• myGriffith
    • Staff portal
    • Contact Us⌄
      • Future student enquiries 1800 677 728
      • Current student enquiries 1800 154 055
      • International enquiries +61 7 3735 6425
      • General enquiries 07 3735 7111
      • Online enquiries
      • Staff phonebook
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Griffith Research Online
    • Journal articles
    • View Item
    • Home
    • Griffith Research Online
    • Journal articles
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

  • All of Griffith Research Online
    • Communities & Collections
    • Authors
    • By Issue Date
    • Titles
  • This Collection
    • Authors
    • By Issue Date
    • Titles
  • Statistics

  • Most Popular Items
  • Statistics by Country
  • Most Popular Authors
  • Support

  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Admin login

  • Login
  • A Win-Win Strategy for Fossil-Fuel Producers and Environmentalists

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    TaylorPUB1350.pdf (157.8Kb)
    File version
    Version of Record (VoR)
    Author(s)
    Taylor, Graeme
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Taylor, Graeme
    Year published
    2016
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Humanity now faces a dangerous dilemma: on one hand leading scientists predict that if we continue to burn coal, gas and oil the environmental consequences are likely to be catastrophic (e.g. Hansen et al., 2013); on the other hand many economists argue that if we stop using fossil fuels our industrial civilization will run out of energy and collapse (e.g. Canes, 2015). Although renewable technologies are beginning to compete with fossil fuels in the production of electricity, electricity is only 20% of energy use (IEA, 2014). In other areas—e.g. most heating, industrial production and transport—renewable alternatives are ...
    View more >
    Humanity now faces a dangerous dilemma: on one hand leading scientists predict that if we continue to burn coal, gas and oil the environmental consequences are likely to be catastrophic (e.g. Hansen et al., 2013); on the other hand many economists argue that if we stop using fossil fuels our industrial civilization will run out of energy and collapse (e.g. Canes, 2015). Although renewable technologies are beginning to compete with fossil fuels in the production of electricity, electricity is only 20% of energy use (IEA, 2014). In other areas—e.g. most heating, industrial production and transport—renewable alternatives are either non-existent or not yet cost-competitive. Because the global economy still requires fossil fuels, any efforts to quickly cut carbon pollution will reduce output. This is an enormous problem as most people—especially those struggling to get by in developing countries— are not prepared to accept lower standards of living. In addition fossil fuel producing countries and companies are not prepared to forgo coal, gas and oil revenues. This dilemma underlies the failure of international negotiations to agree to sharp reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. While most decision-makers accept that climate change poses growing threats, they are unwilling to enact policies likely to cripple their businesses and national economies. As a result it is hard to imagine any scenario in which action will be taken in time to prevent dangerous climate change. Yet time is of the essence: already glaciers are melting, coral reefs are bleaching, rainforests are burning, and many critical agricultural areas are becoming hotter and drier (e.g. Ricke et al., 2013). We must find solutions, or doom our children to living on a dying planet.
    View less >
    Journal Title
    Journal of Futures Studies
    Volume
    20
    Issue
    3
    Publisher URI
    https://jfsdigital.org/2016-2/vol-20-no-3-march-2016/
    Copyright Statement
    © 2016 Tamkang University. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
    Subject
    Climate change impacts and adaptation
    Climate change processes
    Urban and regional planning
    Political science
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/123689
    Collection
    • Journal articles

    Footer

    Disclaimer

    • Privacy policy
    • Copyright matters
    • CRICOS Provider - 00233E
    • TEQSA: PRV12076

    Tagline

    • Gold Coast
    • Logan
    • Brisbane - Queensland, Australia
    First Peoples of Australia
    • Aboriginal
    • Torres Strait Islander