Channel banner for maca
Channel avatar for maca
Support climate action at all levels.

Report Postclose

Remove Postclose

Are you sure? After you remove the post, it will no longer appear in channel listings but you can access it directly. You can undo this later by clicking "approve".

Delete Postclose

Are you sure you want to delete this post? This is a permanent action and cannot be reversed.

You are viewing a single comment's thread.
View the rest of the comments
Profile image for Bruce H Parker

I think he is right about the "renewable delusion" both because of the points that he made and because the fossil fuel industry will be working to keep the "status quo". Unfortunately his "intelligent portfolio-based approach" falls way short of what need to be done to limit the temperature increase to less that 2 decrees C. We need to get used to the idea of living in a much warmer world.

1
|
reply
Profile image for sbanerji@alum.mit.edu

I agree with your last statement that we all have to adjust to warming. But there are huge costs , not just in maintaining health and comfort but adapting to the increase in various activities such as construction, agriculture, industry and not least outdoor activities we enjoy. My take on this story is that the writer who heads a major consulting engineering company thinks it is beyond the capabilities of developing countries to bring down emissions, let alone write off all the fossil fuel resources they have. In some ways , I feel this is an uphill battle. But given collective action it can be addressed significantly. May be we will have to survive with a 3 degrees celsius increase by 2060 even if we hit the net zero targets . The new UNCCC pledges for the Glasgow Conference of Parties will result in a 1% reduction in emissions compared to the 45% needed if these pledges are achieved. But I share my doubts with the writer. Significantly reducing emissions in the USA and EU will not change global mean surface temperature increases as long as other countries don't act. But they are limited by resources, stranded assets and lack of technical knowhow and organizational capabilities. I read this week that the IMF and World Bank have joined together in financing technical assistance programs to support developing countries meet the climate challenge. This will help a great deal. The NDC pledges are not matched by credible action programs. Even companies engage in Green Washing , issuing net zero targets without any concrete plans. May be our group can work with one or two companies to help develop concrete plans to achieve net zero. This will provide the insights into the enormity of the task. Bear in mind that the supply chain of most large firms extend to many suppliers in foreign countries and a comprehensive plan must include these suppliers. Sharing knowledge is critical and I hope MIT faculty members will take up this challenge with interested students.. This should be a great learning experience.

1
|
reply

Delete Postclose

Are you sure you want to delete this post?