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Forget the past, do not play the blame game. Be practical. Look at the current state, and how it is expected to evolve: US and Europe, combined, have about a b
by sergiosgc 7y ago
Forget the past, do not play the blame game. Be practical. Look at the current state, and how it is expected to evolve:
US and Europe, combined, have about a billion people. The world is ten times that. Naturally, part of the remaining 9 billion already live in developed economies. Most don't, however. Those that do not have our standard of living _will_ increase their energy consumption as they develop, and they will develop.
Any decrease in EU+US energy consumption, be it via efficiency gains, be it via a very doubtful voluntary decrease in quality of life, will get wiped by the rest of the world developing.
I can comfortably state this: If we do not change energy sources towards clean energy, no other measure will save us. Working other avenues is an illusion that will keep us busy while driving towards the abyss.
- reitzensteinm 7y agoDon't underestimate the impact of leadership. There's no time to wait for renewables to be more economical, so there's going to be cost involved in the transition. If the wealthiest and largest total contributor shirks its responsibility, why on Earth should anyone else lift a finger? Conversely, once Western countries are below the per capita emissions of China, real political pressure can be applied.
- sergiosgc 7y agoThe US is much less of a world leader than North Americans think it is. Europe doesn't even try to grab the spot. Countries will do what is most efficient for them. Luckily, as solar is now cheaper than coal, it starts to look like the most efficient option is clean. Luckily, as I said before.
- reitzensteinm 7y agoSolar is not cheaper than coal. That's nonsense. The storage problem is yet to be solved. Economics won't get us out of this mess.