Revolutions Don't Happen in Committees

While what's going on in Bali right now is so important, it's not going to be the magic band-aid that fixes global warming. It's going to take all of us, going back to fundamentals and finding a Better Way to do everyday things.

For those of us already in the movement, our job right now is to build a bigger tent and get everybody else inside; after all, 81 percent of Americans feel it's their responsibility to do something about climate change -- they want in. So when I ask you how many people it takes to install a compact fluorescent lightbulb, the answer is two: you and your friend who still hasn't taken that first step. Now you've helped him into the tent and the climate movement isn't a secret club anymore.

This is why last year I became an adviser (and later an investor) for a company called Brighter Planet. What they're about is giving people tools they can use to do their part for global warming. They just launched their first tool: a credit card that helps build renewable energy projects every time you use it. This is important because now we have a way to get people thinking about climate change every day, when they're buying their coffees and their Diet Cokes. And they're talking about it with others -- cashiers, friends, strangers. It's a part of their lives, and they can feel good about their progress.

Global warming doesn't have to be a hopeless moral burden only to be hashed out in smoke-filled rooms. We don't have to wait for policies and treaties to get started. It's time for action, now, and the revolution begins with you.