2 ms·
There's a difference between a one-time cost and a variable cost. "Spending" carbon (via concrete) in order to reduce society's "spending" of carbon (via infras
by mabbo 8y ago
There's a difference between a one-time cost and a variable cost. "Spending" carbon (via concrete) in order to reduce society's "spending" of carbon (via infrastructure improvements) should usually come out to a net gain.
It's an investment.
While I agree we need to include all costs in the accounting and improve the concrete industry as well, we shouldn't let the fact that carbon is emitted by concrete creation stop us from making these investments.
- _jal 8y agoSure. Many things are. The question is not whether concrete is a marvelously useful material; the question is whether other materials might have fewer negative externalities without compromising function. Note that you can rewrite that notion to discourage thinking about replacements for lots of things in the modern economy. Oil is a major input into nearly all other investments, so "spending" dino-juice carbon to enable everything else should usually come out a net gain, right?