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A fossil-fuel-driven world and its economies are built upon a low-cost illusion. The real costs of a global economy based on unlimited growth are externalized and not properly accounted for on a balance sheet. We are now filling the world with poisons and heat trapping gases, fouling the oceans, forests, and rivers, defiling the soil and biodiversity that has evolved over tens of millions of years, to the point of extinction. Yet, those costs are not calculated into the GDP of the world, the valuation of stock shares, or the price of products. Mining our natural capital, e.g., fisheries and forests, at a rate that does not allow adequate recovery is unsustainable. Mother Earth is suffering. Humanity and all life is threatened. We are out of balance.
However, we are now in a exciting time for action! Here at The American Renewable Energy Institute (AREI) we intend to match the urgency of the climate crisis with urgent discussions, strategies and solutions. Our response must be cross-sector, cross-cultural, whole systems related, and collaborative. To this end, we have invited some of the brightest minds in renewable energy to convene at the 20th AREDAY Summit in October, in Boulder Colorado, to apply our collective minds to finding solutions to the challenges around us.
AREI embraces both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and I believe the keystone of a successful energy transition is to accelerate solutions — many of which already exist. Our mission and programs are designed specifically for this purpose, based upon five fundamental drivers – the principles of the five “E’’s: Energy: the Sun, Environment: the Earth, Economy: the People, Education: the People must understand the first three - in that order, and Employment: the People must go to work to implement clean, renewable energy and sustainable, low-carbon solutions.
We are still in the planning stages for the AREDAY Summit, but please contact me if you'd like to attend, want to become a panelist, or if you'd like access to one of our exclusive networking events: info@areday.net
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