[savant_penguin]

It means that when you don't compare it with anything, most people will intuitively compare it with perfection, as if by quickly zeroing out carbon emissions there would be no negative consequences.

It seems as "if we just did X everything would be better", when actually there are mostly trade-offs

[user-the-name]

That statement isn't a comparison. And not part of it even remotely implies that "quickly zeroing out carbon emissions there would be no negative consequences".

What that statement is doing is communicating a real sense of dread that maybe we have to do it even though it would be incredibly difficult and costly.