#AI ChatGPT - OpenAI: When fighting climate change how do we avoid the systemic risk with "experts" and profiteers distorting the allocation of resources?

I asked OpenAI:

Fighting climate change dangers requires: 

a) Spending fighting it, trying to hinder it 

b) Spending adapting to it, to avoid its worst consequences 

c) Saving, in order to be able to mitigate its worst effects

How should we budget for that?

I’m concerned we know far from sufficiently about the problem and its solutions and so, if that fight falls into the hands of an “expert” Climate Stability Board, that might introduce a systemic risk that could guarantee we’ll all be toast. 

What do you opine about that risk?

OpenAI answered: 

"Addressing climate change is a complex and urgent challenge that requires a multifaceted approach. Each of the options you mentioned (a, b, and c) plays a crucial role in the overall strategy to combat climate change. Let's break down each option and discuss the importance of budgeting for them:

a) Spending to fight climate change and hinder it: This involves investing in renewable energy, sustainable technologies, and research and development to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the pace of global warming. Budgeting for these efforts is essential to drive innovation and transition to a low-carbon economy.

b) Spending to adapt to climate change and avoid its worst consequences: As the effects of climate change are already being felt, it's important to invest in adaptation measures to protect vulnerable communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other climate-related risks.

c) Saving to be able to mitigate the worst effects: Climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts can be costly, and budgeting for these initiatives is essential. Saving funds can ensure that resources are available to respond effectively to climate-related challenges and implement necessary measures to reduce carbon emissions and enhance resilience.

To address your concerns about relying solely on a Climate Stability Board, it is indeed important to have diverse perspectives and expertise when formulating climate policies. Climate change is a complex problem with global implications, and it's essential to involve scientists, policymakers, economists, and stakeholders from various sectors in the decision-making process. Creating a board that includes representatives from different disciplines can help avoid potential biases and promote a comprehensive approach to addressing the climate crisis.

Furthermore, transparency, public involvement, and accountability are crucial in any climate governance structure. Open and inclusive decision-making processes can reduce the risk of undue influence and ensure that the policies and actions taken are based on the best available evidence and broad societal interests.

Ultimately, fighting climate change requires a collaborative effort from all sectors of society, and it's essential to continuously learn, adapt, and improve our approaches as we gain more knowledge about the problem and its solutions. By combining expertise and engaging in constructive dialogue, we can increase the likelihood of making informed and effective decisions to safeguard the planet for future generations."

I asked OpenAI:

"Clearly there will be many who, in so many different ways, will try to profit on the fight against climate change. How can we avoid these do not distort the process of allocating efficiently the needed resources?"

OpenAI answered: 

"Addressing climate change does indeed create opportunities for various stakeholders, including businesses and industries, to profit from sustainable practices, technologies, and investments. While this can be positive in driving innovation and encouraging private sector involvement, there is a risk of certain actors exploiting the situation for personal gain without contributing to genuine climate solutions. To avoid these distortions and ensure efficient allocation of resources, several measures can be implemented:

1. Transparent and Accountable Governance: Establishing transparent and accountable governance structures is crucial. This includes clear regulations, oversight, and reporting mechanisms to prevent misuse of funds and ensure that resources are directed towards genuine climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

2. Clear Policy Framework: Implementing a clear policy framework with specific objectives and guidelines can help steer investments towards environmentally sustainable initiatives. This can include providing incentives for clean technologies, setting emission reduction targets, and outlining penalties for non-compliance with environmental standards.

3. Public and Stakeholder Engagement: Involving the public and relevant stakeholders in decision-making processes can provide checks and balances on potential abuses. Public participation can help identify potential conflicts of interest and ensure that the interests of different groups are considered in resource allocation.

4. Rigorous Impact Assessment: Conducting thorough impact assessments of proposed climate initiatives can help identify potential risks and unintended consequences. Evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of projects can ensure that resources are channeled into initiatives that deliver meaningful climate benefits.

5. Independent Auditing and Evaluation: Utilizing independent auditors and evaluators to assess climate projects can provide unbiased insights into their performance. This can help identify any instances of resource misallocation or misuse.

6. Encourage Innovation and Competition: Foster a competitive market for climate-related solutions to encourage continuous improvement and cost-effectiveness. A competitive landscape can drive innovation and lower costs, ensuring that resources are utilized efficiently.

7. International Cooperation: Climate change is a global issue, and international collaboration is essential. Coordination among countries can help prevent exploitation and ensure that resources are used to address the most pressing climate challenges collectively.

8. Green Finance Standards: Implementing green finance standards and certifications can guide investors and ensure that climate-related investments adhere to sustainable criteria.

9. Climate Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about climate change and its solutions can empower individuals and businesses to make informed choices. An informed society is more likely to support genuine climate initiatives and hold accountable those trying to profit without contributing to real progress.

By implementing these measures, we can work towards a more equitable and effective allocation of resources in the fight against climate change, ensuring that efforts are focused on meaningful solutions and genuine sustainability rather than on exploiting the situation for short-term gains."

Note: The answers are copied exactly from those given to me by OpenAI

My comment: A systemic risk derived from empowering too much a besserwisser "Climate Stability Board" has for long time been a concern of mine

ChatGPT - OpenAI: Getting to know you!

How should we budget for climate change?

Climate change dangers require

Spending fighting it, trying to hinder it 

Spending adapting to it, to avoid its worst consequences

Saving, in order to be able to mitigate its worst effects

How do you prioritize those needs to best avoid ending up toast?

Two climate change-fight profiteers arguing

“Anything green you do, I can do greener, I can do green much greener than you.” 

“No you can't”

“Yes I can”

“No you can't”

“Yes I can”

“No you can't”

“Yes I can, yes I can, yes I can!!!”

“Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.” Oscar Wilde

Scaring kids out of their wits, is not how we should face the threat of climate change

2 tweets 

I clearly remember the horrific fear I felt as a kid about nuclear bombs being launched and exploding. Today I ask myself, what if then there had been a social media covering that threat as it now covers the threat of climate change? Would I have gone nuts?

Could those who profit politically or financially from the fight against global warming or climate change be scaring our young so much so as to set them up for taking tragic personal decisions? Should there not be a limit on social media bombardments?

I pray we never see a young person self-immolating as an act of protest against climate change 😨

PS. When children are exploited having to labor in the garment industry, then there are great protests, rightly so. But why do we not see the same reactions when in the fight against climate change, some profiteers are clearly exploiting children?

PS. How many of our young will grow up feeling they must sacrifice their unborn children in order to placate the demons of climate change?

PS: Asking #AI - ChatGPT

Fighting climate change dangers requires: 

a) Spending fighting it, trying to hinder it 

b) Spending adapting to it, to avoid its worst consequences 

c) Saving, in order to be able to mitigate its worst effects

How should we budget for that?

Events in Puerto Rico should make us reflect on what it would be like… with only electric cars

https://www.vox.com/2017/10/23/16501164/puerto-rico-hurricane-maria-power-water-sewage-trump

"Rivera stops his pickup truck next to one of the turbines, clambers up a metallic staircase, takes the padlock off a small door, and steps inside the towering structure"

"Puerto Rico Power Authority workers repair power lines in Loíza"

Solutions that share out all benefits equally among all are the best, but sadly these are of no interest to solution profiteers

Let us suppose a hefty carbon and gas tax was levied and all its revenues distributed equally among all citizens... like helping to fund a Universal Basic Income

Something along the lines of Climate Leadership Council's proposed Carbon Dividends

Would that help the environment? Of course it would!

Would that help to reduce inequalities? Of course it would!

Such ideas have been proposed but why do they not get sufficient social traction?

The climate-change-fight profiteers, those so abundant in the frontlines of all environmental concerns, do not find that to be in their best interests.

The redistribution profiteers, those so abundant in the frontlines of all social concerns, and the political power grabbers, do not find that to be in their best interest.

Tell me, what do we do? A revenue neutral carbon tax is surely more important for the health of our planet than a couple of quite wishy washy populist Paris agreements, which end up being just great photo-ops for political profiteering.

PS. This is what I in FT proposed for Mexico

@PerKurowski

Now I propose to fight inequality and climate change at the same time... in a way that helps to keep the profiteers of both those wars at bay

http://teawithft.blogspot.com/2016/04/having-carbon-taxes-fund-universal.html
And here a proposal for Mexico, published in FT, June 1, 2016 

Mexico needs to align incentives on pollution

Sir, Jude Webber writes about the horrible pollution caused by the excessive number of cars in Mexico City (“Corruption and car fumes clog up the capital”, Notebook, May 26) and proposes that eliminating corruption in emission testing could be an important part of solving this. Fat chance! As a Venezuelan, I know that this is not a viable route.

Ms Webber writes: “Mexicans are snapping up cars as fast as the world’s seventh largest producer can churn them out . . . Domestic consumption is the engine of economic growth so there is no official incentive to dissuade people from buying Mexican-built cars and associated products such as petrol.” 

That’s really not the case. You must build up the right political and economic incentives to correct for it. If Mexico imposed carbon tax, petrol tax and a strong traffic toll system, and made sure all the revenues from it were immediately returned to the economy by means of a universal basic income, you would face a different reality. Then you would have aligned the incentives for pollution control and the fight against climate change with the fight against inequality, and that makes for a very powerful alliance. 

Standing in the way, besides initial protests from car owners, would be the redistribution profiteers who would miss a chance to make political and economic capital. Just as in Venezuela.

Fighting climate change should not be an opportunity for pork barrel politicking by NGOs

Initiatives to better the environment or fight climate change is something serious enough, and need to be that and nothing more. These should not be taken as an opportunity for pork barrel politics, like for all types of NGOs to hang on to it their special wishes and issues.

The more pork that is added the lesser the chance of reaching a global consensus.

The #VW #Volkswagen emission control conundrum

Note: Not one single of the comments that follows is intended to diminish in any way or form the responsibility of Volkswagen for an incredibly unethical and criminal behavior. And of course Martin Winterkorn the CEO, as well as many other of Volkswagen must resign, even if not indicted by any malfeasance. Otherwise the not knowing what others were doing, could become a CEO’s and others prime responsibility... BUT:

How on earth did not emission controllers discover it all earlier?... after 11 million cars?... is there no real road driving control on each year models?... or did they have a software for that to.

We might have to be thankful for these treacherous/criminal (though quite ingenious) programmers since now the whole system of controlling emission might be revised in time. 

Of course those responsible in Volkswagen should be fired and probably put in jail... but And what about those 11 million cars’ emission controllers fooled... should they not resign and at least be publicly shamed too? 

But, what if those emission criteria are wrong and give us unnecessarily expensive cars? Should we then not appreciate what VW is doing?

Frankly, with emission controllers like these, global warming seems so much real and so much closer... and we're toast. 

Where can I find an emission control App, so that I do not have to pay emission control inspectors for a shoddy job?

PS. Perhaps Paris should have a little tête-à-tête with Volkswagen about what to do about embarrassing pollution ratings J

PS. I have to confess... I dislike all types of climate change profiteers. Why not a high carbon tax with its revenues shared out to all instead?

PS. If any little shady car manufacturer had come up with this in order to trick his local emission controllers, few would have taken much notice… but, for Volkswagen to do this in Europe, gosh that is indeed a potent signal! Thanks VW J

PS. Anyone who imposes regulations that can be gamed is the wrongdoer's best friend.

PS. Volkswagen turned EU's binding emission targets' control, which could be gamed, into a competitive advantage J You developers of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals' the SDGs' controlling instruments... consider yourself having been clearly warned.

Feeling embarrased and sad... for the bug J