Seafloor Mining Will Make Rich Countries Richer
Moon mining still falls under the “sci-fi” category. It is far more likely we will mine the ocean floor for manganese nodules. Billions of tonnes of ore (copper, cobalt, titanium, nickel, etc.) exist in four separate deposits spanning an area roughly 1 1/2 times the size of Europe. Although the International Seabed Authority has a mission to equitably divide these international natural resources to provide economic benefits to disenfranchised and marginalized countries, it is likely that rich countries will reap the benefits of manganese nodule mining.
Environmental Economics Part 1: The Tragedy of the Commons?
Environmental Economics seeks to put a dollar amount on environmental goods (clean air and water) and bads (pollution and contamination) so that we can quantify the costs and benefits that result from preserving or destroying nature. The current climate crisis is partly explained by the economic principle known as the Tragedy of the Commons, with one unique twist.
Energy: A Crash Course. Generation and Consumption.
Energy is the ability to do work. Fossil fuels are the “densest” energy form available, but they come at the high cost of all life on Earth. We have the opportunity to decarbonize our electrical grid. We have the obligation to future generations that we accomplish this quickly.