Then we will sooner or later loose. It is true that this time we might avoid disaster (it will be very rough whatever we do from now on) with the help of technology. But that is just luck that there is a technology available to help us. In a slightly different world, solar would never be cheap enough or good enough to provide energy in a sustainable way. And this is true for many other aspects, tragedy of the commons is hundreds of years old.
The fact is we need regulations and incentives to do the right thing.
i am unconvinced regulation will help. i still find it quite telling that the biggest drop in US co2 emission was because of fracking not anything the otherwise very progressive obama adminstartion.
just becuase its luck and we dont lime that doesn't mean regulation will work, thats simply the wrong way to think about this.
The fact is we need regulations and incentives to do the right thing.