"It Seems Odd That We Would Just Let the World Burn" by Ezra Klein
carbon.substack.com
June 2021 was the hottest June ever recorded on land.
Portland, Ore., saw temperatures of 116 degrees, and nearly 100 people died over a weekend.
In Lytton, British Columbia, temperatures reached 121 degrees, and the city simply ignited.
(source: Ian C. Bates for The New York Times)
Sometimes I come across a read that just says it perfectly. This opinion editorial by Ezra Klein is one such post.
Klein has done a peerless job promoting the urgency of the climate crisis over the years. Yet, he finds himself questioning why decades of climate activism haven’t turned the tide on emissions, or even investments.
What prompted Klein’s reflection was the reading of Andreas Malm’s book, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (which should be titled, “Why to Blow Up a Pipeline”). Obviously, this is a non-starter and not something we would ever endorse in the Creed. Still, Malm’s frustration over climate paralysis is shared by Klein and others - what exactly will move the needle on this terrible, terminal problem?
Klein’s even-handed critique of the book and his analysis of climate policy stagnation are clear and convincing. He even goes after the so-called “climate realists”, who argue ‘enough with climate solutions, it’s time for adaptation.’ To this Klein responds,
“We underestimate the horrors humans will adapt to. There is no expanse of suffering that guarantees a compassionate response. The wreckage of the coronavirus is a reminder that even the deaths of family members, friends and neighbors will not inevitably transform our politics.”
"It Seems Odd That We Would Just Let the World Burn" by Ezra Klein
"It Seems Odd That We Would Just Let the World Burn" by Ezra Klein
"It Seems Odd That We Would Just Let the World Burn" by Ezra Klein
June 2021 was the hottest June ever recorded on land.
Portland, Ore., saw temperatures of 116 degrees, and nearly 100 people died over a weekend.
In Lytton, British Columbia, temperatures reached 121 degrees, and the city simply ignited.
(source: Ian C. Bates for The New York Times)
Sometimes I come across a read that just says it perfectly. This opinion editorial by Ezra Klein is one such post.
Klein has done a peerless job promoting the urgency of the climate crisis over the years. Yet, he finds himself questioning why decades of climate activism haven’t turned the tide on emissions, or even investments.
What prompted Klein’s reflection was the reading of Andreas Malm’s book, “How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (which should be titled, “Why to Blow Up a Pipeline”). Obviously, this is a non-starter and not something we would ever endorse in the Creed. Still, Malm’s frustration over climate paralysis is shared by Klein and others - what exactly will move the needle on this terrible, terminal problem?
Klein’s even-handed critique of the book and his analysis of climate policy stagnation are clear and convincing. He even goes after the so-called “climate realists”, who argue ‘enough with climate solutions, it’s time for adaptation.’ To this Klein responds,
Read the post. Then share your thoughts.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/15/opinion/climate-change-energy-infrastructure.html