This article admits the obvious fact that the odds of limiting the rise in global average temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius are slim to none. Despite this the official party line from politicians and scientists still focuses on this goal as if it were achievable. Similarly, the politically correct scientific and political view is that wind and solar are the cheapest sources of energy. These two views are inconsistent in that if wind and solar were really cheaper than fossil fuels in delivering electricity, their adoption rate should be much higher than it is which would in turn make the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius more achievable.
As the article points out, admitting we are failing might raise the sense of urgency and spur more vigorous action. However this is unlikely. Politicians are most likely very aware how unattainable the 1.5 degree Celsius goal is. They are also aware of the political and financial constraints and at the same time want it to seem like they are accomplishing something useful.
All that politics can do is adjust the landscape for market forces to provide the solutions. This applies as much to centrally planned China as free market democracies. Until there are technical solutions that truly provide cheaper clean energy with sustainable resources and no political roadblocks, governments are already doing what fits within today’s political constraints.
Stratosolar is a technical solution that can make solar energy a realistic, cheaper, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. It's a one stop packaged solution with no external dependencies beyond regulatory site approvals. Because of the large scale of plants, relatively few sites need to be approved, about 100 for the US and 1000 worldwide. The small number of sites and the low environmental impact should enable very rapid deployment.
The climate problem is urgent but hoping that politicians will mandate drastic measures with severe economic consequences is naïve and foolish. Only when there is a viable alternative can politics act. This should have been the lesson learned from acid rain and ozone depletion where politics could act because viable solutions existed.
Stratosolar is a potentially viable solution that enables political action to succeed.
By Edmund Kelly
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25433903-000-admitting-we-may-fail-to-hit-1-5c-can-help-us-tackle-climate-change/
As the article points out, admitting we are failing might raise the sense of urgency and spur more vigorous action. However this is unlikely. Politicians are most likely very aware how unattainable the 1.5 degree Celsius goal is. They are also aware of the political and financial constraints and at the same time want it to seem like they are accomplishing something useful.
All that politics can do is adjust the landscape for market forces to provide the solutions. This applies as much to centrally planned China as free market democracies. Until there are technical solutions that truly provide cheaper clean energy with sustainable resources and no political roadblocks, governments are already doing what fits within today’s political constraints.
Stratosolar is a technical solution that can make solar energy a realistic, cheaper, sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. It's a one stop packaged solution with no external dependencies beyond regulatory site approvals. Because of the large scale of plants, relatively few sites need to be approved, about 100 for the US and 1000 worldwide. The small number of sites and the low environmental impact should enable very rapid deployment.
The climate problem is urgent but hoping that politicians will mandate drastic measures with severe economic consequences is naïve and foolish. Only when there is a viable alternative can politics act. This should have been the lesson learned from acid rain and ozone depletion where politics could act because viable solutions existed.
Stratosolar is a potentially viable solution that enables political action to succeed.
By Edmund Kelly
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25433903-000-admitting-we-may-fail-to-hit-1-5c-can-help-us-tackle-climate-change/
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