My comment is based on an excellent article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/opinion/07krugman.html?_r=1
I am optimistic too. Not about Copenhagen but about the global stream. The CO2 thing has openned the eyes of many, mostly economists and mostly in Eastern countries (a Western economist such as prof. Krugman is an exception) about the cornerstone of economics: the concept of value. Kyoto created a hystoric market, the GHG (green house gas) emission rights. Despite its deficits (trial and error is always necessary), that market created a new value that grows when we create or enhance forests and falls when we pollute. Although this market corelates that "green value" to a certain amount of money, for the very first time, humankind envisioned that nature is an economic agent subject to deficit and surplus. And Kyoto envisioned that its ruin means ruin for humankind too. It was the very first step toward the global value unit that will replace money within next decades. Also the most lucid economists realized through the climate change issue (combined with migration issues) that financialism, monetarism and their sequels will not fix current long term crisis in some economies. Probably, prof. Krugman is the perfect example of that "conversion". Economics cannot fix current troubles unless we put nature into our equations. Costs of raw materials (iron ore, crude oil, wheat, beef, etc.) are no longer just costs of production, scarcity, climate change, deterioration of quality of raw materials, etc. with all those phenomena combined we have to add a certain scientifically measured eco-tax to reach the real global value of every single good that we have to pay to keep the equation sustainable. The future of developing economies is to become developed economies. Once developing economies become developed, the future of developed economies (the global economy at that point) is just one: near-zero growth sustainable economies. It mimplies zero growth in demand too. Therefore economies will be balanced with other economies through migrations and population limits. There is no option, infinite growth is not posible in a finite planet. Renewable energies, recycling, maximal efficiency-minimal waste, etc. are the rising technologies of the 21st century, the double echo (economy and ecology). As computing and electronics was in the 20th century, as chemistry and healthcare in 19th century, as mechanics (new engines) 18th century, etc. as astronomy was thousands years ago. It is not an option, it is what this age of the humankind commands. In the past, all those technologies provided new ways to gain our life. The double echo is not an exception nowadays. In the past some beliefs tried to destroy progress, some ideologies and religions destroyed engines two centuries ago, some opposed advances in healthcare, etc. Now we have to understand that some people try to destroy this new civilization, to share this planet with them is also part of our story. In any case our destiny is always the same: move ahead. Peace and best wishes. Xi -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "World-thread" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/world-thread?hl=en.
