The changes proposed by climate activists would greatly influence the global economy and the daily lives of people around the world, warn experts. Greta Thunberg’s “Dream World” Could Cause A “Human Tragedy”
Those who care about our planet and are inspired by the emotive speech of Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg at the UN probably don’t realize how much the economy and our daily lives could change if the world followed the advice of climate activists.
Greta Thunberg’s “Dream World” Could Cause A “Human Tragedy”
Costly transport and economic implications
Peter C. Earle, of the U.S. Institute of Economic Research, warns of the side effects of measures. Such as introducing a carbon tax and divesting the fossil fuel industry, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Ultimately, these measures would make the “cheap, varied and efficient” transport “extremely expensive and more limited,” the economist says.
Adding that cars could also be less accessible, as the carbon tax could triple the cost of a trip.
Pierre Noël, senior researcher in Economic and Energy Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, predicts:
That reducing greenhouse gas emissions could have much more serious economic implications. Because it involves “reorienting consumption and investment options away from what people and businesses would spontaneously do.
“Human tragedy” for developing nations
Most of the disinvestment rhetoric comes from and focuses on the developed world. But, developing countries would be the first to feel the impact of ecological protectionism, notes Earle.
He explains that in many regions once affected by poverty, “industrial activities with large carbon footprints” have been responsible for major improvements in living standards, longevity, reduced child mortality, better health care, literacy and greater consumer choice in recent decades.
“Take them off, and there would be a human tragedy of disastrous proportions,” warns the economist.
Greta Thunberg Could Cause A “Human Tragedy”
Difficult, disorderly and imperfect” process
Noël stresses that developed countries may not be eager to impose measures to deal with climate change either. Recalling, for example, the recent mass protests in France. Protests were a result of an increase in the carbon tax.
Finally, Noël points out that, in order to eliminate emissions, governments will have to adjust the tax system. This, in order “to alleviate the distributional implications and avoid a disproportionate impact on low-income households”, and also to prevent “what remains of their industry” from moving abroad.
“All this will be difficult, messy, imperfect and will involve unpleasant confrontations between and within countries,” predicts Noël.
Concluding that “these confrontations could end in a lower level of emissions reduction than originally planned”.
