‘Green growth’ doesn’t exist – less of everything only way to avert catastrophe | Hacker News Reader

‘Green growth’ doesn’t exist – less of everything only way to avert catastrophe

theguardian.com

18 pointspaulpauper5 comments

Here's a fascinating talk by Václav Smil at the Driva Climate Investment Meeting in 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkj_91IJVBk

Bill Gates calls him "one of my favorite thinkers" and reviews his recent book "Growth":

> Vaclav Smil ... reaches the ... conclusion: Earth is fragile and “before it is too late, we should embark in earnest on the most fundamental existential [task] of making any future growth compatible with the long-term preservation of the only biosphere we have.”

https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Growth

I understand where the author is coming from. However, I don't think that stopping "growth" is possible. Our society cannot stagnate, either we continue to grow, most likely in unpredictable ways, or society die out. "Green" alternatives are popping up everywhere and a lot of them are far from perfect but we can only try to do better. This article just comes off as unnecessary and dishonnest rambling. No alternative to our current model is offered here.

Way back in 2006 Monbiot published a book, Heat: How To Stop The Planet Burning, which set out what would be needed to have a shot at limiting climate change.

Insulation retrofits on all buildings, replacing cement with non-emitting alternatives, re-doing the transport system wholesale, etc., etc.: you know, the works, starting today--i.e., 2006. I found it to be an objective look at the scale of the problem at the time. I'll re-read it now in the light of another 15 years' events.

He seems much more despairing now.

| He seems much more despairing now.

Interesting how more data alone makes his same exact words sound much more dire.

If I believed this article were true, then I'd be in favor of giving up on all efforts to be more environmentally friendly, since they have a cost but wouldn't be enough to make a difference, and what it would take to make a difference would completely ruin everyone's lives.

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