UBC Professor William Rees argues that many solutions to climate change are actually just helping us grow more efficiently. The science shows that an absolute reduction in energy usage is required.
Duration : 0:9:41
[youtube 4sxPCE3wLY0]
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#1 by rockchasman at March 8th, 2010
I believe it is …
I believe it is because our economic models (developed at the beginning of the industrial era) assume infinite resources and no cost of pollution, etc. We know this to be false, and so the true costs of growth are not captured, only the short-term “benefits”. If we can change our models to more accurately reflect the true state of the dis-equilibrium that Rees et al suggests, the picture will be starker, and will hopefully move politicians, businesses, and people to change.
#2 by nikitycent at March 8th, 2010
Interesting point. …
Interesting point. Is this because leaders of business/government are actively disguising efficiency growth as environmental progress or is it some unconscious function of the economy? I guess it doesnt matter, either way how can we motivate away from this policy-wise?
I do sort of disagree with that bit about Chinese laptops at the end
#3 by oneearthweb at March 8th, 2010
Thanks for posting …
Thanks for posting this Dr. Rees video. I hope people pay close attention to the messages of brilliant minds like Rees, because we don’t have a lot of time left to act. It seems, though, that we as a species, despite millions of years of evolution, are a lot more interested in the latest Paris Hilton sex scandal than in our own destiny.