Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

We need as many ways to theoretically cut emissions as possible. That way, no one way will ever have to be chosen by a majority of people. So we will never have to actually do any of them. And we can keep polluting but pretend "it's not my fault because I supported <insert random niche idea>".

No one wants to admit they are happy to just ruin everything. So we all need to pretend we want action. But in order to prevent any action happening we need to pick different things.

The Nuclear people won't vote for solar expansion, the solar people will deny windmills work, the windmill people will refuse to condone nuclear. That way EVERYONE can claim the moral high ground AND use nice cheap, reliable coal. The same applies for everything (electric cars? No! Hydrogen!. Hydrogen? No, public transport! Public transport? No, electric cars!).




> The Nuclear people won't vote for solar expansion, the solar people will deny windmills work, the windmill people will refuse to condone nuclear.

I have only ever seen the last of these outside of people selling something.


Go look at any HN article on either and you will find people talking about wind farms being ugly, being intermittent, making noise, killing birds etc.

The point being that no solution is perfect and by refusing any imperfect solution we get what we really want: no action.


I understand why you feel demotivated by all of this negative discourse and constant speculation on better technology. That said,

> electric cars? No!

The Model Y was the best selling car[0] in the world in Q1! Isn't that a positive fact :)

Six Flags in California now has solar installed at 2 of its theme parks, offsetting 3000 homes worth of electricity! Isn't that a positive fact :)

There are many other stories like this, you just have to look :)

> So we will never have to actually do any of them.

I agree we can do more, but focus on these positive outcomes! Stuff IS happening and it is for the better!

[0] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-model-y-was-the-best-se...

[1] https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2023/04/25/six-flags-announces-s...


Quoting this from an article by Australia's chief scientist Alan Finkel:

   Between 1990 and 2021 the behemoth known as global civilisation only reduced its fossil-fuel diet from 87% to 83% of total energy consumed worldwide. Let me spell that out. We shaved off 4% in the last 30 years. In the next 30 we need to shave off 83%.


Fortunately the technology behind renewable energy and batteries is following an exponential growth function :)

At a minimum that means it is feasible for us to hit 83% over the next 30 years - if not the next 15.


Sure, except that "at a minimum" assumes that exponential growth function continues and more than keeps pace with growth in total energy demand.




Join us for AI Startup School this June 16-17 in San Francisco!

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: