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Every human problem is in essence a problem of energy abundance. We need to embrace all technologies that let us unlock more energy wielded per capita, preferab
by gottorf 3y ago
Every human problem is in essence a problem of energy abundance. We need to embrace all technologies that let us unlock more energy wielded per capita, preferably without harmful side-effects like pollution, but where there exist side-effects they must be weighed against the benefit, instead of being categorically banned.
The latter, without an alternative source of energy, just means people will be worse off. Greenlash is already a thing in many developed countries that have tried to set unrealistic policy goals. In my opinion, the focus on net-zero should really be a focus on a clean, abundant, and cheap energy source -- like fusion, if it can be realized. Instead, it seems like the current focus of net-zero is on how to divide the energy we can currently produce and in what way.
It is immoral to ask or force the global poor living in yet-to-be-developed countries to not raze their forests for agriculture or other use, when it is the same path that every developed nation has already trod; and besides, they aren't going to listen either way, when their own livelihoods are at stake. The way out of the problem is through: through more energy.
- mistrial9 3y agocheck out "energy efficiency" -- very useful; also "budget"
- Libcat99 3y agoMore energy only takes you so far. Unless we leave earth https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2012/04/economist-meets-physicist/ https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2012/04/economist-meets-physicist...
- badtension 3y agoPeople will always need more energy, that's why cheap nuclear is a fallacy that many fall for (Jevons paradox). We need high marginal energy prices, preferably progressively increasing with usage. Similar with other types of consumerism.
- gottorf 3y ago> cheap nuclear is a fallacy that many fall for (Jevons paradox) Jevons paradox does not apply here. All of human progress has basically been about being able to use more energy per capita. You're right that people will always need more energy -- if they want to progress. A call for higher marginal energy prices effectively means that you're declaring that this is as good as humanity will ever be, and nobody would need anything better (in the sense that "640KB ought to be enough").