissions". Not a bad argument, but organics are not all about global warming. There are health and safety issues at work here, as well. How about "eat less meat and when you do, go organic." That's a better plan, in my book.

Farm the Forests: Here they argue that old trees end up contributing to global warming gasses. I'm no expert on this, so I won't comment.

China is the Solution: As much as people argue that "buying U.S." is good for the planet, buying Chinese products may just save us all in the future, especially when they start making inexpensive, low-emission cars and cheap solar panels. I can't argue with this. It's hard medicine for an environmentalist, but necessary, I think.

Accept Genetic Engineering: aka Accept "Frankenfoods". I'm concerned about genetically modified foods, but it may be too late, thanks to old fashioned genetic mixing in the fields.

Carbon Trading Doesn't Work: Talk to Environmental Defense about this. I think I disagree on this point.

Embrace Nuclear Power: As the only answer? No. As part of the big picture for saving our planet? It's hard to say this but...YES!

Used Cars Not Hybrids: I've always thought this was ridiculous. It takes lots of energy and resources to make a Prius. If you have a decent car, don't give it away to buy a new hybrid. Use your old car for as long as possible and drive less!

Prepare for the Worst: Probably good advice, just in case.

Luckily, Wired's editors let Alex Steffen, of Worldchanging, issue a rebuttal. Steffen argues that while Global Warming is a critical issue, it is not the only consideration when making decisions. Hey, if you screw the spotted owl, maybe there will be CO2 benefits by cutting down old trees, but whole ecosystems could be wrecked and that could come back to bite us all in the ass!

The whole wired piece is available here.

Steffen's rebuttal is available here.

So, what are your thoughts?