Hi John, it was very nice meeting you at the congress.
And yes, I agree many important discussions were and still are taking place at the world energy congress. There is a sense of urgency and also an acceptance that big changes are upon us.
However, I found it troubling that corporate economists and financial specialists seem to view the energy transition mostly as an opportunity to make money. Very few have accepted growth, also “green growth”, won’t get us back within the carrying capacity of the earth, with the important note that I am referring to economic growth in the global north.
The global south needs to invest in economic growth while trying to respect planetary boundaries. Given the global demographics that is one of the major challenges of today and tomorrow.
In the north I see little appreciation for the fact that we will need to shift our thinking and actions to future wellbeing, rather than prosperity. To state is more starkly, I think we need to start thinking about investments without financial ROI. Such as investments in a future liveable climate and a future economy that has shrunk to within the regional carrying capacity. That’s all going to cost a lot of money paying dividends that we will have to measure using a different metric than money. I feel few are ready to face this.
Personally I am focussing on two challenges: GHG emissions and climate first aid interventions while we are working on bringing CO2 back to safe levels. With regard to emissions we are in desperate need of a backstop policy that will get us to geological netzero on time. A policy proposal that aims to achieve this is called carbon takeback obligation (CTBO).
With CTBO in place fossil fuel producers will eventually have to make sure all carbon taken out of the subsoil is safely injected back into geological formations. I am very happy to talk more about this proposal if you are interested.
I agree, Tycho. And I also see the CBTO as a key part of the solution. Systemically speaking. But I see a price on carbon as the critical first step. To discuss!
Hi John, it was very nice meeting you at the congress.
And yes, I agree many important discussions were and still are taking place at the world energy congress. There is a sense of urgency and also an acceptance that big changes are upon us.
However, I found it troubling that corporate economists and financial specialists seem to view the energy transition mostly as an opportunity to make money. Very few have accepted growth, also “green growth”, won’t get us back within the carrying capacity of the earth, with the important note that I am referring to economic growth in the global north.
The global south needs to invest in economic growth while trying to respect planetary boundaries. Given the global demographics that is one of the major challenges of today and tomorrow.
In the north I see little appreciation for the fact that we will need to shift our thinking and actions to future wellbeing, rather than prosperity. To state is more starkly, I think we need to start thinking about investments without financial ROI. Such as investments in a future liveable climate and a future economy that has shrunk to within the regional carrying capacity. That’s all going to cost a lot of money paying dividends that we will have to measure using a different metric than money. I feel few are ready to face this.
Personally I am focussing on two challenges: GHG emissions and climate first aid interventions while we are working on bringing CO2 back to safe levels. With regard to emissions we are in desperate need of a backstop policy that will get us to geological netzero on time. A policy proposal that aims to achieve this is called carbon takeback obligation (CTBO).
With CTBO in place fossil fuel producers will eventually have to make sure all carbon taken out of the subsoil is safely injected back into geological formations. I am very happy to talk more about this proposal if you are interested.
I agree, Tycho. And I also see the CBTO as a key part of the solution. Systemically speaking. But I see a price on carbon as the critical first step. To discuss!
Interesting as always! Curious if Betty Sue mentioned the Heroines Journey, from Campbell’s student Maureen Murdoch?
I think it offers a much healthier model for the kind of journeys leaders and others need to undertake at this time.
https://maureenmurdock.com/articles/articles-the-heroines-journey/
She did! And I agree.