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> "The ultimate control knob on atmospheric CO2 is fossil-fuel emissions,” said Ralph Keeling. “But we still have a long way to go to halt the rise, as each yea
by aazaa 5y ago
> "The ultimate control knob on atmospheric CO2 is fossil-fuel emissions,” said Ralph Keeling. “But we still have a long way to go to halt the rise, as each year more CO2 piles up in the atmosphere. We ultimately need cuts that are much larger and sustained longer than the COVID-related shutdowns of 2020."
I get the sense that most people concerned about this trend hold out a lot of hope for technology. But cuts as large as Keeling is talking about will take sustained cuts to consumption. In other words, rich countries actually consuming less, despite the economic consequences. It could take the form of rationing. Maybe consumption taxes. Maybe something more unusual. And that's never been on the table in any meaningful way.
- shoo 5y ago> But cuts as large as Keeling is talking about will take sustained cuts to consumption. I agree. Yesterday, the size of humanity was insignificantly small compared to the size of the earth's environment -- resources available to support a reasonable standard of living were so abundant as to be effectively infinite. Today, after the successful growth throughout the last few centuries, the size of humanity is comparable in some respects to the size of parts of the environment. the environment is no longer infinite, it is finite and will increasingly constrain human activity. Beliefs that are held dear in parts of the rich world (emphasis on individual rights and freedom, consumerism, unregulated population growth, population fueled economic growth to increase the pie rather than reallocating the pie) that were good enough yesterday may no longer be a particularly adaptive way to run society today and tomorrow.