2023-03-16
INSIGHTS: Five collective misconceptions
Anyone who follows current debates gets the impression: prejudices are stronger than the belief in the innovative power of the social market economy. This poses risks for climate protection and for Africa.
Laziness of thought, narrow-mindedness and technology scepticism lead to numerous collective mis- and snap judgements. I have collected a few in the last weeks:
- We don’t have enough power for electric mobility and not enough lithium for batteries. Besides, there aren’t enough charging stations anyway.
- Bio-fuels worsen hunger crises because food ends up in the tank. Moreover, the available land is not sufficient. The combustion engine must therefore go.
- Africa is corrupt and in the hands of the Chinese. Europe is too late.
- Artificial intelligence will leave us all unemployed.
- The USA are stronger than Europe. We do not have the strength to defend ourselves (also because the veto power of individual states prevents groundbreaking EU initiatives).
I am convinced that these statements are all wrong. Researchers, inventors, engineers and courageous entrepreneurs and politicians will refute them – with new processes, better technologies and investment programmes like the Global Gateway.
Take bio-fuels: We family entrepreneurs are currently launching a study on bio-fuels to dispel prejudices. We simply know too little to bury such a promising technology and stifle research.
Renowned scientists from the Technical University of Munich, for example, say that biofuels from Africa have what it takes to be a global game changer. We could save the climate and create more prosperity in developing countries at the same time. We must not give away such opportunities prematurely.
>>> German Version on martin-schoeller.com.
