I really am not sure if your article has a point. I think those of us who understand and care about climate change fully understand the power of incentives. This is why many incentives are in place for solar panels, wind, batteries and cars (for example, my EV qualified for the $7,500 tax credit). However, with people who do not understand the problem, or people who have no concern for future generations often blocking our efforts, there is only so much that can be done politically.

I am not an "alarmist", however, I do understand that as we enter the Great Transition away from fossil fuels, humanity is in uncharted territory. Whether you believe in climate science or not, one way or another, we will be out of oil and gas within 100 years, and likely much sooner. If we are wise, we will phase out quickly and preserve the remaining deposits for the really critical applications that we identify.

While everyone loves to believe that humans can handle any problem through innovation, this challenge will be unique and all encompassing. There is no real substitute for "free" oil bubbling up from the ground. Fossil fuels reserves were a one-time gift to humanity. The amount of energy contained in each pound of coal/gas/oil has allowed everything that humans have accomplished since 1850. All of our progress in transportation, industry, agriculture, technology, and healthcare has been dependent on cheap fossil fuels. Humanity (our grandchildren and later generations) will find out soon enough what life will be like after the age of fossil fuels has ended.

Please read the book, "Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet" by Thomas Murphy. It is free on line. If you read it carefully, you will begin to understand the changes that will be coming. We can pretend like nothing is wrong, or we can be wise, and make plans to try to mitigate some of the most serious consequences. The fact that it is free on line is indeed an incentive to get people to read it.