“We’re in a race against time with climate change, and yet there is virtually no hope of bold federal action on this issue for at least another two years. Mother Nature is not waiting on our political calendar, and neither can we,” said Bloomberg at the Commencement ceremony of MIT for the class of 2019.
Michael Bloomberg, gave a commencement address last week at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he officially launched “Beyond Carbon”, the largest coordinated campaign to tackle climate change.
With a $500 million investment, Beyond Carbon will work to put the US on track towards a 100% clean energy economy by working with various advocates within the US to build on the leadership and climate progress underway in states, cities and communities.
Back in 2011, Bloomberg and his foundation joined forces with the Sierra Club, launching Beyond Coal with the focus on closing at least one third of the country’s coal plants, currently having closed 289 out of the 530 existing plants. This number is more than half the country’s coal plants and Beyond Carbon will seek to close the rest by 2030 all while stopping the current rush to build new natural gas facilities as well..
This is a big step in the ongoing fight against climate change that has seen some dramatic effects including rising sea levels, oceans becoming warmer, more intense droughts etc.. The plan to to build upon and attack this through local and state government and communities is definitely the ideal way as opposed to solely through the federal government.
This can create a domino effect as other billionaires or influential people may follow suit as well and become stakeholder in a similar initiative. MIT is a world renowned Institution known for it’s research, strong programs and intense curriculum. Many entrepreneurs have come from this school and I’m curious to see how the announcement of Bloomberg’s “Beyond Carbon” campaign will further advance the technology needed to become a 100% clean energy economy.
How will these now MIT graduates & current students take on this campaign and provide solutions to this ever growing problem? Bloomberg did choose to announce it at the right location if technology is a necessary part to achieve this audacious goal.. .
Only time will tell.. .
