"The most hated man in science" said that it may be too late to save civilization.

Civilization is on the cusp of the Third Industrial Revolution and "our Second Industrial Revolution is on life support," according to Jeremy Rifkin, president and founder of the Foundation on Economic Trends said.

We are in emergency mode.  Our dependence on non-renewable resources for energy is breaking the economic system we rely on, he said. 

The National Journal named Rifkin as one of the most influential people in shaping federal policy.  He has written 17 books on the impact scientific and technological changes have on the environment, the economy and society.          

Rifkin co-authored an article in the European Energy Review December 2008 issue, which says that we are facing a triple threat when it comes to the structure of our economy.  "The global credit crisis, the global energy crisis, and the global climate change crisis are interwoven and feed off of each other." 

"We need a new economic vision," Rifkin said.  New energy, coming from renewable resources, combined with advancement in communication technology is needed for an effective energy revolution to take place.  Rethinking distribution of energy is the solution to the energy crisis, according to Rifkin. 

Making a smooth transition from the Second Industrial Revolution into the Third depends on the construction of four pillars, Rifkin said.  The first pillar is creating dependable forms of renewable energy.  The second pillar is turning buildings into miniature power plants, which can be done by installing solar panels on rooftops.  The third pillar is hydrogen storage.  "Hydrogen is the universal medium that 'stores' all forms of renewable energy," and allows for easy transport.  The fourth, and final pillar is the reconfiguration of the power grid.   By changing the way energy is produced and distributed, businesses and homeowners can create and share energy with each other.