The dire predictions
concerning the probable impact of climate change on ecosystems, ocean-levels,
and food-production, as well as on our species itself have understandably been
made without taking into account the countervailing impact of technology yet to
be invented. Instead, the focus has been on governmental, rather than business,
efforts aimed at reducing carbon emissions. This too is understandable, as
companies have consistently been oriented to their own profits rather than
reducing externalized costs, such as pollution. This focus has left the element
of technological innovation or invention out of the equation. Moreover, because
it is not possible to predict whether our species will have invented technology
in time for it to counter the predicted impacts of climate change, relying on
such technology so as to obviate the need to act so as to limit or reduce
carbon emissions would be foolish and reckless. Put another way, it was
irresponsible as of 2020 at least to say that government restrictions on carbon
emissions were not necessary because technology will be invented that will
substantially reduce emissions or even remove the excess carbon from the
atmosphere. This does not mean that such inventions will not be made in time to
make a significant positive impact. It is indeed possible, moreover, that our
species, homo sapiens, will be saved
by its own knowledge after all, even though we do not seem capable of regulating
the innate desire for instant gratification even if the species’ survival lies
in the balance. An invention by Heliogen in 2019 was such a breakthrough that
it was arguably the first invention capable of giving people such hope. That
is, the step-forward represented by the invention was such that people at the
time could hope that the most noxious future impacts of climate change might
not be inevitable.
The full essay is at "Breakthroughs in Climate Change."
