In this episode, they discuss examples of technological anti-solutions like burying trees for carbon credits and the challenges of self-driving car technology. They explore the ethics of extreme wealth, societal change, and the complexities of progress. The conversation also touches on carbon sequestration, power structures in climate change mitigation, and the role of big companies in climate solutions. They emphasize the importance of evaluating technology within a social context to prevent negative impacts.
Carbon offsets like burying trees often fail due to loopholes and skewed incentives, raising doubts on their effectiveness in fighting climate change.
Partnerships like Exxon Mobil and Biden administration on carbon capture favor big corporations, raising concerns about profiteering over true environmental impact.
Luddites focused on democratic control of technology against capitalist exploitation, urging evaluation of social impact and need for oversight in tech development to prevent harm.
Deep dives
Carbon Offsets: A Flawed Market
The idea of carbon offsets, exemplified by the practice of burying trees to reduce carbon emissions, is criticized for its inherent flaws. While theoretically sound, the practical implementation often fails due to loopholes, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and skewed incentives. It's highlighted that the process of making offset decisions is riddled with uncertainties, leading to questionable outcomes. The carbon offset market entrenches existing power structures, allowing polluters to profit from their own environmental damage, raising concerns about its effectiveness in combatting climate change.
Carbon Capture: Exxon Mobil Deal
The partnership between Exxon Mobil and the Biden administration on carbon capture projects underscores the entrenchment of existing power structures within climate change solutions. The scale and complexity of carbon capture projects favor big corporations like Exxon Mobil, raising questions about true environmental impact versus profiteering. The deal highlights the challenge of relying on industries responsible for environmental harm to lead climate change efforts, emphasizing the need for more sustainable and equitable solutions.
The Luddite Perspective on Technology
The Luddites, historically associated with anti-technology sentiments, were actually critical of capitalist control over technology. Their focus was on ensuring democratic control and preventing technologies from undermining workers' livelihoods. The luddite approach urges a deeper evaluation of technology's social impact rather than mere functionality. It advocates for smashing harmful technologies controlled by nefarious actors and emphasizes the importance of democratic oversight to prevent technology from endangering societal well-being.
Critical Assessment of Anti-Solutions
A critical examination of anti-solutions like carbon offsets and carbon capture reveals their limitations and challenges. These approaches often fall short due to structural flaws, manipulation by powerful entities, and uncertainties in implementation. The discussion emphasizes the need for technology that enhances human welfare rather than perpetuating harmful cycles. It calls for a reevaluation of how technologies are developed and deployed to ensure they genuinely address pressing societal issues.
Closing Thoughts on Responsible Technology Use
The discussion on technology usage encapsulates the importance of ethical considerations and societal impact assessment. It underlines the necessity of promoting technologies that benefit communities and fostering democratic control over technological advancements. The emphasis is on using technology as a tool for positive social change and advocating for responsible innovation that prioritizes human welfare over profit-driven outcomes.
he 2nd half of my conversation with Alejandro Ruiz! We get deeper into examples of technological anti-solutions. If you work for a self-driving car company, should you quit? Also why are people burying trees to save the planet? Alejandro's experience in the tech industry, including his time at CERN, led him to creating the engineering co-operative Interstitial Technology, as well as The Luddite that he manages with the irreplaceable co-author/illustrator Julia Zimmerman and editor Dr. Christina Iglesias. Are you an expert in something and want to be on the show? Apply here! Please please pretty please support the show on patreon! You get ad free episodes, early episodes, and other bonus content!
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