Comment by maxbond

> The short-term incentives string together into a long-term plan.

Sustainability isn't different in this regard. Eg, algae farming is a promising way to produce protein and fix carbon. But the economics aren't there yet, so commercial algae farms are pursuing higher margin markets like supplements and inputs to cosmetics rather than food (with the notable exception of feed in aquaculture like salmon).

When solar was still very expensive it was deployed in weird environments like satellites and oil fields where the grid wasn't available. But that proved to be stepping stones to a much larger solar industry.

> Which has been enough urgency to do what exactly?

Lots of stuff, for instance the €5.5B MOSE seawall built by Venice and various projects along the Colorado River to secure the water supply of the southwest USA (to pick just one, Las Vegas' Third Straw at around $1.3B). When disasters happen we obviously spend hundreds of millions to a billion+ on cleanup, rescue, etc. It's also been urgent enough to drive a huge amount of research, advocacy, etc.

Granted, those are fairly low numbers in the scheme of things. But the inaction is driven by interests who stand to lose money, not by economic rationality. I don't think even those monied interests are acting rationally in the long run. They're protecting their interests in the short term but greatly jeopardizing them in the long term. That's a similar false economy/market failure.