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Václav Smil at Driva Climate Investment Meeting 2019

Nysnø Klimainvesteringer · talk · Watch on YouTube

Climate policy, solutions & debateRenewables, batteries & storageClimate science & climate change

What it is

Vaclav Smil's talk on historic energy transitions and what they imply for climate investment. He argues that transitions are slow, technology improves gradually, and only absolute cuts in energy use would truly work.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Frequently linked as a sobering, data-grounded counterpoint to techno-optimism about decarbonization and green growth.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 8 different months
  • 4 strong recommendations
  • first 2019, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “check this presentation”

    Sobering view on technology not saving us

    raaaaraaaa2, 2019-08 · Strong recommendation · in “Singapore Says Musk's Electric Cars Are About 'Lifestyle,' Not Climate”

  2. “Here's a fascinating talk by Václav Smil at the Driva Climate Investment Meeting in 2019”

    Fascinating talk on growth and the biosphere

    carapace, 2021-10 · Strong recommendation · in “‘Green growth’ doesn’t exist – less of everything only way to avert catastrophe”

  3. “I think Vaclav Smil did an effective diagnosis of this at the Driva Climate Investment Meeting”

    Diagnosis of why Moore's law doesn't apply to everything

    aksss, 2021-03 · Recommendation · in “Moore's Law for Everything”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: vaclav smil, climate change, energy, degrowth, decarbonization

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