Must we prevent new sources of carbon emissions from being built through laws, zoning and building codes?

Question

What other ways could this done? Of course substituting zero and low emission building projects that do the same thing so that companies wouldn't lose work is also critically importent.

Answer 1

You´ve got it all right !!!!!!

It is now time to act because there is the "lock in effect".

A building is built for over 100 years

A cement plant: 45 years

A car: 20 years

A coal power plant: 40 years

So basicallly, if we don´t move now to the best achievable efficiency (minimum fossi fuel consumption), we are locked into a carbon intensive path for years. It is also a cost and resource intensive path in the long term and we want to avoid it. Getting rid of such a heavy path while we are already on it is expensive since it consists in upgrading or stopping a system (car, power plant etc...). And this is simply trashing investments.

It´s like if you buy a consuming car which won´t meet future minimum efficiency standards to be on the road. It´s trashing investments.