The materiality and morality of Net Zero should go hand in hand

Source: This post has been created based on the article “The materiality and morality of Net Zero should go hand in hand” published in LiveMint on 17^th October 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Indian Economy — Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.
GS Paper 3 Environment — Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

News: This article discusses the issues with the current climate-change mitigation policies which focus only on the moral aspects, while ignoring the material challenges of those policies.

What are the issues with current climate-change mitigation policies?

First, people put the cost of living over Net Zero as a priority. For e.g., public support for such policies decreased rapidly in Britain when it involved an increase in household bills.

Second, the environmental costs of renewable energy generation are not accounted for.
For instance, the issues of disposal of wind turbine blades and solar panels or the damage caused to the Amazon Basin because of mining of metals to manufacture electric vehicles.

Third, it is assumed that private capital would supply the money required for energy transition due to its goodness and public spirit. However, private interests trump other public considerations.

Fourth, dominance of one country in the supply chain (for e.g., in copper production) leads to a higher probability of weaponisation. These “Geopolitical risks” are not accounted for.

Fifthly, previous energy transitions took centuries to happen. Hence, Net Zero by ‘2050’ might be an unrealistic target.

Sixthly, mass production of wind turbines or solar panels cannot be undertaken without the use of fossil fuels.

Lastly, trade-offs are not recognised. Overarching climate-change solutions are passed on to voiceless people around the world.

What should be the way forward?

It is immoral to tell people that they cannot aspire to a life of minimum dignity because others have to maintain their way of life.

We should think of climate change and global warming more in economic terms than in moral terms.

These issues should be dealt with optimally, keeping in mind other equally important priorities of the billions.