Hopeful We Can Change

Yale-educated Wei-Tai Kwock surrendered his hard-won company and career to fight for our climate, working with Vice President Al Gore for the non-profit Climate Reality Project.  This wasn’t an obvious path. His grandfathers and father were into business and science. They had all fled China when the Communists took over in 1949, his parents coming to the U.S., his paternal grandparents going to the Philliipines . HIs grandparents never set foot in China again. (See Part 1 .)Wei-Tai's father did return, though, as soon as the country started ties with the U.S. (1979), and he took Wei-Tai with him. China was not as Wei-Tai's father remembered. Still, he was proud of the country's accomplishments, and eager to introduce other Americans to it. (See Part 2.) Wei-Tai also became enchanted with the idea of leading tour groups. (See Part 3.)Upon graduation, he decided to further his studies in China, attending Fudan University. He was one of many foreign students in what felt like a U.N. of sorts. After living and working in China for a bit, he got transferred to New York, and he quickly decided that city was not for him. He moved to California just in time for the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. ( See Part 4.) Wei-Tai worked for a nuclear energy company for a year. Then he was approached by friends who asked him to create multi-cultural advertisements. Although hesitant (as in, "No way!"), he soon not only joined Dae Advertising, but was in charge of it.  (See Post 5.).) He gave up his lucrative ad agency, and instead worked for Suntech Solar Power. (See Post 6.)When that went bankrupt, he worked for another solar company. Then, he decided to focus on the Climate Reality Project. Wei-Tai is concerned about China and America, two of the biggest polluters. He has faith China can make a difference, if it so decides.  (See Post 7.)
As for America’s challenges? Wei-Tai pointed out that our biggest climate challenge is the burning of fossil fuels. “Compared to all of the other countries, we’re one of the biggest per capita emitters, and I think we need to take responsibility for that, doing our part to lead to a solution. Unfortunately, Trump has said, ‘Let’s get out of the Paris Agreement.’” Wei-Tai takes heart that “not a single other country—of the 195—took that as an opportunity to say, ‘Well, if America gets out, then we’re out too.’

“America needs to take a leadership role.  And if this administration is not going to do it, then we need to find another leader. And fast.  The time is ticking. The United Nations most recent report said we have less than twelve years to address the climate crisis to avoid the worst consequences. I think the U.S. needs to lead. We are a superpower. We are the richest country in the world. We are all these things. We need to show some leadership here. “

For his part, Wei-Tai traded in his gas-powered car for electric, put solar panels on his house, and is taking steps towards becoming a vegetarian  (Raising cattle uses enormous amounts of resources like land, crops, water, and energy while producing a colossal amount of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.) This summer, he and his wife renovated their home to remove all fossil fuel appliances, including their gas furnace, gas water heater, gas cooktop and gas fireplace.

He also regularly contacts his elected representatives to keep them focused on climate issues.  Most importantly, though, he devotes his volunteer time to educating the public, the key change makers. Thirteen years ago when he saw An Inconvenient Truth, he was depressed. He was sure that his own children and grandchildren would witness only further destruction. Today, he is more hopeful.  Hopeful that we can learn what it is we are doing wrong and find ways to change.  “Solutions are all around us,” he remarked. “Youth are raising their voices and an increasing number of citizens are waking up with the desire to take action now.” All it takes is our willingness to make change. One person at a time.

With gratitude to Wei-Tai, this concludes this interview.

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