Thousands of scientists warn climate tipping points ‘imminent’

Re:Thousands of scientists warn climate tipping points ‘immi... by applepple on Thursday July 29, 2021 @05:39AM (#27994571)

The best way to stop global warning is through intervention by Central Banks. We need to create monetary policy which promotes incentives such as green energy and carbon capture technology. We also need to focus on improving battery technology to store excess energy for later use.

We need to introduce innovation permits to restrict who is allowed to work on green tech so that we don't waste effort reinventing the wheel. We need to bring all the top green energy minds under one roof with one director at the top who has a PhD and a proven track record of success at raising capital.

The key to innovation is to reduce competition and increase collaboration. With such focus, it's critical that we don't put the wrong people in a position of power. We need a solid proven track record in academia, politics and/or business - The only way to do this is by looking at the financial track record. The stock market is the only mechanism which we can trust for ranking top people. Mediocre people who can't achieve success in such easy economic times should not occupy positions of power. If they can't make it during such easy fiscally expansionary times, how will they perform during hard times?

We need better leaders with a proven track record and top credentials from top universities.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Thousands of scientists warn climate tipping points ‘immi... by spicymaki on Thursday July 29, 2021 @07:31AM (#27995239)

To summarize, you are asking for a hero to come and to save us all with the power of meritocracy. This hero of yours is a PhD executive (from a top university) with access to venture capital and will lead other eminent people to produce world changing green technologies. The stock market will be the bar for which this hero is selected.

Companies that exploit the environment already have PhD executive types (from great schools) with great track records and amazing access to capital already. That is part of the problem. These eminent people have already decided that their personal wealth now is worth destroying our future.

These geniuses have already found a solution: rampant hedonism. Squeeze out every moment of pleasure while you still can and when time is up, jet over to New Zealand and hunker down while the world is engulfed in flames.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Thousands of scientists warn climate tipping points ‘immi... by tsimionescu on Thursday July 29, 2021 @08:44AM (#27995792)

First of all, to have any hope of of reducing global warming to mild proportions, energy usage will have to shrink, and so will the economy. We are simply too far advanced for any green energy solution and magical carbon sequestration to be able to help in time while also growing the global economy. Since we also want the global south to reach decent levels of development, the rich countries will have to accept even more shrinkage in their economy to accommodate rising consumption in the poorer ones - especially those hurt the most by the last few centuries of industrial progress.

This shrinkage will happen either way, due to the effects of global warming in theatter half of this century - today, we still have an option of doing it in a somewhat controlled manner. Tomorrow we will not.

Secondly, it is important to realize that it is theoretically impossible, not just technologically, to produce a battery that has the energy density of gasoline or most fossil fuels. The best realistic batteries we can think of are about 6MJ/kg, compared to 44-50 MJ/kg for hydrocarbons. This also means that transportation will become much more expensive in the coming decades, especially for goods - a battery powered cargo ship will transport ~10 times less cargo per journey than today, and so will an electrical truck (though the truck would likely be replaced by rail transport).

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