Cog wrote:@Newfie I have suggested the same solution repeatedly. Admittedly, it is not one that is in vogue here. My solution is to do nothing at all. Nature and lack of resources will let us know when we have exceeded the limits of the planet to support us all. The planet is a neutral arbiter of our future and human decision making just mucks up the works. Now it could be that price alone, for rare and becoming rarer resources, will force a reaction of lower consumption and alternative energy. After all, if you can't afford it, you can't buy it. End of consumerism as you are desiring.
All other solutions I'm hearing here, rely on the overbearing and necessarily arbitrary judgment of humans. I trust the planet a lot more than humans to form that judgment.
Cog,
Yes I’ve heard your argument to do nothing. I do not find it conviencing, although I suspect that’s exactly what will occur. That does not make it right.
And it has a certain degree of merit, “overbearing and me necessarily arbitrary judgement of humans” strikes a chord with me.
If the changes taking place were occurring on a sufficiently long scale, sufficiently slowly, then perhaps the “do nothing” approach would work. I hear it a lot like saying “evolution will provide an answer.”
The difficulty with that approach is multiple. Evolution is a reactionary force. There are random varriants, hit and miss, very incremental. Species go extinct because they can not change fast enough.
And this is doubly important with climate change because we are causing changes that have long term consequences. CO2 hangs around for a very long time. Nature, evolution, has no adaptive feature to adjust due to future changes. Humanity has, supposedly, developed the ability of foresight, to predict the future. But what good is it if we don’t use it?
Im reminded of the old saw about the guy in a flood. Got a notice flood was coming, “God will provide.” Police game by to take him out, “Gos will provide.” CG cake in anhelo to take him off his roof, “God will provide.” When he met his maker he asked “Why did you forsake me.” God replied “I sent you warnings, a ride, and a helo. What more do you want?”
We have been given/developed the ability to see the consequences of our actions. What more do you want?