You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion
Climate change: Do we have the skills to tackle it?
Former Community Member
By working more closely with schools, colleges, and universities, can industry prioritise reskilling and upskilling the current workforce? How do we ensure future engineers have the right skills to address climate change? Comment below to share your thoughts! You can also learn more in our recent IET skills for net zero and a green recovery 2020 survey.
I think I am quite on topic, I am suggesting that we shouldn't be spending tax payers money on unachievable or pointless campaigns. Leave it to the private sector and market forces - far more effective. A fair point of view I think.
Market forces don't solve a whole class of problems. Pollution is one of those problems.
Market forces didn't encourage the phasing out of single-use plastic bags. It costs nothing to them if the disposable plastic bag they have given you is dumped and left to litter the countryside or blow into the sea. So they see no benefit in solving it. The government chose to add a charge on single-use bags, and their use dropped dramatically.
Market forces won't stop factories from polluting the air, or rivers. It's cheaper to dump your waste into the environment than to pay somebody to take it away. That's why in the 19th century, many rivers were dead and the air was polluted. It took government action to clean that up.
And the thing is, much of this doesn't actually involve spending large amounts of taxpayer's money.
Occasionally, the government does subsidize early adopters of new technologies. So, for example, you currently get a discount if you buy an electric car. But there's nothing "unachievable" about electric cars. The numbers of them being bought every year keep going up. I expect the government to phase out the subsidies before long.
I think I am quite on topic, I am suggesting that we shouldn't be spending tax payers money on unachievable or pointless campaigns. Leave it to the private sector and market forces - far more effective. A fair point of view I think.
Market forces don't solve a whole class of problems. Pollution is one of those problems.
Market forces didn't encourage the phasing out of single-use plastic bags. It costs nothing to them if the disposable plastic bag they have given you is dumped and left to litter the countryside or blow into the sea. So they see no benefit in solving it. The government chose to add a charge on single-use bags, and their use dropped dramatically.
Market forces won't stop factories from polluting the air, or rivers. It's cheaper to dump your waste into the environment than to pay somebody to take it away. That's why in the 19th century, many rivers were dead and the air was polluted. It took government action to clean that up.
And the thing is, much of this doesn't actually involve spending large amounts of taxpayer's money.
Occasionally, the government does subsidize early adopters of new technologies. So, for example, you currently get a discount if you buy an electric car. But there's nothing "unachievable" about electric cars. The numbers of them being bought every year keep going up. I expect the government to phase out the subsidies before long.
