One Trillion USD in R&D on Sustainable Technologies Would Resolve the Climate Crisis Within Ten Years

Many Western governments are investing massively in subsidies and investments for the introduction of sustainable technologies as seen in the recent package that was narrowly passed by the US Congress. This is severely misguided. A much better use of that money is to invest those huge resources on R&D in sustainable technologies. It is time to think big and realize that societal transitions nowadays are led by technological change in the private sector. If one trillion US dollars were invested in R&D on sustainable technologies, that would undoubtedly resolve all outstanding climate-related issues within ten years. But no, our politicians are wasting valuable resources by spending money; both on useless subsidies and on “investments” that should be done by the private sector. To imagine that politicians will be able to resolve the climate crisis is pure hubris and has been proven over and over again to be misguided and impossible. It is not yet possible technologically, it is not politically possible domestically and certainly not internationally possible due to lack of international political unity. What is rather needed is gargantuan public investment in research and development of sustainable technologies such as cellular agriculture and making the strategic decision to eventually outlaw all technologies and industries that are harmful to the climate. Furthermore, if the United States government were to invest one trillion US dollars on R&D on sustainable technologies, that would put the United States economy in a tremendous leadership position and give it a significant lead over China.