Climate action and objective thinking

Climate warming is a reality looming over us. Despite the vehement denials by a minority, all reasonable people accept this as science. The malaise has a long history, which has its origins in the human taming of fire. Later, when agriculture become the new way of life, burning wood for various uses become commonplace. The birth of science and the industrial revolution also coincided with discovering fossil fuels and the widespread use of coal and oil. Electricity generation and transportation become the backbone of the western world. More and more carbon-spewing use increased the carbon load on the atmosphere.

We must obey the forces we want to command. 

- Francis Bacon 

Now the world has reached a point where any more carbon will be disastrous for the planet's survival in the present form. Several solutions are being prescribed for decreasing the use of fossil fuel. But most of them plainly do not respect the laws of nature. Overnight reduction of fossil fuel will only deprive the poor countries of their legitimate aspirations to have a respectful life quality. China and India have a 2.5 billion population but are just considered two countries. This is like a double whammy. They are being pressured not to use more emissions because that luxury was already used by Western countries. They are also asked to behave responsibly like most other developed countries (except maybe the USA).

What is needed now is a new era of economic growth - growth that is forceful and at the same time socially and environmentally sustainable.

- Brundtland Report “Our Common Future"

Responsible climate action needs to obey the laws of societal needs. Climate action needs to be outcome-driven, not output driven. Cutting down fossil fuel use by rolling out impractical and costly renewable energy is not a sensible solution in several countries. At best, it can be a "greenwash," like the countless wind farms sprouting up that will never be connected to the grid. Instead, the correct way should be to accelerate energy growth in developing countries through cost-effective, innovative solutions. Just transition should provide reliable energy to improve the socio-economic conditions and accelerate carbon removal technologies. The desired outcome of equitable development across the board should be the driver for responsible climate action.