Yes--there is a big gap between what you call the mainstream story of energy transition and reality, for the reasons you name. The story persists anyway, because of the fightback from the vested interests that don't want ANY transition--so the argument between them and the mainstream story take up all the attention, leaving very little for the voices saying an actual transition would have to be to a smaller, less greedy system. So what happens ten years from now when push comes to shove and the present energy system collapses? What happens with the solar systems, windmills, batteries, large electric cars that ARE built, at the expense of that energy pulse and a lot of destructive mining, generally on the lands of poor people, indigenous people, the global South? What happens is that these things are deployed in the North, sold to people now driving gas guzzlers and living in McMansions heated by gas and electrified by coal or gas. Those who have not had electricity or motorized transport, never will--but many of them will see the lands and waters they depend on for subsistence compromised by the effort to build "green energy." The other reason this story persists is that it facilitates the preservation of entitlement--the entitled wealthy of the world (including the middle classes in places like the US) get to keep their luxuries. And the entitled have power, and at the top of the list of the privileges of the privileged, is the privilege to NOT HAVE TO SEE their own entitlement. So the mainstream media will never address these questions.
What you're saying is the point Naomi Klein made in her book This Changes Everything. The way we live has to change, all the systems that support us have to change, the way we look at everything, including human nature has to change. It's a big leap we need to make.
A goal, without practical & realistic processes to achieve that goal, is pure fantasy. This perfectly describes the IEA Net Zero by 2050 Report.
It is a beautifully presented document that has clearly been prepared by advertising, marketing & public relations “experts”.
It is filled with exquisite words, composed into extravagant, empty sentences, & accompanied by colourful bar charts & graphics, which tell us exactly NOTHING about the practical & realistic processes needed to accomplish Net Zero by 2050.
On the other, more practical hand, are these two videos, which explain in simple, easy to understand language, & straight forward calculations, why Net Zero by 2050 is a complete & absolute fantasy.
Yes--there is a big gap between what you call the mainstream story of energy transition and reality, for the reasons you name. The story persists anyway, because of the fightback from the vested interests that don't want ANY transition--so the argument between them and the mainstream story take up all the attention, leaving very little for the voices saying an actual transition would have to be to a smaller, less greedy system. So what happens ten years from now when push comes to shove and the present energy system collapses? What happens with the solar systems, windmills, batteries, large electric cars that ARE built, at the expense of that energy pulse and a lot of destructive mining, generally on the lands of poor people, indigenous people, the global South? What happens is that these things are deployed in the North, sold to people now driving gas guzzlers and living in McMansions heated by gas and electrified by coal or gas. Those who have not had electricity or motorized transport, never will--but many of them will see the lands and waters they depend on for subsistence compromised by the effort to build "green energy." The other reason this story persists is that it facilitates the preservation of entitlement--the entitled wealthy of the world (including the middle classes in places like the US) get to keep their luxuries. And the entitled have power, and at the top of the list of the privileges of the privileged, is the privilege to NOT HAVE TO SEE their own entitlement. So the mainstream media will never address these questions.
What you're saying is the point Naomi Klein made in her book This Changes Everything. The way we live has to change, all the systems that support us have to change, the way we look at everything, including human nature has to change. It's a big leap we need to make.
Net Zero by 2050
A goal, without practical & realistic processes to achieve that goal, is pure fantasy. This perfectly describes the IEA Net Zero by 2050 Report.
It is a beautifully presented document that has clearly been prepared by advertising, marketing & public relations “experts”.
It is filled with exquisite words, composed into extravagant, empty sentences, & accompanied by colourful bar charts & graphics, which tell us exactly NOTHING about the practical & realistic processes needed to accomplish Net Zero by 2050.
https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050
On the other, more practical hand, are these two videos, which explain in simple, easy to understand language, & straight forward calculations, why Net Zero by 2050 is a complete & absolute fantasy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgOEGKDVvsg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBVmnKuBocc