Sustainability Efforts Can Be Independent of Climate Change Perspective

Since we have the holidays coming up, instead of writing about technology previews, today I thought I'd write about climate change. I believe in science. As Dilbert cartoonist, Scott Adams, pointed out on his blog:

If science says something is true — according to most scientists, and consistent with the scientific method — I accept their verdict. I realize that science can change its mind, of course. Saying something is “true” in a scientific sense always leaves open the option of later reassessing that view if new evidence comes to light. Something can be “true” according to science while simultaneously being completely wrong. Science allows that odd situation to exist, at least temporarily, while we crawl toward truth.

Although we're not supposed to get scientific advice from cartoonists, that's the great thing about science. Even something as universally accepted as Newton's Law of Gravity was able to change. At first, we thought gravity was a force that was sucking us towards the center of the Earth based on the Earth's gravity. Now we know that gravity results from the warping of time and space where it's actually pushing us towards the center of the Earth. The significance of this difference is that even if the Earth disappeared by imploding upon itself, the gravity of where we are now would still be in effect.

Climate change is often presented in a binary fashion — either you believe in it or you don't. Actually, there are more options than that:

• Deniers

  Some people deny that climate change exists. A handful propose that it is a hoax invented by other countries to thwart the United States' manufacturing industry.

• Cosmosists

  Some people acknowledge that climate change exists but contend that it is not man-made. It is just the natural cycle of the Earth. They contend that there is nothing mankind can do about it.

• Fatalists

  Some people acknowledge that climate change exists and is man-made, but also believe that the problem is too big for mankind to address. Their view is that we have gone beyond the point of no return or nothing will get solved unless all countries on Earth get on board and curb their greenhouse gas emissions. Having the United States take action, when other countries don't, is just a waste of time and needlessly puts the United States at an economic disadvantage.

• Optimists

  Some people acknowledge that climate change exists, is man-made, and that every little bit helps to improve the planet.

Regardless of your position, Autodesk makes sustainability solutions available for those who make places, things, and media. Many of these solutions started out as technology previews where customer feedback guided their development. They are now rolled into Insight 360.

Learn more about Insight 360

Our sustainability efforts make sense from a triple bottom line perspective: good for people, good for planet, and good for profits. So regardless of your position on climate change, there are other aspects worthy of consideration.

Possibilities are alive in the lab.