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It is much more about economic reality than ambition. Replacing fossil fuel energy sources with renewable energy sources is an expensive process. Some argue tha

It is much more about economic reality than ambition. Replacing fossil fuel energy sources with renewable energy sources is an expensive process. Some argue that it is the responsibility of the nations of this world to make sure it's implemented, i.e., the governments, but it's difficult to see how this can be done efficiently through either a democratic or undemocratic process. Getting the state to produce anything puts you at risk of ending up with the Trabant version of whatever product or service we're talking about. Furthermore, it's difficult to foresee which problems will arise from replacing fossil fuel energy with renewables like wind or solar.

andygates 7y ago
Capex on new solar is cheaper than opex on old coal. It's not an expensive process, not any more. Objections that it is are just out of date - fairly common for objections to tech.
- patricius 7y ago
  According to someone, sure. But it is an expression of human arrogance to think that climate change can be fought just by following this here recipe and that we can look into the future and see that there will be a net benefit to changing to this or that energy source.
  - crooked-v 7y ago
    > But it is an expression of human arrogance to think that climate change can be fought just by following this here recipe The causes of anthropogenic climate change are extremely well documented and easily measureable, and "reduce the amount of carbon put into the air and recapture carbon already in the air if possible" isn't very complicated, just expensive.
    - patricius 7y ago
      > The causes of anthropogenic climate change are extremely well documented and easily measureable, and "reduce the amount of carbon put into the air and recapture carbon already in the air if possible" isn't very complicated, just expensive. An honest question: If I were to go about convincing myself of anthropogenic climate change and possibly that these changes would lead to a horrible future for humankind, where should I look? What should I read? Which videos to watch? The mainstream media portrays the science as settled, i.e., anthropogenic climate change is real and horrible consequences will follow, even though it isn't difficult to find disagreeing opinions - both from people on the fringes and from Nobel-winning scientists. I hear convincing arguments from both sides. I should mention that I am extremely sceptical of anything the state does, so I am biased against any solution involving the state. I fear that the fight against anthropogenic climate change is just another tool to increase state power, like the war on drugs or the war on poverty.

andygates 7y ago

Capex on new solar is cheaper than opex on old coal. It's not an expensive process, not any more. Objections that it is are just out of date - fairly common for objections to tech.

patricius 7y ago
According to someone, sure. But it is an expression of human arrogance to think that climate change can be fought just by following this here recipe and that we can look into the future and see that there will be a net benefit to changing to this or that energy source.
- crooked-v 7y ago
  > But it is an expression of human arrogance to think that climate change can be fought just by following this here recipe The causes of anthropogenic climate change are extremely well documented and easily measureable, and "reduce the amount of carbon put into the air and recapture carbon already in the air if possible" isn't very complicated, just expensive.
  - patricius 7y ago
    > The causes of anthropogenic climate change are extremely well documented and easily measureable, and "reduce the amount of carbon put into the air and recapture carbon already in the air if possible" isn't very complicated, just expensive. An honest question: If I were to go about convincing myself of anthropogenic climate change and possibly that these changes would lead to a horrible future for humankind, where should I look? What should I read? Which videos to watch? The mainstream media portrays the science as settled, i.e., anthropogenic climate change is real and horrible consequences will follow, even though it isn't difficult to find disagreeing opinions - both from people on the fringes and from Nobel-winning scientists. I hear convincing arguments from both sides. I should mention that I am extremely sceptical of anything the state does, so I am biased against any solution involving the state. I fear that the fight against anthropogenic climate change is just another tool to increase state power, like the war on drugs or the war on poverty.