One can blame the politicians, but they are only reflecting the popular will. Show me the country where the general public is prepared to make enough sacrifice that the impact will be meaningful.

Even Al Gore, the guru of "realism", preaches a painless transition. Now if some of us could come up with a scheme that was only slightly painful and also had short term (as well as long term) benefits then we might be justified in criticizing those in power.

Personally, I can offer lots of scenarios which are going to turn out badly, but few that will turn out well. To take one popular issue in the US right now - exurban sprawl in the southwest. Short of depopulating the region there is nothing to be done. Building mass transit will only solve part of the problem since housing is spread over a wide area and the water shortage is intractable. Telling people they will have to move won't work. Allowing them to find out the hard way (see Detroit or other rust belt cities) seems the only path.

Those living in flood plains in Asia are even in a worse situation. There really is no place for them to go, the existing land is already overpopulated.

I'm at a loss. Jimmy Carter told people to put on a sweater and got booted out of office. Pols aren't prepared to make that mistake again.

Policies not Politics
---- Daily Landscape