REPLY Limits to Growth Plan B (SD6988)

[SDMAIL Stephen Wehrenberg]

Posted by  Stephen Wehrenberg <stephen.wehrenberg at verizon.net>

Jaideep certainly raises issues that further illustrate the complexity of the 
problem.  I am not suggesting (necessarily) a technical model that finds the 
technical solution, e.g., reduction of driving miles and increasing auto 
efficiency reduce fossil fuel use and thus greenhouse gas emissions.  
Absolutely right.  We know that.  And those models exist already (previously 
mentioned Threshold 21, for example).  

But your last paragraph does raise the kinds of issues that we might better 
understand through SD modeling.

>3. If the buy-in from top-level politicians and corporate CEOs is not
>there, the other solution to problems of resources/global warming etc.
>is for concerned people to make small changes in their own backyard.
>This has limited application because of Prisoners Dilemma problem - am
>I a sucker to pollute less when you are polluting anyway for both of
>us? With his kind of mentality, one can see a positive feedback loop
>(vicious cycle) driving things to the bottom. Unfortunately that is
>what seems to be happening right now. I don't think modeling is a
>solution to Lester Brown's problems."

What structural conditions support the continued lack of buy-in?  What policy 
levers or feedback loops might be added to that structure that might result in 
increasing that buy-in?   What structure enables "this kind of mentality" as 
describing the sucker?  Are these areas where tax policies might be effective?  
Education?  A tipping point event like the sliding of the Greenland Ice Sheet?  

If we know the solutions, as you imply and a proposition with which I agree, 
why are these solutions not implemented?  That's a problem worth solving, IMHO.  
I'm saddened that your description seems to suggest that we are simply doomed 
to suffer the effects or our unalterable greed as optimized by unregulated, 
flawed, free market capitalism.  (Flawed in that full costs are not evident, 
and crucial information is not available to those involved in the transactions).  

And though I sure you did not mean it quite this way, these are OUR problems, 
not Lester's.  

Stephen B. Wehrenberg
Posted by  Stephen Wehrenberg <stephen.wehrenberg at verizon.net>
posting date  Sat, 03 May 2008 10:18:21 -0400