John Kerry: US climate envoy criticised for optimism on clean tech

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

John Kerry: US climate envoy criticised for optimism on clean tech

By Roger Harrabin
BBC energy and environment analyst

16 May 2021

America’s climate envoy John Kerry has been ridiculed for saying technologies that don’t yet exist will play a huge role in stabilising the climate.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show, he said the US was leading the world on climate change - and rapidly phasing out coal-fired power stations.

But he rejected a suggestion that Americans need to change their consumption patterns by, say, eating less meat.

He said: “You don't have to give up quality of life to achieve some of the things we want to achieve.

“I’m told by scientists that 50% of the reductions we have to make (to get to near zero emissions) by 2050 or 2045 are going to come from technologies we don’t yet have.”

But his faith in unknown technologies has left some leading engineers aghast.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57135506

[Random Boomer]

1. Well-earned ridicule, sadly

And one of many reasons I don't expect the U.S., much less the world, to make sufficient changes to avert climate catastrophe. I'm sure that Biden and his administration mean well, and that they believe they're making progress, but these tepid approaches aren't going to save us. Assuming that it's not too late already (which is a really big assumption, frankly).

The level of change that is needed is beyond the ability of any democratic leader to impose on a mostly unwilling population.