Bellwethers
TL;DR; The Bellwethers, a group of prominent women former leaders (and others), published an open letter urging American politicians to make the transition to clean energy their top priority. Unfortunately, the group lacks practical scientists and engineers who could implement a more pragmatic and science-based approach to addressing climate change.
This installment is prompted by a full-page advertisement in the Sunday New York Times that screams, “It’s time to turn the page and move forward on climate change.” The ad likely cost more than $150,000 and was placed by Bellwethers, a group of 83 “women leaders”. Ironically, perhaps, significant funding for the group comes from Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Based on the signatories, it is supported by Valerie Rockefeller, daughter of the late West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller and great-granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller, the oil baron who pulled together Standard Oil in the late 19th century. There may be some geologic carbon guilt at play.
Before we dig into the “meat” of the ad, let’s look at the word “bellwether”. Etymology can lead to fascinating insights. This is a bellwether:
It’s a sheep, specifically a castrated lead male (“wether”), outfitted with a bell. The original purpose of a bellwether was to allow a shepherd to find his flock by sound when they were out of sight. The word has taken on the meaning of a “leading indicator” for otherwise difficult-to-predict trends. I’m pretty sure that this is the definition intended by this group! But I find it slightly amusing that a term adopted by an exclusive women’s group refers to a eunuch.
Who are the Bellwethers? There’s no doubt that the list has some impressive former leaders. At the top of the list is Graça Machel, Nelson Mandela’s widow (surprisingly, also the former first lady of Mozambique), followed by Mary Robinson, former Taoiseach of Ireland, the same “leader” who underwhelmed me earlier1. Based on a quick search, I count two (2) actual scientists among the group of 83 signatories: Katharine Hayhoe (Atmospheric Science, currently Chief Scientist at the Nature Conservancy) and Tara Shine (Environmental Science/Geography), formerly an advisor to the Mary Robinson Foundation and founder of the “social enterprise” Change by Degrees, a climate education nonprofit. The apparent lack of practical scientists and engineers among the signatories is disheartening. And there are more eco-grifters among the named organizations than I have time for. But let’s keep an open mind to see if there are any good suggestions for “turning the page”.
So, where do the Bellwethers want to lead their “flock”? Here’s what the letter says:
Along with every major energy exporting nation, America has pledged to transition away from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy.
…
America, regardless of your party, the time has come for all of us to put the transition to a clean economy first. Your steadfast investment in climate solutions that boost economies is vital if we are to finally turn the page and move forward to a sustainable world that works to support lives and livelihoods for all future generations. When you act courageously on climate change, you do so knowing that we will have your back.
Ah. It’s an open letter to American politicians of either party, apparently intended to guilt them into choosing different priorities. Politicians in power are threatened with being labeled as duplicitous, indecisive, stuck in the past, and cowardly if they disagree. And these out-of-power women? Their supportive contribution to politicians is, “We’ve got your back”. I can think of at least one major party candidate who would find that positioning counterproductive, particularly considering the source. (The castrated sheep reference wouldn’t help, either). Frankly, the preponderance of members based outside the US parallels certain state actors attempting to influence our upcoming elections—at least the Bellwethers are transparent about it.
This letter lacks leadership, particularly in the sense of a bellwether, either as a leading indicator or as a castrated sheep. It’s not turning a page at all since its central message is, “But you promised!” It focuses on an abstract “transition” that involves replacing geologic carbon with “clean” energy, which is already underway. The engineering problem is given zero consideration: Most forms of clean energy (anything generating electric power) cannot be exported, so any “major energy exporting nation” will find it impossible to go cold turkey. Imagine the economic shock waves if America (or Saudi Arabia) abruptly stopped pumping oil! Yet that’s what these “leaders” want.
My bottom line: Scientists and engineers must contemplate authentic leadership in climate. If we continue to let politicians and other leaders fix the blame, we’ll run out of time to fix the problem.
