Stephen Emmott Q&A: 'Windfarms are not the answer to our problems'

The author of Ten Billion on how we might avert a population catastrophe, his attempts to replicate photosynthesis, and why G8 leaders ought to wear tiesWatch Stephen Emmott reading extracts from his book. Reading this on mobile? Click hereWhy have scientists and politicians been slow and reluctant to confront population growth?It might be useful to first distinguish between growth and behaviour. The problem is less the current number of us in itself (yet) but more the way the majority of the 7 billion of us live and consume. This is principally the cause of almost every global problem we face. Critically, every one of these problems is set to accelerate as we continue to grow. "Confronting", as you put it, the way we live and consume is not something politicians want to do. Doing so would be immensely unpopular. And politicians do like to be popular. Indeed, our entire political systems are set up for the opposite: to promote and encourage us to increase our consumption and irresponsible behaviour. As for scientists – my colleagues, I should add – the vast majority choose to do what I have chosen not to do; to keep their heads well below the parapet on this lot.Do you think Thomas Malthus was wrong only in terms of timescale?The Reverend Thomas Malthus (FRS, no less) was wrong about many things. Indeed the chap held a fairly broad range of opinions which fell into the "dubious to odious" categories. But on population, his basic argument – that when the population excee...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Energy Population World news Food Technology Physics Energy efficiency Energy research Ethical and green living Q & amp;As The Observer Environment Science Source Type: news