Here is a new video that speaks to the high-tech/low-tech green future debate that we often have here on the Transition forum. I should add a disclaimer that there are a number of experts who disagree with Zehner...nevertheless its an interesting perspective. He emphasizes that we do not have an energy crisis--we have a consumption crisis. By his math, there are a number of measures that would have a much greater effect on reducing emissions than investing in green technologies...for example, increasing the quality of life for women (education, reproductive rights, etc.), which naturally causes birth rates/population to fall. He also gives the example of cutting down trees to install solar panels--the energy produced by the panels will never make up for the benefit lost by the trees (CO2 capture, shade, etc.). Ill admit, I am completely on board with his views on transportation--a much more effective solution being public transport/walk-ability, not personal electric cars. And my favourite bit is at the end, when an audience member asks about installing solar panels on his Hawaiian vacation house...to which he replies that a distant Hawaiian vacation house will never be green, no matter how many solar panels you install. (Made me think of the many cottage-mansions on LOTW.)
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:49:01 +0000
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