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Can you connect the dots a bit more than that? To me this just sounds like self-serving hand-waving.

by cowpig 3y ago

atleastoptimal 3y ago
Technological innovation allows the same amount of consumption with far less collateral impact. For example, before AC, electrification required 1000x more wire than it does now. Streets were covered in poles and electrical wire. Cars produced far more and worse pollution. Every technological innovation in the aim of efficiency reduces the negative collateral impact of human civilization. Likewise, more recently, the lowered cost of solar, EV's, etc are all made possible through forward-thinking innovation.
- makeitdouble 3y ago
  Technological innovation improved our lives and reduced negative impact on humans, without improving the long term prospect environment wise. Plastics are an example of this: it helps us first and formost, and the rest of the ecosystem is worse for it. Acceleratibg that trend doesn't help IMHO.
- lapcat 3y ago
  > For example, before AC, electrification required 1000x more wire than it does now. Streets were covered in poles and electrical wire. What do you mean "before AC"? AC was invented more than 100 years ago. The wires are still there. The power companies just tend to bury them underground nowadays. Out of sight, out of mind. In any case, what does this have to do with global warming? > Cars produced far more and worse pollution. The change is due to government regulation of emissions. Good luck getting the auto manufacturers to give a crap on their own. Even EVs are heavily subsidized by government funds. Besides, the primary cause of global warming is manufacturing, not auto emissions, which is why global warming hasn't stopped despite an improved emissions situation. And it's also why accelerationism is not a solution.
- lm28469 3y ago
  And before electricity we required 0 wires. Before cars 0 petrol It was all brought by "technology". We live better than before but not in a sustainable way, replacing every gas car by an EV won't do much, it'll buy us a couple of decades at best, you still need batteries, plastic, steel, energy

Can you connect the dots a bit more than that? To me this just sounds like self-serving hand-waving.

by cowpig 3y ago

Can you connect the dots a bit more than that? To me this just sounds like self-serving hand-waving.

Technological innovation allows the same amount of consumption with far less collateral impact. For example, before AC, electrification required 1000x more wire than it does now. Streets were covered in poles and electrical wire. Cars produced far more and worse pollution. Every technological innovation in the aim of efficiency reduces the negative collateral impact of human civilization. Likewise, more recently, the lowered cost of solar, EV's, etc are all made possible through forward-thinking innovation.

makeitdouble 3y ago
Technological innovation improved our lives and reduced negative impact on humans, without improving the long term prospect environment wise. Plastics are an example of this: it helps us first and formost, and the rest of the ecosystem is worse for it. Acceleratibg that trend doesn't help IMHO.
lapcat 3y ago
> For example, before AC, electrification required 1000x more wire than it does now. Streets were covered in poles and electrical wire. What do you mean "before AC"? AC was invented more than 100 years ago. The wires are still there. The power companies just tend to bury them underground nowadays. Out of sight, out of mind. In any case, what does this have to do with global warming? > Cars produced far more and worse pollution. The change is due to government regulation of emissions. Good luck getting the auto manufacturers to give a crap on their own. Even EVs are heavily subsidized by government funds. Besides, the primary cause of global warming is manufacturing, not auto emissions, which is why global warming hasn't stopped despite an improved emissions situation. And it's also why accelerationism is not a solution.
lm28469 3y ago
And before electricity we required 0 wires. Before cars 0 petrol It was all brought by "technology". We live better than before but not in a sustainable way, replacing every gas car by an EV won't do much, it'll buy us a couple of decades at best, you still need batteries, plastic, steel, energy