Guest essay by Eric Worrall

Former Republican governors John Kasich and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and former Secretary of State John Kerry have teamed up to create “World War Zero”, an initiative aimed at driving conservative interest in climate action.

It’s Time for American Leaders to Wake Up to the Threat of Climate Change for the Good of the Planet and Business

BY JOHN R. KASICH  AUGUST 3, 2020 11:55 AM EDT
Kasich was the governor of Ohio from 2011 to 2019.

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If we could have seen the pandemic coming and had the power to prevent it, of course, we would have. If we had that power but sat on our hands as millions became sick and died, that inaction would be unforgivable.

There is another problem that we know is coming, that we have the power to address, and yet which we continually do too little—or often nothing—to tackle. I’m talking about climate change.

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I joined with former Secretary of State John Kerry and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger behind an effort called “World War Zero” to help bring together a group of unlikely allies – Democrats, Republicans and independents, scientists, military leaders, business leaders, diplomats, entertainers, and ordinary people from all walks of life – to mobilize, speak up, and tackle climate change together. And to find new ways of helping people appreciate the need to address the problem.

Seeing the economic benefits of renewable energy investments at a time of a global recession might not be an angle that first comes to mind. But tough problems merit different approaches and demand that we take advantage of the opportunities when they arise—like now.

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Read more: https://time.com/5873394/take-climate-change-seriously-business/

“World War Zero” wants net zero emissions by 2050. I couldn’t see anything resembling a carefully costed plan to achieve net zero, the site focus mostly seems to consist of lots of positive thinking, and reminiscences about the spectacular debt fuelled growth of the 1940s wartime economy.

Kasich’s claims of economic benefits from renewables are questionable. If renewables provided any short term “economic benefits”, if they were a genuinely profitable opportunity, there would be no need for the government to step in and support renewables.

Regardless of the alleged long term benefits of renewables, in the short to medium term additional government support for renewables would be a drag on the economy.

The last thing the USA or anywhere else needs right now is even more short term economic pain.

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