...“decarbonizing” the energy system is
technologically complicated. America’s real problem is not competition
from China; it’s the complexity of shifting a $17.5 trillion economy
from fossil fuels to low-carbon alternatives. China’s problem is not the
US, but how to wean the world’s largest, or second largest economy
(depending on which data are used) off its deeply entrenched dependence
on coal. These are mainly engineering problems, not negotiating
problems.
Sachs then goes on to details some of the technological solution approaches. Yes, this is a technology problem, and technology can solve it. It is not clear that a Manhattan or Space Project is the approach. But the thread is correct. This is starkly different from the classic all political tax approach presented by the former Government official we discussed recently.
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