# If It Worked for the Chronometer...

*Published:* 2008-11-03
*Author:* Gernot Wagner

[![Gernot Wagner's profile](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2008/09/gernot_wagner.jpg)](http://edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=22352 "Gernot Wagner's profile")The debate goes on about EDF’s [competition](http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=27811) to visually explain how a carbon cap will solve our addiction to oil. Joe Romm critiqued the competition as “bizarre” since it asked people to “[explain something that isn’t true](http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/09/edfs-bizarre-10000-contest-what-is-a-carbon-cap-and-how-will-it-cure-our-oil-addiction).” I responded by saying that [MIT’s climate model supports us](http://www.env-econ.net/2008/10/bizarre-no-toug.html). This prompted another response from Romm titled “[EDF’s and MIT’s magical thinking on carbon caps and oil](http://climateprogress.org/2008/10/15/edfs-and-mits-magical-thinking-on-carbon-caps-and-oil/).”

As I mentioned in my [previous post](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2008/10/27/debate_about_video_competition/) about this thread, the discussion was not yet over. I posted my latest response on [Gristmill](http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/10/31/121449/79) and [Environmental Economics](http://www.env-econ.net/2008/11/if-anything-we.html).

The gist? History helps illustrate why, if anything, we are *underestimating* likely technological progress.

*This post is by [Gernot Wagner, Ph.D.](http://edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=22352 "Gernot Wagner's profile"), an economist in the Climate and Air program at Environmental Defense Fund.*