The United Nations Climate Summit taking place here in New York is, of course, a venue for important scientific releases highlighting the now well-established consensus on both the economic and social severity of inaction on global warming.  These statements will bolster thoughtful proposals to move nations to a common ground on a framework for action. (See related post: “The Gathering Storm: U.S. Must Lead Action on Climate Change.”)

While these efforts are critically needed, they are not enough.  Without greater attention to individual consumers, we are likely to continue down the ineffective path where we’ve wandered for decades. Simply put, we need to take a fresh look at how to engage a national movement around the real benefits of a