Welcome to the world we’re building by default.

Or, to be more precise, welcome to the world that other countries are building while we stand by squabbling and splitting hairs.

One of the first things students in business schools and public policy institutes learn is that refusing to make a decision is, in fact, a decision, and one that has just as many consequences as a deliberate choice. The status quo may be terrible, but it usually continues unless people decide to change it.

The International Energy Agency, in its respected World Energy Outlook report, said last week that we’re on our way to locking in pivotal energy and climate decisions, and that the window is closing to change that.

You see,