It really is like a fad and perhaps almost a religious compulsion - pragmatically speaking, there's no real reason to go so hard for Net Zero. Hopefully the Awareness comes sooner rather than later, as the longer we spend doing it, the more painful it will be to stop.
Great article, Richard. However, I don’t believe Germany, the UK or Canada “want to be first because we want to be first”
They are claiming to be the first because their governments lack the knowledge and the courage to really understand the energy transition and explain to their very large majority that the vocal minority, whilst expressing a very desirable end state, lack basic understanding of energy economics and have no tangible idea how we will get from where we are to where they demand that we be.
The energy transition is, as you say, a “wicked problem” but how does a politicien tell their voters that there is no envisageable solution and to get to a desirable place we will have to work though trail and error a multitude of solutions, many of which will fail.
Agreed. I did see a quote from a German politician - basically saying, "we know what we need to do, but wont get reelected if we do it" And this is the classic rock-and-a-hard-place where energy policy will suffer from lack of spine, and climate folks will scream not enough is being done (not that anything would ever be "enough" in some eyes). That said, I do think the Overton Window is shifting to greater pragmatism (maybe not in Germany). And for both climate and energy policy the democratic cycle is a problem - given that it drives short-term populist politics - whereas energy policy (and climate policy if different) are multi-decadal undertakings. Not saying I want a dictatorship, but it is problematic!
I have always found the word 'progressive' interesting. Its connotation in socio-political circles is almost uniformly positive. But the word has the built-in assumption that one can only 'progress' to some as yet unrealized ideal. As you note (especially with that nice photograph), it is entirely possible to progress off a cliff.
The charge of the noble six hundred.
It really is like a fad and perhaps almost a religious compulsion - pragmatically speaking, there's no real reason to go so hard for Net Zero. Hopefully the Awareness comes sooner rather than later, as the longer we spend doing it, the more painful it will be to stop.
Great article, Richard. However, I don’t believe Germany, the UK or Canada “want to be first because we want to be first”
They are claiming to be the first because their governments lack the knowledge and the courage to really understand the energy transition and explain to their very large majority that the vocal minority, whilst expressing a very desirable end state, lack basic understanding of energy economics and have no tangible idea how we will get from where we are to where they demand that we be.
The energy transition is, as you say, a “wicked problem” but how does a politicien tell their voters that there is no envisageable solution and to get to a desirable place we will have to work though trail and error a multitude of solutions, many of which will fail.
Agreed. I did see a quote from a German politician - basically saying, "we know what we need to do, but wont get reelected if we do it" And this is the classic rock-and-a-hard-place where energy policy will suffer from lack of spine, and climate folks will scream not enough is being done (not that anything would ever be "enough" in some eyes). That said, I do think the Overton Window is shifting to greater pragmatism (maybe not in Germany). And for both climate and energy policy the democratic cycle is a problem - given that it drives short-term populist politics - whereas energy policy (and climate policy if different) are multi-decadal undertakings. Not saying I want a dictatorship, but it is problematic!
Awesome as usual!
Thanks Jusper!
I have always found the word 'progressive' interesting. Its connotation in socio-political circles is almost uniformly positive. But the word has the built-in assumption that one can only 'progress' to some as yet unrealized ideal. As you note (especially with that nice photograph), it is entirely possible to progress off a cliff.
As a young man I loved rock-climbing - and was typically conservative rather than progressive when in the mountains. Still alive today... just sayin'!