One of the biggest problems about transforming to more sustainable ways of doing things is that we often simply do not know whether the new method is actually less harmful than the original, let alone whether it is actually net positive.
For example, the Climate Bonds Initiative recently released a Cement Criteria consultation about whether the cement industry should switch from coal burning to waste burning as a way to reduce impact. This would also allow them to tap into funds allocated for green financing. The problem is that there are many pitfalls from getting it wrong and doing more widespread harm to disincentivizing more impactful moves such as to renewables. Burning anything, including waste is always going to include harm.
So there’s the dilemma. Allow changes even though they may not be great or block smaller steps in favour of bigger transformation?
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.