WINONA, Minn. – Science advocate Bill Nye called on 2,200 people in a Winona State University audience to think big about slowing, indeed on stopping, even reversing the climate change that’s heating the world. Nye had no blueprint. The goal, he said, must be a quick weaning off traditional energy sources. He said the year 2050 must be the target — no later. That means relying exclusively on renewable energy sources, he said. Nye mocked well-intended steps as too little too late:
“We need big ideas, people. We need giant ideas, big things like Hoover Dam, huge. Hoover Dam was a great idea 70 years ago. Now it doesn’t rain enough to keep the thing going. We arere going to have big ideas and make big changes. That’s what I want you all to do. Get out there and change the world.”
He mocked baby steps:
“Yes, you can only eat vegan cardboard. That’s great. You can only have wheatgrass bisque for lunch. OK, that’s good. You can always combine your errands. Don’t use your plastic bags. That’s all good, but here’s what I want you to do about climate change — vote.”
Sarcasm: “Thanks, MobilExxon”
Nye cited landmark’s good and bad, in the recent history of climate change:
> Research at ExxonMobil in the 1970s showed how climate change would affect the planet, but corporate executives prioritized profits over the well-being of human existence and indeed all living things.
> In 1995 climatologist Michael Mann devised a graph that showed how the climate, although relatively stable for 10,000 years, was up “like the abrupt curve of a hockey stick.” His message: “Thank you, ExxonMobil.”