Climate Change at Film Series on Tuesday

Leonardo DiCaprio talking about Before the Flood
(via St Mary's College of California)

Tomorrow, Tuesday the 18th, the Salem Progressive Film Series will show "Before the Flood."

If you could know the truth about the threat of climate change — would you want to know? Before the Flood, presented by National Geographic, features Leonardo DiCaprio on a journey as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, traveling to five continents and the Arctic to witness climate change firsthand. He goes on expeditions with scientists uncovering the reality of climate change and meets with political leaders fighting against inaction. He also discovers a calculated disinformation campaign orchestrated by powerful special interests working to confuse the public about the urgency of the growing climate crisis. With unprecedented access to thought leaders around the world, DiCaprio searches for hope in a rising tide of catastrophic news....

Before the Flood presents a riveting account of the dramatic changes now occurring around the world due to climate change, as well as the actions we as individuals and as a society can take to prevent the disruption of life on our planet. Beyond the steps we can take as individuals, the film urges viewers to push their elected officials in supporting the use of alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power.

Salem Weekly has more.

Ice loss on Mt. Hood 1984 - 2013

One of the speakers will be Angus Duncan, who chairs the Oregon Global Warming Commission. Their report for 2017 was presented to the Legislature earlier this year. (That note was based on a draft version, and here is the final report.)

Exec Summary: Rising Transportation Emissions

It was not pretty. Leading the lapse was transportation. Emissions from transportation "are driving increases in statewide emissions." So far at the Legislature it does not seem likely that any transportation package will have any seriously scaling measures to combat this. Most of the actions in it will be small and more symbolic than effective at scale.

(And in fact, while most of the audience drives to see the film, they seem likely to hear more about solar and wind power and less about not driving. It is also interesting that a recent study from New York City, "Unsustainable? The Growth of App-based Ride Services and Traffic, Travel and the Future of New York City," finds that TNCs add vehicle miles traveled, add trips, and add congestion. They have also reversed the "transit oriented growth" in "non-auto travel" from 1990 to 2014. It recommends

a road pricing system that targets the most inefficient use of scarce road space during the times and on the streets where additional vehicles contribute the most to traffic delays. There are thus practical opportunities for officials to design, test and gain public acceptance of a road pricing scheme carefully targeted to reducing unnecessary traffic congestion.

However unpopular, road pricing needs to become a central part of efforts to tame congestion and emissions. Solutions to the two problems dovetail precisely here.

We may also have to pay more attention to emissions from two-stroke engines in leaf-blowers and the like.)

"Before the Flood" is at the Grand Theater, 191 High Street NE (corner of High and Court Streets) on Tuesday the 18th.

Doors open at 6:15 PM, the showing begins at 7 PM, and admission is $5.