Koonin-Dessler Debate – Frustrated with that?

By Andy May

The debate I announced here between Steve Koonin and Andy Dessler takes place on Monday, August 15, it’s very educational and bright. I will try and write more about it in the next few days.

In short, Andy Dessler says that economic models show that climate change is a negative for human civilization and not a positive at all. But he avoids including any numbers in this assertion.

Dessler believes that wind and solar generate electricity cheaper than fossil fuels, and they can provide most of our energy. Koonin countered that the only reason wind and solar is cheaper is the cost of fossil fuel backups, and the necessary changes to the US grid are not included in the cost of solar. and wind. Koonin shows an estimated $2.4 trillion to upgrade our grid to work with mostly wind and solar.

Koonin claims that the cost of climate change is minimal, and in 100 years won’t be noticeable as the world economy will grow so much in that time. Climate change, even in the worse scenarios, will only slow economic growth very slightly, by 4% or less, and everyone will still be better off. He noted that in the past, global warming and climate change have benefited humanity because today people are much better off and more resilient to climate change. 100 years ago. He also pointed out that today’s poor should not be left to suffer because elites (that is the United States and the Western world) believe, without evidence and based solely on models, that fossil fuels are polluting or dangerous. He added that solar and wind power are pollution-free.

Koonin quotes American economist Anthony Downes, who once said:

“The environmental degradation of the upper class is often the improved standard of living of ordinary people.”

From “Up and Down with Ecosystem -” Attention Cycle “,” by Anthony Downs (link)

At the end this is very interesting Oxford-style debate inside Sheen Center New Yorkhere are the results:

Apparently Koonin won, the swing in favor of him 25%. Let’s hope that these results are not changed online like they joined the most recent major climate change debate.