The climate issue viewed through "structured problem solving"

A holistic approach to assessing climate change

During my professional work in industry I got to know the method of “structured problem solving”, which I have used ever since as a pattern of thinking for tackling challenging tasks. The following request to the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology regarding the climate-damaging nature of CO2 prompted me to publish this article.

First, here is a symbolic representation of the 6 principles for solving complex tasks:

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Climate-damaging nature of CO2

Request to: Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (German)

Law used: Duty to Provide Information Act (Auskunftspflichtgesetz) (German)

Dear Sir or Madam, The statements of the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) on the eco-social tax reform [https://www.bmk.gv.at/themen/klima_umwe…] (accessed on 22.04.2024) raise fundamental questions.

For this reason, in the course of providing information (pursuant to §§ 2, 3 AuskunftspflichtG), answers to the following questions are requested:

1. With regard to the BMK’s statement that “climate-damaging CO2 emissions […] are given a price” (in the BMK’s aforementioned statements on the eco-social tax reform): What does the BMK mean by “climate-damaging” in this very specific statement?

2. Does the BMK have established knowledge that CO2 emissions are “climate-damaging” in the sense meant by the BMK?

• How is this established knowledge of the BMK expressed in detail? We kindly request the transmission of files or, where applicable, parts of files documenting this established knowledge (e.g. by naming the concrete, objectively measurable parameters that comprehensibly show the “climate-damaging nature” meant by the BMK)!
• With regard to the recognised fact that data from the Vostok ice core show that the rise in CO2 content began 600 ± 400 years after the Antarctic warming – in the words of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): “From a detailed study of the last three glacial terminations in the Vostok ice core, Fischer et al. (1999) conclude that CO2 increases started 600 ± 400 years after the Antarctic warming.” (from the IPCC Third Assessment Report, Climate Change 2001): Does the BMK have established knowledge that empirical data exist documenting that a rise in the CO2 content of the Earth’s atmosphere is followed by a rise in temperature in the Earth’s atmosphere (i.e. diametrically opposed to the empirical data from the Vostok ice core, which, according to the study by Fischer et al. [https://doi.org/10.1126/science.283.540…], first document a rise in temperature in the Earth’s atmosphere followed, with a time lag of 600 ± 400 years, by a rise in the CO2 content of the Earth’s atmosphere)?
• If question 4 is answered in the affirmative: how is this established knowledge of the BMK expressed in detail? We kindly request the transmission of files or, where applicable, parts of files documenting this established knowledge!

In the event that the information is refused in whole or in part, an application is hereby made for a decision to be issued pursuant to § 4 AuskunftspflichtG.

Yours sincerely,

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Link to the request on FragDenStaat (German)

Structured problem solving

A topic as complex as climate change requires an orderly and holistic approach. This means dealing with the subject in depth, looking comprehensively at figures, data and facts, forming hypotheses, and checking and questioning everything.

Yes, that may seem laborious! But only a solution that tackles the root of the problem – that is, the cause – can bring about meaningful and lasting change in the desired direction. Measures taken without such a holistic view may be quicker to implement at first, but in the end they involve more effort and have less effect.

Besides looking at the factual level, it is also important to consider the intention with which measures are taken and figures, data and facts are interpreted and communicated. That also requires a deep understanding of psychology, and in particular of the mechanisms of propaganda.

In summary, here is the result that applying “structured problem solving” to the climate issue has produced for me:

• Yes, the climate is currently changing very strongly.
• The climate has always changed and will continue to change in future, in keeping with the wisdom “The only constant is change”.
• There are natural causes and human-made causes of climate change.
• The explanations conveyed to us by politics and the media as the cause of climate change are intended to further restrict humanity’s freedom.
• The measures initiated by politics with regard to climate change make the environmental situation even worse.
• Human influence on the climate is very strong, and it is up to people to recognise what influence they have on their surroundings and which patterns of thought and behaviour are for the greatest good of all.
• We need a lifestyle in harmony with the principles of nature again!

If you are interested in my conclusions and how I arrived at these insights, I am happy to answer questions. To explain the method described above, I offer webinars via GAIA-Events based on the gift economy.

Additions from literature and a note on Scholé News

ENLIGHTENMENT is man’s emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one’s own understanding without the guidance of another. This immaturity is self-incurred when its cause lies not in a lack of understanding, but in a lack of resolve and courage to use it without the guidance of another. Sapere aude! Have the courage to use your own understanding! – that is the motto of enlightenment. Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why so great a part of mankind, long after nature has released them from alien guidance, nevertheless gladly remain immature for life; and why it is so easy for others to set themselves up as their guardians. It is so comfortable to be immature. If I have a book that has understanding for me, a pastor who has a conscience for me, a doctor who judges my diet for me, and so on, then I need not trouble myself at all. I have no need to think, if only I can pay; others will readily take over the tiresome business for me. That by far the greater part of mankind regards the step towards maturity not only as troublesome but also as highly dangerous is seen to by those guardians who have so kindly taken upon themselves the supervision of them. Having first made their domestic animals dumb, and having carefully prevented these placid creatures from daring to take a single step outside the go-cart in which they have shut them up, they then show them the danger that threatens them if they try to walk alone.

Immanuel Kant, written in 1784

I have also commented on these additions from literature in the Scholé News by Alexandra Terzic-Auer, which are likewise published here on the GAIA platform:

Scholé News May 2024 – Immanuel Kant