Some optimism concerning net-zero and some possible COVID silver-linings. But, in the US, grim predictions of social unrest and the prospect of ever-rising tension with China, regardless of who wins the election in November. With so much seemingly beyond our control, let’s at least take back control of our inbox.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
”The oil, gas, and coal businesses are hurtling toward extinction in Europe, the US, Canada, and much of Asia today. In many cases, the shareholder-owned companies have chosen to commit the corporate equivalent of suicide.” – Philip Verleger
Philip Verleger, I am a climate optimist
(Niskanen Center, 10 September 2020)
It’s hard to be an optimist when it is so obvious that the climate crisis (wildfires, hurricanes, and vanishing sea ice) is here, but the economist offers reasons for hope. His core argument: the belief that much of the world will achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 or earlier, well before the 2050 deadlines set by many governments. The reason? In his opinion, the fossil fuel industry will soon be gone, at least in most if not all OECD countries (reads in 7-8 min).
Click here to read the full article.
Mohamed El-Erian, The COVID Silver Linings Playbook
(Project Syndicate, 15 September 2020)
Since every crisis also represents an opportunity, what are the positive trends set in motion by the pandemic that policymakers could seize upon? El-Erian sees six silver linings: (1) incredible medical innovation, with strong spillover effects; (2) deeper cross-border private-sector collaboration; (3) new private-sector efforts to collect and analyze a broader range of high-frequency data; (4) collective awareness and sensitivity to low-probability, high-impact “tail risks”; (5) “natural experiments” shedding light on a host of issues that go well beyond health and economics; (6) candid conversations about work-life balance accompanied by innovative solutions (reads in 6-7 min).
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Jack Goldstone and Peter Turchin, Welcome To The ‘Turbulent Twenties’
(Noéma, 10 September 2020)
The political scientist and the historian who predicted years ago the “Turbulent Twenties” – the current and future wave of political upheaval in the US (and to a lesser extent in western Europe as well) – explain what it means and what to do about it. Their analysis essentially boils down to “selfish elites leading the way to revolutions”. They now forecast that the US is probably headed for still greater protests and violence because “almost any election scenario this fall is likely to lead to popular protests on a scale we have not seen this century” (reads in 8-10 min).
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Symington Smith, Book Review: Has China Won? The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy
(The National Interest, 12 September 2020)
The rising rivalry between the US and China is today’s greatest geopolitical risk. This is a review of Kishore Mahbubani’s latest book – a crucial guide to understanding the modern US-China relationship and why this relationship has been marred by such hostility in recent times. The conclusion: “If nobody will listen, especially in the West, then the book’s central question has been answered: in terms of reason and future-proof pragmatic administration, China has won” (reads in about 10-15 min).
Click here to read the full article.
Sara Aridi, How to Declutter Your Digital World
(The New York Times, 12 September 2020)
Most of us are overwhelmed from telecommuting for months. This article provides a few tips to help step away from our devices and, just maybe, get to inbox zero. What to do? (1) Create separation; (2) Set expectations; (3) Assume control of your inbox; and (4) Remember you are in charge! (5-6 min)
Click here to read the full article.
In the current climate of anxiety, there is much to be said for confronting and thus beginning to master our fears. Have a look at how, during last weekend’s MB Summit of Minds in Chamonix, some of our participants (including a former head of state) did just that.
