I disagree with you about the revenues. First off, I doubt that the governments of the countries causing the pollution will give an apropriate sum of money to those in poorer countries who are also affected by it.
Secondly, we're going to be hitting positive feedback mechanisms on the climate - if we don't do something about them, then the long-term prospect is very bleak indeed.
I believe climate change is a social problem and the most pressing one we face. We ignore it at our peril (certainly our children's peril).
In the long term, climate change has the potential to dwarf our other problems - or rather to make the existing problems massively worse.
Just to pick one at random - rising sea temperatures are causing coral bleaching. Millions of third-world people depend on coral reefs for their livelihood. Do we just throw endless food aid at them when the fish run out? Or do we find a way to preserve the reefs and let them feed themselves.
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Date: 2008-12-11 06:53 pm (UTC)Secondly, we're going to be hitting positive feedback mechanisms on the climate - if we don't do something about them, then the long-term prospect is very bleak indeed.
I believe climate change is a social problem and the most pressing one we face. We ignore it at our peril (certainly our children's peril).
In the long term, climate change has the potential to dwarf our other problems - or rather to make the existing problems massively worse.
Just to pick one at random - rising sea temperatures are causing coral bleaching. Millions of third-world people depend on coral reefs for their livelihood. Do we just throw endless food aid at them when the fish run out? Or do we find a way to preserve the reefs and let them feed themselves.