October 25, 2021

Background
The upcoming COP26 meeting in Scotland does not herald a breakthrough in the global cooperative, coordinated action that is absolutely essential to replace nuclear fission, coal, gas and oil with renewable energy, particularly hydrogen, to generate electricity. The probable absence of Presidents Putin and Xi speaks volumes about their apparent unwavering unwillingness to compartmentalize the ongoing confrontation in the South China Sea, the Ukraine, Georgia, and the Black Sea, to name a few, from climate change.

The Danger
Left unresolved, either issue could cause the extinction of humanity. The difference between them is the speed at which they are progressing. Climate change resembles relentless, slow-moving magma; the geopolitical confrontation is like a brewing category 30 hurricane –and our much esteemed world leaders are playing Chicken with it.

The Issues
The Ukraine and Georgia wish to join NATO, a red line for Russia. In effect, without firing a bullet, that would recreate World War II’s Eastern Front as it was just prior to the fall of Sebastopol. Should the Ukraine join NATO, nothing would prevent the U.S. from deploying short-range nuclear-tipped missiles within 300 miles from Moscow. In Georgia’s case, it would allow NATO to target Russia’s southern oilfields, Hitler’s strategic objective in the summer of 1942. For Russia, these events would be of seismic proportions. It’s not our place to predict if, when or how it might react, but chances are it will. In a nutshell, Russia, the immovable object, demands no change to the status quo; conversely, NATO the irresistible force, says it’s not Russia’s business to prevent two sovereign nations from joining NATO. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, the main bones of contention are the South China Sea and Taiwan. There the roles are reversed. The irresistible force is China, which is determined to gain unchallenged control of both; the immovable object is Taiwan backed by the U.S. and its allies: they demand no change to the status quo. There are of course other simmering flashpoints such as Iran and Israel, China and India, and Pakistan and India, but with the exception of Iran these do not directly involve the U.S.

The Irony
China, Japan, Europe, Russia, India and the U.S. depend on fossil fuels, mainly coal, to generate most of their electricity. Therefore, for all of them, unrestricted, guaranteed access to these fuels is a matter of national security. Accordingly, unless and until this happy state of affairs is achieved, the geopolitical confrontation, today’s sword of Damocles, will continue to swing over humanity’s heads. And energy is not the only crisis. Water is equally important, from worsening droughts, rapidly depleting aquifers already beyond the tipping point, and disappearing glaciers, to catastrophic floods and rising seas, all exacerbated by climate change.

Making a Difference
Hydrogen is our only hope to address the water/energy crises. The technology already exists, including adequate catalysts, to extract as much as needed from the ocean by electrolysis using renewable forms of energy. Accordingly, any polity with abundant sunlight, geothermal and/or wind and a suitable coastline, could potentially produce more hydrogen than it might consume. The technology also exists, including an advanced turbine capable of burning hydrogen 24/7 directly without fuel cells, to build a global network of hydrogen-powered plants to produce water and electricity. Of course, an effort of this scope and magnitude would require peaceful and coordinated political, technological and financial cooperation. It can be done, it should be done, and now is the time to take action, before it’s too late.