Money will save the planet (3 May, 2022)

[aardvark_admin]

This column is archived at: https://aardvark.co.nz/daily/2022/0503.shtml

Where does all the money from carbon taxes, feel-good payments and surcharges on gas-guzzling cars actually go and how does it mitigate the climate crushing emissions that threaten us all?

Is this more about creating a feel-good effect or perhaps more about creating a new industry from which certain entities can profit hugely?

Surely, once a gram of CO2 is emitted, there's nothing we can do to mitigate that damage so the goal ought to be to avoid its emission in the first place rather than simply penalise the emitter after the fact?

Your thoughts...

[Perry]

Let's hear from the floor... surely there has to be a better way to address the challenges that face us than to simply pretend that paying a sin-tax will fix everything.

Less people?
Errr, isn't it called covid-19?
The "great re-set?"
(Logan's Run updated?)
The matrix?

[hagfish]

It does seem like whenever there is a spot of bother, we build a new casino. Any 'remedy' that allows continued burning of fossil fuels is just *ahem* hot air.

Planting a new forest is an 'alright' way of sequestering carbon. Trees may come and go, but as long as the forest remains, some finite amount of CO2 will be out of circulation. There are better ways of holding onto carbon than lignin, tho.

We should have tapered off our fossil fuel use the easy way 50 years ago, and started drawing down. We did not, so it looks like we've opted to reach sustainability the really easy way.

[phill]

atm the answers all 'lie' with smoke and mirrors
the thought of a forward looking and planing politician went with truby king and his ilk

as with war games .. the only way to win the carbon war .. is .. not to play it