3. Transatlantic Round Table

»Going Green.Towards an Ecological Renewal of the Economy«

mit Jerome Ringo, President of Apollo Alliance, Washington, D.C.

The Louisiana native talked about how climate change is intensifying the hurricanes, as the warmer gulf water is like steroid for a storm. The sea levels are rising, and the Louisiana coast line is eroding one acre per 42 minutes. The Gulf coast brings in 40% of seafood eaten in the country and 30% of the domestic oil supply. The oil spill took all that away. Till now, a big problem was that the United States were exporting jobs and importing energy, for example 80% of wind power is imported, but a lot of the components are built elsewhere. An investment into energy research and development will stimulate the economy. The energy problem is also a problem for poor people as they spent 50% of their income on energy as they do not have enough insulation for sufficient air conditioning.

Jerome Ringo explains that the Climate Change debate is over. For that, he is encouraged by the Obama administration. He says that Obama himself is not responsible for the oil leak but the lax American policy of “Drill, baby, drill” is. There will be residual problems because of the oil leak. Business for fishermen, seafood truck drivers, seafood restaurants and tourism will crumble. This leak is worse than Exxon Valdez. Ringo thinks, they should have let the military handle the situation immediately.

The problem with making changes is a congress whose congressmen will always remember their constituency first. Ringo says that the United States are a reactive country that now has to finally change into a proactive mode. The only way to do that is if everyone holds their congressman or politician accountable and in the meantime moves forward on their own. The American people should and will vote unactive congressmen or senators out. The only thing of interest right now is the creation of jobs as there is a high unemployment rate. The country has to diversify their energy portfolio and give tax incentives for renewable energy as 31 states already do. Energy policy has to be economy friendly and at the same time people friendly. Asked about nuclear energy, Ringo said that he wants nuclear safety first but that America is a country who when prompted gets things done. That is why he called his Alliance after the Apollo space program because after Kennedy said in his famous speech that in 10 years, America will be on the moon, the country did it in 8.

His movement is a civil movement of a civil society. For the people, it is important that they recognize the value of their involvement and that there is a process of engagement. That is why he wants to teach prisoners in green entry level jobs so they have something to fall back on when they get out of prison.

Asked about the standards for developing countries, Ringo said that we cannot have the same mandate for developing countries but that the rich countries have to extend a hand and give something back. The attempt of China to be classified a developing nation, Ringo sees as preposterous as China is a prospering nation with one of the highest energy outputs in the world.

In cooperation with the Consulate General of the United States Düsseldorf, the DGAP Forum NRW and Deutsche Telekom.