Mike Trombley and Jack Barshaw discuss preparing for the climate emergency

00:03 All right.

00:03 Hi everybody, my name is Jack I'm recording this StoryCorps interview on Ann Arbor Community Resilience in the Face of Climate Change for a class. So if anyone's listening that's not in the class, welcome. I don't know how you got here, but welcome. I'm here with Mike Mike is my mom's long term boyfriend. He's lived in Ann arbor for the 10 plus years that I've known him. So I thought he would be a good person to talk to about this. So, Mike if we're envisioning it's the year 2030 and the community of Ann Arbor has gotten to the point of carbon neutrality, what do you think is a specific behavior change that you would have, that you have made in the 10 years between, well, eight years now, between 2022 and 2030. What's a behavior change that you credit as helping to make a difference?

00:59 Well, probably because I've been in the auto industry my whole life. My first thing is when I think of, when I think about my next vehicle, I really think, like right now I drive a Jeep Wrangler, probably not the most fuel efficient vehicle, but I really see myself considering that, you know, looking at electric vehicles as alternatives. I mean, the market is becoming more and more, there's more and more choices. And I think that even if there is somewhat of a cost impact, that's something that between now and 2030, I would absolutely consider because I do recognize, you know, my Jeep is, you know, very inefficient from a fuel standpoint. So that's the first thing that comes to mind.

01:47 And how do you think that your neighbors or the neighborhood in general will also experiment with different behavior changes?

01:55 You know, when I think about the neighborhood, obviously you can use the whole car example because we're always buying new cars, but to kind of go down a different path. I kind of think about powering our homes and I look at, you know, solar power. You know, solar power was available when I was a kid, or at least it was talked about, or maybe not, you know, in my high school days, but nobody did it. I can't think of one person in my anywhere, friends, neighborhood that family had it. I view that as something that it's more up and coming. And I think in the next eight years, I kind of look at the neighborhood as there are going to be people trying it. And I think that's, you know, when you look to your community, you're going to be, you're going to be more inquisitive about that as an alternative. So, hey, you've tried it. Hey, what do you think of it? What's the pros, what's the cons? And that sharing of the experiences, I think is going to help, it's going to help the greater community take that leap. So I think that's.

02:50 Yeah.

02:51 Is that good?

02:51 And then so, right, you were talking about them, the community sharing experiences with.

02:57 Each other to promote, promote and share some of these new, what I'll say I want to hate, can't say new technologies because they're not, but more that are, that are becoming more available, that enables people to understand it better and to take that chance because they're, because they're listening to their neighbors or their community, if you will.

03:20 And then how do you think that this process of kind of sharing information will also affect the community and how they respond to certain crises in climate, say like a power outage or a blizzard.

03:38 Well, I like to think is, you know, especially if something like, you know, we talk about climate change and these events become more and more frequent. I really like to think as a community we look to help our own and those in needs. Right, the elderly, you know, that's the first one that comes to mind. But then also doing things to kind of help each other out. So kind of taking these events, as unfortunate as they are, but kind of rallying around each other to help ourselves, to help each other again, focusing on those with the greatest needs. So whether that's, you know, whether that's going out and running errands or getting food or, you know, even shovel in the snow, but different things where people just, I mean, I'm not talking about everyday life necessarily. I'm talking about, you know, I think you're speaking of when there's more of a, of a crisis in hand. Right. So I like to think that, you know, in time, as people recognize it and as they experience these more and more frequently, that people will certainly rally behind, rally as a neighborhood or as a community.

04:46 And then just as a kind of wrap up, thinking about the year 2030, how old's Ryan gonna be by then?

04:55 So he's 17 now. So at 8.

04:58 So what? 20?

05:00 25?

05:00 Yep, 25.

05:01 Excuse me. I know, 25. Right.

05:04 So think about that for the younger generation. What do you want them to know as they continue to face the next stages of the climate crisis in 2030 and beyond?

05:15 Well, I think you got to realize that it is real, it is connected some of this to the choices we've made. And I think you when you making your choices. And I'll pick on myself for making, you know, buying an suv, right? Do I need an suv? No, I just always wanted one. I always wanted a Jeep Wrangler. So what did I do? I bought it. I think, you know, hopefully, you know, in time we start making better decisions, you know. You know, teaching, you know, to focus on Ryan for a minute, teaching him about, hey, don't always just make the decisions in your little world or you're in a vacuum of just your life, think about the bigger picture. And sometimes even that bigger picture, maybe it ends up costing you a little bit more, but it's for the greater good. And I think kind of as a community, as a society, I don't think we're necessarily there yet. I think people make a lot of decisions that are in their own self interest and with the sense of deniability about any kind of impact that it has. But I'd like to think that hopefully the next generation connects the dots to the climate change that we're experiencing and says, if I do this, this, and this is going to happen and it'll continue to happen and continue to get worse. So as a result, I need to think again. I keep saying the same thing, but think with a bigger focus than just your individual self.

06:46 Cool. Well, thank you for inviting me into your house.

06:51 My pleasure, Jack Thanks for taking some time.

06:55 Yeah. And I have no idea how to end something like this, so I'm just going to say goodbye to everybody and maybe I will see you later.

07:03 Thanks, everybody.