Global warming since the beginning of the industrial age is approaching the redline of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Most of this heat is stored in the oceans where it is affecting global weather patterns. The world is not reducing fossil fuel energy usage as a result, but using more and more energy. So called “Green ” energy, energy based on photovoltaics, even though ever increasing, is nonetheless eclipsed by increasing fossil fuel usage to meet an insatiable need for high density (fossil fuel) energy.
In other words, all the “Green” energy coming online doesn’t even offset the total amount of fossil fuel energy being used.
Now, this fact doesn’t even account for the fact that photovoltaics and battery storage are based on minerals which require fossil fuels to extract, process, manufacture and replace the so called “Green” infrastructure. And that the entire “Green” infrastructure needs to be replaced every 20-25 years- at least.
So, we have an ever accelerating race for not only fossil fuels- but for minerals as well, to somehow theoretically replace fossil fuels- but which will never happen. Not to mention that the mining of minerals is extremely destructive of the environment, and that it represents a competition for scarce resources that makes the competition for fossil fuels look like maybe a better idea. And we know how well that has competition has gone- don’t we?
What is never discussed- at least not practically, is that it is simply not possible to go “Green” on the present assumptions of what represents a sustainable future. The Growth Model of economic development does not allow for sustainability. What does this mean? It means that the economic model that has fueled world development for centuries, i.e. capitalism, which is a model that requires continual growth, does not work as a sustainable model.
So, what to do? The answer, of course, is nothing. Nothing will be done to replace capitalism as the reigning model of world economic development. Nothing at all. And that is precisely why no one, even ardent environmentalists, is seriously talking about the problem in practical terms.
Evidently, the industrial economic model of the past two centuries must go completely bust before we come up with a better- and sustainable, idea.
