Climate Tactics Absolve Autocrats, Weaken U.S., And Worsen Emissions
(Originally published at Forbes .) No matter how well-intentioned a policy goal or noble a humanitarian cause, there are always tradeoffs to weigh before deciding on a course of action. But sometimes certitude, righteousness, and demonization of the unconvinced blinds us to the imperative of assessing those costs and consequences. Climate activists offer a deeply concerning case in point. While their demands for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are qualitatively reasonable and relatable, they tend to believe the existential branding of their cause excuses them of the obligation to account for the costs of their mitigation plans. The “no-cost-is-too-high” mindset has emboldened activists and public officials in the U.S. to bring lawsuits against entities across the fossil fuel supply chain. Their objective is to drive up the costs of extracting, refining, distributing, and using oil, natural gas, and coal to the point that electric bills are unaffordable and the economics of inve...