Living like monks mirrors high taxation
With clean energy and green products still costly, could adopting a minimalist lifestyle help combat global warming?
Conserving energy and limiting consumption can certainly contribute to reducing carbon emissions. In this context, the government might consider imposing consumption quotas for each household, with redirected spending toward building a clean energy infrastructure.
In practice, enforcing strict rules and quotas is comparable to imposing high taxes and rigid regulations, which can diminish net incomes. However, history has consistently shown that such strategies fail to effectively tax the wealthiest while benefiting the poorest. Additionally, they often necessitate a heavy-handed government to ensure compliance across all income levels.
The economy must continue to sustain essential services
Living like monks is unrealistic as it neither supports population growth nor addresses the threats of pandemics or foreign aggression.
The world requires diligent effort, not frugality, to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The global population is growing, primarily due to aging rather than high birth rates. To meet future demands, we need advanced technologies—such as GMOs to reduce reliance on fertilizers and vertical farming to maximize space efficiency. Similarly, cutting-edge technologies are essential for healthcare and defense in a world where viruses and authoritarian regimes still pose significant threats.
Providing green tech to developing nations, not promoting frugality
The goal is not to consume less at the expense of jobs but to transition to a fully carbon-free economy that supports robust job creation.
Given the accumulation of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere and oceans, which will persist for centuries, it is crucial to develop carbon-free technologies for developing nations. These countries, facing the temptation to build their infrastructure by burning coal—as Western countries did—require support from wealthier nations to adopt green energy solutions. Having already contributed heavily to global CO2 levels, rich countries cannot simply prevent poorer nations from utilizing their coal reserves without offering compensation and assistance. Countries like China and India, in particular, demand such support to build their green energy infrastructure.