tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post5939513595433097508..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: Climate Change: No Matter the CostAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-50269514776416198362010-02-20T17:43:03.526-07:002010-02-20T17:43:03.526-07:00Good article, posing interesting questions. My sub...Good article, posing interesting questions. My submission is on the economics of not addressing climate change. <br /><br />It is certain that large capital investment will be necessary to kick start the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. However, I believe that once a level playing field has been established, the change will start to pay for itself. Remember that the oil and coal industry have had a great head start, with huge amounts of public money invested in infrastructure and innovation. This level of public support has not been available to renewable research and infrastructure until now. The famed low costs of fossil fuel burning is only so due to the high levels of public investment in the past (who set up the power grids? how much support has been given to the large car manufacturers, not only in subsidies to produce, but also in the neglect of public transport infrastructure?). The fossil fuel industry also relies on not having to pay for the clean up of the pollution. If this factor was included, fossil fuels would be prohibitively expensive, and there would be a rush on solar PV!<br /><br />Would spending on renewable infrastructure be at the expense of other social spending? I don't see how that follows logically. There may have to be a cut in defence spending and arms research. A cut of 10% in US arms research would pay for all the world's anti-malarial programs. Remember also the large amounts of money spent in the last days of the Bush admin (850 billion) as a direct grant to the finance industry. This type of grant may have to be curtailed in the future. <br /><br />Finally we must ask who benefits from the ownership of energy resources in the world today? It certainly doesn't generate the number of jobs that the renewable energy sector will given an even playing field. However, it is very likely that the vested interests of the oil and coal sector will prevent a level playing field in the energy sector. They have always won in the past.Richard in Darwinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-9927810495161968452009-12-21T09:16:55.228-07:002009-12-21T09:16:55.228-07:00Okay, I admit solving climate change won't be ...Okay, I admit solving climate change won't be easy. But there are some simple and obvious steps (that don't cost much) that can help and are being ignored:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.selfdestructivebastards.com/2009/11/low-hanging-fruit.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.selfdestructivebastards.com/2009/11/low-hanging-fruit.html</a><br /><br />Remember conservation doesn't cost money, and can even save a lot. We don't have to spend our way out of this problem.<br /><br />Also, as hard as it might be, I think it's clear we can solve global warming with much less effort than WWII:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.selfdestructivebastards.com/2009/12/world-war-ii.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.selfdestructivebastards.com/2009/12/world-war-ii.html</a>Chris Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07305747866146613339noreply@blogger.com