Nate Hagens – Why The Next 40 Years Are Going To Be Tough
When economist Nate Hagens agreed to an interview for my second book (“Is Renewable Really Doable?”) I was quite pleased – in part because I knew that his thinking lies at odds with a great number of others who study the subject, and I wanted to present a well-rounded discussion to my readers. As opposed to those who see a vibrant new growth economy right around the corner, perhaps one based on an explosion of cleantech, Hagens explains why that won’t happen. Here’s a recent video on the subject.
As much respect as I have for Nate, I have to say that I’m skeptical of people who claim to predict what life will be like on this planet in 40 years. Here’s a quick list of causes of potential runaway change that I think renders any notion of life on Earth in 40 years completely unknowable:
- Rogue states with nuclear weapons
- Climate change and resultant extreme weather events and water/food shortages
- Breakthrough energy technology
- The trend toward fascism and people’s reaction to that trend
If the next 40 years become too tough, you may be certain that, for political reasons, renewables will not be doable. There is a limit to what people will accept when they see an alternative.