Fair Future, Wolfgang Sachs and Tilman Santarius

[Cigarbutt]

The book is about resource conflicts, security and "global justice".

 

The defining issue is the coming energy transition. Will we have to? versus Do we need to? versus Do we want to?

Disclosure: my take is that the transition may not be as smooth as "planned".

Decided to look at opinions that appear to be far from my own at this point.

 

Typical ivory tower type of book with a relatively high anti free market sentiment.

Useful because the book contains a lot of relevant data and the way the analysis is done allows checking on the underlying assumptions.

The book was published in 2007, which is a relative advantage as there is an adequate period for a retrospective assessment of the positions.

 

One of the takeaways is that the concerns about sustainability have been around for some time in a Malthusian type of way.

Like in the case of Mr. Hussman for the markets, the concerns may materialize...eventually.

 

Another takeaway is that the transition will be a challenge.

Optimist, but the "adjustments" will raise fairness issues that may trigger instincts.

 

We'll need to talk.

 

Good book if you can tolerate being left with more questions than answers.