Betting on the Right Horse: The Failure of Politics and the Residual Hope in New Green Technology

Current moral and political theory offers different proposals for tackling climate change, judged by effectiveness, feasibility, and moral adequacy. Setting aside disputes about moral values, there is broad agreement that meaningful progress requires combining individual lifestyle changes, policy reforms aimed at net-zero emissions, and technological innovation such as carbon removal, solar radiation management, and improved renewable energy. This paper argues that, although this three-part strategy appears sensible, the assumption that all components must work together may hinder real progress. After outlining the problem, the first section reviews the historical failure of political action and cautions against expecting major future improvements. The second section contends that, given current geopolitical and institutional constraints, technological innovation offers the most feasible and effective route forward. This stance—strategic realism—focuses on what is likely to work rather than on ideal prescriptions. The third section addresses two objections: first, the moral hazard of relying on not-yet-developed technologies; second, the claim that prioritizing technology assumes an implausibly apolitical view of technological decision-making, risking reduced democratic accountability. The paper concludes by responding to both concerns.