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Big changes need government intervention. The government needs to take away the option to run cars, trucks, etc on gasoline, and restrict flights that don't use

Big changes need government intervention. The government needs to take away the option to run cars, trucks, etc on gasoline, and restrict flights that don't use renewable energy (such as via Hydrogen). Otherwise the individual can only do a very little, and often can't afford to do that.

sharemywin 5y ago
or at least require the cost of putting carbon back into the ground to be factor price. The problem is when you slow gdp it's the most marginalized that are hit the hardest. So, the CEO only makes 10M instead of 50M(or whatever number) but what about the poor farmer that was making just enough to run his tractor to get by and feed his family.
- JulianMorrison 5y ago
  Carbon externality pricing is another attempt at market intervention that faceplants in practise. It doesn't get properly implemented, because it's politically unpopular, it gets fudged with highly speculative green-washing "offsets" that amount to planting a few trees and then counting your forests before they're grown (the trees subsequently die of neglect), and the costs get passed on to the little guy. The correct approach is to outright ban gasoline. There are cases where no alternative exists right now, such as flight. Those uses should be restricted away from casual use. Yes, this means no flying on holiday, until they get hydrogen airplanes up and running.
  - allemagne 5y ago
    Carbon pricing can't work because it's politically unpopular so the solution is to ban gasoline. Come on now.
    - JulianMorrison 5y ago
      You'd be surprised, but an all-in solution can be easier to sell than a mealy mouthed half-solution.
allemagne 5y ago
I strongly agree with you and the parent comment. Yes, people who refuse to recognize the problem beyond the greed of oil companies are a problem. Yes, oil companies are in fact a bigger problem. However, the biggest problem is if you want a government to stay in power long enough to actually do anything meaningful about eliminating carbon emissions, then announcing some kind of imminent intention to take away gasoline-powered cars and trucks is one of the worst things you can do.
- boplicity 5y ago
  The smart thing isn't to take away cars, but to invest heavily in high-quality alternatives, while making emissions increasingly expensive. Unfortunately, this isn't happening at nearly the level it should be.

sharemywin 5y ago

or at least require the cost of putting carbon back into the ground to be factor price. The problem is when you slow gdp it's the most marginalized that are hit the hardest. So, the CEO only makes 10M instead of 50M(or whatever number) but what about the poor farmer that was making just enough to run his tractor to get by and feed his family.

JulianMorrison 5y ago
Carbon externality pricing is another attempt at market intervention that faceplants in practise. It doesn't get properly implemented, because it's politically unpopular, it gets fudged with highly speculative green-washing "offsets" that amount to planting a few trees and then counting your forests before they're grown (the trees subsequently die of neglect), and the costs get passed on to the little guy. The correct approach is to outright ban gasoline. There are cases where no alternative exists right now, such as flight. Those uses should be restricted away from casual use. Yes, this means no flying on holiday, until they get hydrogen airplanes up and running.
- allemagne 5y ago
  Carbon pricing can't work because it's politically unpopular so the solution is to ban gasoline. Come on now.
  - JulianMorrison 5y ago
    You'd be surprised, but an all-in solution can be easier to sell than a mealy mouthed half-solution.

allemagne 5y ago

I strongly agree with you and the parent comment. Yes, people who refuse to recognize the problem beyond the greed of oil companies are a problem. Yes, oil companies are in fact a bigger problem. However, the biggest problem is if you want a government to stay in power long enough to actually do anything meaningful about eliminating carbon emissions, then announcing some kind of imminent intention to take away gasoline-powered cars and trucks is one of the worst things you can do.

boplicity 5y ago
The smart thing isn't to take away cars, but to invest heavily in high-quality alternatives, while making emissions increasingly expensive. Unfortunately, this isn't happening at nearly the level it should be.