Perceptions of Solutions?

George Monbiot rails against what he calls 'perceptionware'. This term refers to the plethora of 'technofixes', frequently advocated by commercial interests to counter climate change/loss of biodiversity (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/12/fossil-fuel-companies-environment-greenwashing). Monbiot targets carbon capture and storage. This is the physical removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and locating it (e.g. in plastics or as a liquid) in depleted mines or oil-wells. He notes that petrochemical companies have suggested carbon capture and storage as a solution to climate-altering anthropogenic (human-mediated) 'greenhouse gas' emissions. After almost 50 years, it's hardly got beyond a trial stage. Still, governments are encouraged to invest tens of millions in it and to carry on extracting coal, oil and gas. Monbiot also notes that 'sustainable' aviation fuels are fequently floated. He thinks there's no sign that these can ever be a viable commercial alternative to the currently largely-untaxed fuels for jet aircraft. Some companies have explored the possibility of obtaining petrochemicals from algae (marine plants). The funding for this 'green development', has now largely been discontinued. One could add to the list, the idea that the solution to petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles is simply to replace them all with EVs? Monbiot also draws attention to a Science paper, analysing the effectiveness of 1,500 'climate policies', introduced by governments around the world. That study found that only 63 had delivered significant benefits. Policies that worked, included fuel taxes; carbon floor prices; bans on damaging technologies; renewables mandates; energy efficiency mandates; strong building regulations and higher industrial performance standards. These are, of course, all the things that most commercial bodies don't want to see. They would hit profits. Monbiot thinks big companies use their expensive 'perceptionware', largely to distract from such workable solutions.