Energy Conversation: The First 3 Years

摘要

Energy is the common factor. If you stop to consider, every aspect of modern society is shaped by energy -- from transportation to food to national security to environmental disaster. So, as we take on the massive problems we are faced with today, it is incumbent upon us to factor in this critical element. But, how do we do this. It begins, we believe, with conversation. Fortunately, the dialogue has already begun. The Energy Conversation, which met formally for the first time on March 29, 2006, brings together a diverse group of senior leaders, scientists, researchers, and academics from government and beyond. It provides a forum -- beyond the confines of a single institution or specific field of study -- in which to debate the world's problems. And, because participants come from such varied backgrounds, everyone is able to consider issues not just from one point of view but from many. Over the course of 31 conversations, we've explored biofuels and windmills; we've looked at IBM's policies and the economic impacts of climate change; we've discussed national security and nuclear power; and we've considered our oil addiction and Germany's commitment to renewable energy. Our discussions have been lively. Over the past 3 years, we have come to realize that some of our proposed ideas might not work; though many of them will. We understand that science is not static; it is a process, an evolution fed by spirited conversation and dissenting views. However, regardless of the topic or the viewpoint, we always come back to the fact that energy -- whether framed economically, politically, or environmentally -- is the single most important issue of our time. For it lies at the very core of our modern world. From the Pentagon to Wal-Mart, The Energy Conversation recognizes that all people not only have a stake in the outcome but also a responsibility to enter into the conversation.