This is an interesting and well written piece. I do take issue with the author falling short in considering the actual actors that have contributed to climate change. It’s not a conspiracy theory that car (and tire) manufacturers have worked against public transportation infrastructure in the US. It’s not a contentions theory that fossil fuel companies knew they were altering the atmosphere and our political system did nothing.
There are conspiracies, which are distinct from conspiracy theories. Would I be a climate populist for suggesting petrol lobbies are responsible to a degree for climate change? What if I believe that capitalist economic forces have accelerated climate change? Could I be disregarded as a conspiracy theorist?
The article makes predictions that are sound, but a clearer delineation on responsibility is needed.
I haven’t done the math but I studied a lot energy stuff for my degree. I can say for sure that’s it’s a hell of a lot more money and work than just reducing emissions in the first place. The below comment is accurate, if cynical; I knew someone who works on it in the states. You collect a bunch of co2 (using energy), then compress it (with energy), then ship it (yep diesel trucks), to salt caves where it is pumped (with energy) into the empty salt lined cave where the pressure causes the salt to sort of seal in a partial melt from the pressure. And hope we don’t accidentally frack it all back out. Needless to say I think it’s a waste of technology, money, and political will that’d be better spent on a plethora of other options.