Ask HN: What are you working to help make the world more sustainable? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What are you working to help make the world more sustainable?

5 pointszakary6 comments

I saw this video from economics explained today: https://youtube.com/watch?v=kVOTPAxrrP4

Which talks about how an MIT computer model from 1972 ‘predicted’ a collapse of our growth based global economy. And how it appears we’re on track to meet that prediction.

So it has me thinking: Yes clearly political and social change are needed more than anything. But engineers like me don’t control governments.

So what is there that a person can work on which is most likely to have to greatest positive impact on helping the world get past the coming energy, climate and population crises?

At the moment I’m working on a robotics project which it is hoped will make fully autonomous mining and manufacturing closer to reality.

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Regarding climate:

Carbon intensive manufacturing stays Carbon intensive if automated. You only allow humans to do another thing. Not trying to be offensive.

Having said that, I think you can make the greatest impact by trying to influence politics to step up the gears - a lot. Yes, you aren't a politician. But Greta Thunberg is neither. Still she mobilized masses of people which certainly had a lot of influence on politics.

i would dismiss these 'predictions' right away. In the 1970s it was impossible to foresee the situation that we are in now (such as the concept of personal data and how it may be a problem if i have a lot of data about you). it just didn't exist back then.

However, even if we are not heading for direct doom, its a good question to ask how to contribute.I just created a very similar thread.

I think a safe bet for contributing longterm is supporting the scientific process, shorter term it could be humanitarian work, like supplying energy or hospitals to 3rd countries perhaps?

The study was repeatedly updated. Latest correction is from Gaya Herrington (2021).

fair, i will take another look, even though i am sceptical.

edit: i don't see a link to any of the papers anywhere near the video, could you post a link?

The world3 model is available as a library in the open source package modelica: https://build.openmodelica.org/Documentation/SystemDynamics....

You can download the free openmodelica package and run world3 yourself: https://www.openmodelica.org/

A news article about Gaya Herrington's analysis is here: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/25/gaya-her...

You're looking at it as a robotics engineer not an economist.

'Economic Growth' is an increase in the opportunities available to entrepreneurs.

No 'model' will ever beat the capitalist free market with 6 billion agents cooperating to satisfy the infinite wants and desires of humans. Clean air, water and natural surroundings is one of those desires, just have a look at the Sotheby's real estate website.

Socialists are working to destroy this platform and replace it with a tiny elite coercing the rest of us to supply only their wants, desires and fantasies.

Don't be a socialist.

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