Talk about a “good news, bad news” scenario–I have some good news, and I have some bad news! The good news is that the economy is booming! The bad news is that all this economic growth is causing more global warming!
In “Economic expansion boosts carbon emissions, despite green-tech gains,” NBC News frames the problem this way:
No matter that coal-fired power plants went out of business in record numbers, or that Americans nearly doubled their purchases of electric cars. The U.S. increased its carbon dioxide emissions in 2018, and a large part of the reason was one normally cited as a bonus — substantial economic growth.
A booming American economy meant increased industrial production, more truck and air travel and more offices and other workplaces to heat — all combining, along with other factors, to create the second-largest annual increase in the key greenhouse gas emissions in more than two decades, according to new estimates from the Rhodium Group.
The result is that — despite expansion of solar and wind power and some movement to alternative-fuel vehicles — the U.S. will have to do even more in the coming years to come close to meeting previous international commitments for greenhouse gas reductions.
Whatever, oh whatever, shall we do? Don’t worry–NBC News has the solution!
Experts say it may take a recession to reduce the gases that are warming the planet.
Huh? What would we do without “experts”? I can think of a more accurate word to describe them: idiots.