- What is your opinion about this?
As I noted in some of my comments I don't think Solow was advocating one thing or another. Instead, I think he was just suggesting that a reasonable definition of sustainability would allow for technological change. Policymakers still have to make a judgment about when and where things like protecting natural habitat make sense.
In this regard, it’s worth noting that one way to promote technological change and more efficient use of resources is to take some resources off the table, i.e., to use conservation as a way of forcing substitution away from scarce natural resources. As an example, protecting the old-growth forest is a great way to promote more efficient use of wood resources. Indeed, it is often only after things have become scarce that it is realistic
(financially due to rising prices) to invest in more efficient methods. That being the case, we can either allow scarcity to occur through depletion or protection. That's a choice we have. I think Solow would very much approve of choosing the later. - What is your opinion on this?
Thanks (in advance) for your great feedback in the forum this week and best of luck to all of you in preparing
your finals. I've enjoyed this course very much. As a parting gesture, I thought you would all find the attached
article of interest. Who would have ever thought that Exxon, GM, Pepsi, and other industrial giants would be
getting out ahead of everyone else (including the environmental community) on climate change
Prof Rice
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-energy-202/2017/06/20/the-energy-202-exxongm-and-pepsi-plan-to-back-carbon-tax-floated-by-ex-gop-officials/5947e0eae9b69b2fb981dd82/?
utm_term=.8b111b39bf25
3. What is your opinion on this?
It seems that the world is undergoing an interesting unintended environmental management experiment. I just saw in the news that there is a significant measurable reduction in air pollution since the governmentally mandated quarantines. Below is an image of China’s airborne nitrogen dioxide from Jan. to Feb.
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146362/airborne-nitrogen-dioxide-plummets-over-china
Could some sort of a study of this effect be a capstone? Interesting thought.
I enjoyed this course. The readings were insightful as well as a helpful reference in this coursework and will be continued helpful reference into the future. In other words, I have not reviewed all the articles and look forward to referencing them in the future. Thanks for the list.
Your guidance that was laid out in the forums helped to direct the conversation. Your feedback helped keep it focused. I know how I can stray off-topic or repeat myself for that matter. I always looked forward to your responses and wished I had more time to participate. I have been a student on and off for a very long time and have struggled with my writing skills all along, in fact, paper writing has been a source of anxiety for me. Lately, I
have become more comfortable with this skill and really do appreciate the positive feedback. I am more encouraged now than ever that I have a skill set that can make a difference. We all do! I just hope that I can stay objective and scientific while proceeding with no preconceived notions or ulterior motives in the pursuit of developing environmental policy.
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