March 1998

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World Bank Advisor
Calls for Urgent Transition
to Sustainable Energy

As humans come face-to-face with increasing evidence that our planet's temperature is rising due to human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, planning for future energy needs is essential. An expert on such matters, Dr. Robert Goodland, senior environmental advisor to the World Bank, spoke to students, faculty and staff on Feb. 11 on "The Urgent Transition to Sustainable Energy: the Big Dams Debate."

Goodland promoted hydro-power as a power source "bridge" from our present dependence on non-renewable and greenhouse gas-producing fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil on one hand, and sustainable, renewable sources which have not yet been adequately developed, such as solar and wind power and photovoltaics.

His prescription comes with several caveats, however. Dam projects have been rightfully criticized in the past, says Goodland, for social and ecological reasons, including the displacement of people and communities, depriving fish species of access to their spawning grounds, and the loss of species diversity and agricultural land.

In Goodland's view, an environmental sustainable hydro project would mean one that meets criteria in at least nine areas, including the the least possible displacement of people, insurance that fish species continue to flourish, and maintenance of biodiversity and water quality.

Goodland predicts that global warming will lead to "massive societal shifts that should frighten us." The Kyoto Earth Summit in December, he contends, was supposed to clarify the dangers we may face. When he asked, "Did Kyoto frighten you?" Goodland roused laughter from the audience. "Society moves glacially," he acknowledged in response to the laughter. Nonetheless, Goodland's message is the urgent need to plan a massive shift in our energy consumption habits, starting now. Goodland's visit to UMass Boston was part of the biology department's Ecological Economics Seminar Series for Spring, 1998.