The uncomfortable truth for leftists is that a lot of low-carbon climate progress is being driven by elites who aren’t under pressure from mass movements. The uncomfortable truth for elite climate wonks is that those gains won’t be enough to stabilize the climate. We still need mass green politics. - ThreadSky

aldasky.bsky.social • 6 days ago

The uncomfortable truth for leftists is that a lot of low-carbon climate progress is being driven by elites who aren’t under pressure from mass movements.

The uncomfortable truth for elite climate wonks is that those gains won’t be enough to stabilize the climate. We still need mass green politics.

Comments

ewolkcin.bsky.social•6 days ago

Isn't the problem that the top 10 producers are doing 70 percent of the damage, and no one will stop them from doing it

Private Jets are horrendous

radianthostility.bsky.social•6 days ago

Cattle ranching, ships running on bunker fuel, the US military full stop, coal plants, concrete. There's a lot of shit to put an end to before we even start talking about private jets.

altrocks.bsky.social•6 days ago

We all know what needs to be done, but no one will go out and do it. So we get this.

tmt-mgt.bsky.social•6 days ago

I'm not sure to understand what kind of progress you're thinking about when writing "progress is being driven by elites who aren’t under pressure from mass movements." ? New tech ? Enforcement of new policies ? Other ?

oldwhovian.bsky.social•6 days ago

Elites are in a position to drive that change because they're the primary reason for the climate crisis lol

bluexy.bsky.social•6 days ago

"Those not causing extinction don't want to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that when the extinction-causers decide to stop causing extinction, it stops more extinction than when those not causing extinction stop causing extinction."

lostwaegis.bsky.social•6 days ago

based.

bunny2029.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yes to mass green projects
But I was saying that 30 years ago😂

alecmcelcheran.bsky.social•6 days ago

We have to stop using the term leftist to mean anyone who isn't on the right. We're normalizing a pejorative term the right started using to marginalize normal mainstream liberal positions. Words matter.

lostwaegis.bsky.social•6 days ago

Also, it conflates actual leftist positions with liberalism, and they’re not even based on the same concepts

alecmcelcheran.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yes. i'm a little more to the left than liberal. What the US right would call a radical extremist or a commie but the rest of the world would see as just ever so slightly left of centre.

lildonnyb.bsky.social•6 days ago

Why is that an infertile truth for leftists?

I am fine with rich people doing anything, it just can not be left up to rich people because they will never go far enough to actually contend with the scale of the problem. They will also seek to profit off it. And that is as far as they will go,

aldasky.bsky.social•6 days ago

There are more complex points to make that don’t fit in social media. But briefly: China should be understood as a mixed case. CCP rule requires popular consent; its decarb motivated by pop discontent over air pollution in key cities, and esp by imperative to grow its econ in new sectors.

aldasky.bsky.social•6 days ago

There are also bureaucrats, entrepreneurs, engineers, architects, corporate executives, etc, around the world, who are trying to make climate progress for various reasons—often the goal of preventing an apocalypse. We need a picture of reality that understands this situation without illusions.

itheconsumer.bsky.social•6 days ago

What illusions are you talking about? It's difficult to understand what you're trying to say,

eugenehetzel.bsky.social•6 days ago

He speaks effusively

houfek.bsky.social•6 days ago

There is no "apocalypse" to prevent and that's why we need you populist green kooks as far away from power as possible.

bobsyouruncle.bsky.social•6 days ago

This is just not true. CCP rule does not require popular consent. That’s false.

houfek.bsky.social•6 days ago

If it wasn't for "mass green politics" we would have already met our "Paris Agreement" carbon targets by building nuclear reactors over the last sixty years. Fuck "mass green politics", all hail the elites.

williamjc13.bsky.social•6 days ago

We became in danger when politicians started listening to the lobbyist for the polluters, and stopped listening to the Scientists.

We have clean water and clean air today. Because of 60 years of Federal Environmental Regulations. Trump has repealed now.

It’s crazy to go backwards!

smokeygeo.bsky.social•6 days ago

how would you get that? Doesn't seem plausible, a better fit for the wine-sipping, imported cheese set + Sunrise movement with nose & body piercings.

smokeygeo.bsky.social•6 days ago

having seen polling data from swing district congressional campaigns- climate is not even on the list of priorities. It's jobs + economy, followed by healthcare. These are ppl struggling to find transportation to work, not worried about the planet - too high on Maslow needs hierarchy for them

altrocks.bsky.social•6 days ago

By that same logic, they can't be the ones responsible for the destruction of the climate. If they can barely keep themselves and their families housed and fed, what are they supposed to give up? If they're working multiple jobs just to still not get by, what more can they do? It's top vs bottom.

smokeygeo.bsky.social•6 days ago

it's about who they vote for, if anyone. if they're economically disaffected they tend to go against incumbents

freedomforall.net•6 days ago

Nobody is uncomfortable with some progress being made. People are uncomfortable that not enough progress is being made. Elites drive change? That seems inarguable. Elites also have the biggest influence on resisting progress. Elite power is the issue any insightful leftist will raise to your post.

very-mary.bsky.social•6 days ago

eugenehetzel.bsky.social•6 days ago

Trust me, bro? Elites meaning businesses? Businesses will always go for the lowest cost, highest ROI thing.

zazecki.bsky.social•6 days ago

It's not that uncomfortable a truth. They're in a position of extreme privilege and can afford climate measures as an individual.
And by reflection, a huge chunk of people in that position are there because they don't care about climate action, and have to be forced to help

richard.wickedproblems.earth•6 days ago

Doors to moderate pathways are being slammed shut, rapidly.

freedomforall.net•6 days ago

Yup .. by elites who aren’t under pressure from mass movements, and aren't leading the change.

mattyglesias.bsky.social•6 days ago

True

mbdt.bsky.social•6 days ago

You know leftists who get fooled like this? You know some weak ass leftists.

torgomatic.bsky.social•6 days ago

We all think that separating our recycling will help reduce climate change, when all it does is make us comfy in our political inaction.

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