[HN Gopher] Eminent Scientist Says Climate Activists Need to Get...
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       Eminent Scientist Says Climate Activists Need to Get Real
        
       Author : johnny313
       Score  : 11 points
       Date   : 2022-04-25 21:14 UTC (1 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.nytimes.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.nytimes.com)
        
       | lotsofpulp wrote:
       | > Well, we changed people's consumption by letting them have
       | their S.U.V.s. We can change people the other way. We could say,
       | To save the planet people should drive smaller cars. If you drive
       | a smaller car, you get a rebate. If you drive an S.U.V., you pay
       | a surcharge. There are many ways to go around bringing rational
       | goals. You don't have to invent new things to solve these
       | problems. This promise of inventions -- 3-D printing! Houses will
       | be printed! Cars will be printed! Have you seen any printed
       | houses and cars? We live in this world of exaggerated promises
       | and delusional pop science.
       | 
       | The solution has always been to make gas $20 per gallon or $30
       | per gallon or whatever it needs to be to force people to use
       | dense housing and public transit or cycling/walking.
       | 
       | Problem is not all the countries are going to do it, especially
       | the ones who have not been living the high life for the past 60
       | years, so it is politically dead in the water. And hence you end
       | up with exaggerated promises and delusional pop science, stuff
       | that is politically palatable.
        
       | tuatoru wrote:
       | I imagine that interview was like a cold shower for the
       | interviewer. It was enjoyable to read, though.
       | 
       | Smil steadfastly rejected the (almost continuous!) politicizing
       | attempts and dissed the virtue signalling. Well done.
       | 
       | (Reporter: "I eat less meat [...]; I'm [...] looking at solar
       | panels and heat pumps." Smil: "There is nothing wrong with the
       | heat pump, but proper insulation, that's much better in the long
       | run. ... People will stop eating meat, then fly for a vacation in
       | Toscana.")
        
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       (page generated 2022-04-25 23:03 UTC)