Complexities and Realities

In this post we describe some of the complexities, hard realities and paradoxes to do with the Net Zero challenge.

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Albert Einstein

Climate change is complex and difficult to understand. The climate is affected by many parameters and variables, all of which affect one another in ways that are difficult to understand, or even to identify. This complexity means that we need to be very cautious about proposing simple solutions to the dilemmas that we face.

If we are to identify the best responses to climate change, we need to consider how the climate interacts with other variables, including resource availability and the health of many different types of ecosystems. Also, as we have seen, the climate is strongly by human actions, particularly when it comes to the selection of different technologies.

Some of the complexities and realities that need to be considered are discussed below.

Problems and Predicaments

One of the themes of this book is the we need to be realistic as to what can and cannot be achieved. Those who believe that ‘everything will work out’ can reasonably be accused of hopium (a portmanteau word created from the words ‘hope’ and ‘opium’). Similarly, many business leaders too easily fall into the trap of ‘greenwashing’, i.e., of making unsubstantiated claims that their actions or products are ‘sustainable’.

Tipping Points

The climate is not changing gradually. It slowly deteriorates, and then suddenly drops into a new state. Climate change is a series of tipping points.

Intermittent Solar and Wind

“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked.

“Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.”

Ernest Hemingway