Climate change won’t wait for future innovation — we need action now

). Measures to cut energy use can make citizens healthier and happier, and can ease the burden of the rising cost of energy. But they are neglected.

Why do governments neglect proven practices to bet big on technological fixes unlikely to arrive on time? I study the intersection of power, politics and environmental decision-making, and that’s the question I’ve focused on for more than a decade. It’s no secret that energy industries are powerful political actors, or that governments overwhelmingly measure national progress by economic growth. Less well-known is that this encourages politicians to produce climate strategies that prioritize high economic returns over absolute carbon reductions.

Here’s where the research community can step up. One way to counter the fixation on profitable rather than proven climate solutions is for analysts and researchers assessing policy options to build in metrics of environmental sustainability, social connection, health and other indicators of well-being. There are a wealth of relevant measures, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Better Life Index. These should be implemented and advanced widely.

mcbrisb Well said!

mcbrisb Great quote: 'Unglamorous solutions have few politically powerful advocates. Their economic benefits come more from reducing costs than from increasing growth, and tend to be spread across sectors and accrue to less-powerful interests.'

mcbrisb Nice one!

mcbrisb Congrats! Great piece.

mcbrisb 🖕

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