Does Civilization’s Approach to Sustainability Lie Behind Door #1, #2, or #3?
At a very high level, there are only three main viewpoints that one can take re: our civilization’s approach to sustainability:
1) Do nothing. Make no changes in the status quo, based on the belief that there are no real pressing problems, or, if there are, that there is nothing effective we can do about them.
2) Embrace cleantech. Understand that cleantech can be, or better, is destined to be, the defining industry in the 21st Century, that robust economic growth is completely consistent with our roles as stewards of our environment, and that, if it is to compete effectively, the U.S. needs to emulate the other countries in the world who expect to gain economic ground in the next 100 years. I.e., we need to provide our people and our business entities with financial incentives in this direction.
3) Understand that respect for our environment is absolutely necessary, but accept the fact that anything we do, whether or not we take the appropriate action, will mean economic stagnation. I.e., we’ve reached the end of both cheap energy and cheap credit, and we need to realize that we’ll be facing a significant period of negative economic growth.
As 2GreenEnergy readers already know, I believe in #2, and especially after doing the research for my new book (Bullish on Renewable Energy). I bring this up because here’s a report I just came across from some people in the UK who back me up, who claim that the world can improve living standards for all, while cutting climate-changing emissions to keep to an internationally agreed limit for global warming.
