Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

Really what you are saying is do nothing, at least be honest about it.



Only if you and all the other folks who are convinced of a need to act on global warming choose to do nothing. The reality is that even among those who think "we" need to act, most do not even have enough conviction on the matter to volunteer to spend a dime of their own money on it.


Because the world's climate is a public good, game theory predicts that this kind of thing won't ever work.

We are semi-rational actors in a dynamic competitive system. We can all want X to happen, and be willing to spend money to make X happen, but realize that doing so would make our own lives worse because of the non-participation of others, and so we contribute to making X happen not directly, but instead by trying to put rules in place that enforce participation.

I refer you to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_good http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory




Consider applying for YC's W25 batch! Applications are open till Nov 12.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: