5 ms·
It’s so insignificant that at best we might delay the climate catastrophe by a few seconds
by monsecchris 2y ago
It’s so insignificant that at best we might delay the climate catastrophe by a few seconds
- Xelbair 2y agoPeople might not like this, but that's true. as long as non-western countries keep polluting - even if we achieve net-zero nothing will change other than us feeling better and patting ourselves in the back.
- exe34 2y ago[flagged]
- threeseed 2y agoMainly because it's asinine to think that the entire green economy only exists for virtue signalling and not because there are significant amounts of money to be made.
- threeseed 2y agoThis is a very misguided view of the situation. a) The transition to clean energy, transportation etc by Western countries funds the development and investment in new technologies. These then filter down to developing countries when the economies of scale kick in e.g. solar panels, electric cars. b) There are also other benefits to cleaner solutions than just trying to achieve net-zero. Reductions in pollution reduce morbidity, improve productivity, improve happiness, secure food supply etc.
- graemep 2y agoI think you overestimate the importance of what the West does. The West no longer dominates the world economically. Things no longer filter down the rest of the world as simply as you think. China is a bigger economy than any Western economy than the US, and is growing. India is about as big as any European economy. Both, and many other countries are doing more and more of their own R & D and have their own agendas.
- elcritch 2y agoThe West still leads in overall R&D. Even TSMC advanced nodes ultimately rely on western equipment and technology. New advancements in AI and vaccines were western as well. China has made impressive bounds in R&D but still lags in many fields of scientific research. Much of their research output is derivative in my experience of reading a fair bit of research articles in several fields. However China does lead in many fields of manufacturing. The western countries are far behind in there. That is important in terms of global leadership in renewable energy.
- graemep 2y agoThere is a big difference between "leads" and "dominates".
- threeseed 2y agoa) China is third to US and EU in terms of GDP. And their economy is on a downwards trajectory. b) Majority of the early R&D in solar, EVs etc came from the US. China has been vital in driving unit economics.
- Xelbair 2y agoa) China is third to US and EU in terms of GDP. And their economy is on a downwards trajectory. what about population? as that's the main driving factor for pollution - especially if you couple that with energy needs.
- pfdietz 2y agoChinese population is falling now, I believe. There's some talk the ~1.4 B official figure is seriously overstated as well.
- realusername 2y agoTheir population is stagnating and there's some good signs that the numbers they gave were not accurate in the first place, China's real population is likely lower than India.
- Xelbair 2y agoI expected average HN user to be aware of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons
- fragmede 2y agoKnocking the western 30% of pollution down to zero is still meaningful, even if the remaining 70% isn't affected (which it will be). China, one is the most polluting non-western countries, is going to renewables and electric vehicles at a faster rate than some of the western countries.
- alecco 2y ago* acording to CCP's reported numbers
- weebull 2y ago> China, one is the most polluting non-western countries, is going to renewables and electric vehicles at a faster rate than some of the western countries. Its not "going to renewables". It's building the fastest amount of renewable generation, but that's new capacity, not replacement. It's also building the most coal plants and nuclear plants and anything else. It's all new capacity. Same with cars. Most EVs and most ICes. China is growing, and is doing so in all directions.
- greenavocado 2y agoDrinking game. Drop Google Street View anywhere on the territory of India. If there is a trash pile visible, take a shot.
- fulafel 2y agoAnd as long as oil producing countries (hello uk/us) keep pumping it out. We need intl agreements to ramp this down fast.
- beo35 2y agoPer capita EU is a far bigger polluter than non developed countries.