Interesting Twitter thread from Noah Smith
Remember: If America went to 0 carbon emissions tomorrow, INCLUDING everything we buy from other countries, it would barely put a dent in climate change. https://t.co/hn2lA9wcAn
— Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) December 12, 2018
We need to slash our emissions, but it matters HOW we do it.
— Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) December 12, 2018
If we slash our emissions by switching to green energy, other countries will copy us (because they'll copy our technological solutions).
If we slash our emissions by shrinking our economy, they will not follow us.
If we say "Hey look everyone, we slashed our emissions and we're still a rich, successful country!", everyone else will want to copy us.
— Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) December 12, 2018
If we say "Hey look everyone, we impoverished ourselves in order to cut emissions, now please do the same!", they won't want to.
That's why the DSA, with its emphasis on building green infrastructure, mandating green energy, and (hopefully) subsidizing green technologies and spending on research, has the right idea.
— Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) December 12, 2018
Whereas the "degrowth" people and carbon-tax-only wonks have the wrong of it.
The DSA's reluctance to embrace carbon taxes – because of their impact on the poor – actually shows how hard it would be to persuade China or other countries to shrink their economies.
— Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) December 12, 2018
Ocasio-Cortez' Green New Deal has a better approach. https://t.co/j2OczCXuvM
In sum: All of our climate efforts should be about making our economy greener rather than shrinking our economy.
— Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) December 12, 2018
Because ultimately, that's the only thing that will make the rest of the world want to follow suit.
(end)
Here is the link to the Green New Deal proposal.
