This video was produced by DG Enterprise and Industry Communication and information Unit, the European Commission Enterprise and Industry Trade Group.
Jeremy Rifkin talks about what he calls The Third Industrial Revolution, a future where renewable energy is locally produced in micro amounts and distributed regionally through a new green centered 21st century industrial infrastructure.
In the European Union (EU), they have embarked on a journey toward energy sustainability that also builds upon their commitment to a fair and just society not torn asunder by the forces of unrestrained capitalism. The Third Industrial Revolution plan is an exciting vision for a sustainable future, not measured in 50 to 100 year timeframes; it has begun now, with a 30-40 year time horizon to reach the final 5th pillar. That is the point where the green infrastructure has been fully laid, micro energy production is being locally produced, stored, and distributed by billions of people through the energy internet, similar to the version of the internet we have today, but one constructed for energy distribution instead.
Jeremy Rifkin, an economist, and author of a number of books dealing with the intersection of technology and society, explains in this video the five pillars that will make up this revolution. Of course, the devil will be in the details, this overarching concept is exciting because it moves in the direction of what Rifkin calls distributive capitalism, a more fair and equal society based upon a low-carbon footprint additive economy.
Germany leads the world in the use of solar, and according to Rifkin has transformed 1 million homes into their own micro power plants through the mixture of alternative energy technologies: solar, geothermal, vertical wind, and garbage.
Watching this video I think (fondly) of former president Jimmy Carter who offered up his own vision for our energy future— individual energy conservation, and an orderly transition toward renewable energy production. A fork in the road, we took a different path, and forfeited 30 years time toward creating a sustainable energy future.
I also think about Al Gore who almost became president, and whose vision at the time (2000) for our energy future, not only foresaw opportunity to increase our energy independence, but to also create the 21st century environmentally-friendly jobs of the future that would offer higher pay and better opportunities for more Americans.
Which nation will rise above the rest over the next 20-30 years, or remain the global leader? The one that leads the world into ever expanding wars without an end in sight, or the one that harnesses a sustainable, low-carbon economy into becoming a reality?
That may be the 100 trillion dollar question.
Additional Resources:
- Jimmy Carter: “Address to the Nation on Energy and National Goals: “The Malaise Speech”,” July 15, 1979. (Full 33 minute speech)
- Open Source Energy; A short film by Richard Ballard about renewable energy, and The Third Industrial Revolution.