(TED Talk) Amory Lovins: A 50-year plan for energy

[kristopher]

42. What science do you base that on?

As far as I know everything we know says that we have to be on a track to accomplish certain benchmarks by 2020, 2030 and 2050. The technologies to move us from carbon are actually deploying at a pace that exceeds the expectations of what would be needed to get us to those benchmarks. No, we didn't stop using carbon yesterday. But we are building a supply chain and manufacturing base for renewable energy technologies that is approaching a critical mass where it will, in the not to distant future, have the economic (and the consequent political) inertia to promote its own welfare in a way that would be analogous to the electronic giants of the last 3 decades.

So I'd really love to see the science that says if by 2030 we have reduced carbon emissions by 40% and then meet an 80% reduction target by 2050 we are "too late" and that civilization will be "wrecked".

I can appreciate the anxiety but too much focus on the deniers is as bad as not taking them serious at all.