Live data from Hacker News

Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

npr.org

1–10 of 145 posts

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#2
I have real issues with states like this where it's leaders deny climate change and prevent action on it, yet cry when issues like this occur. Similar when the BP oil spill occurred and they cried about the affect on their coast and fishing industries. They seemingly are fine with destroying their environment so long as it occurs over 50 years rather than 5 months.

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#3
I've been asking people to name the most effective leaders in the area of global warming.

When I say my answer, they look surprised, but then agree: the Koch Brothers and Donald Trump. They are leading people not to change their behavior and this is the result. No one is leading in the direction of reducing consumption with nearly the effectiveness as them. Instead of leading ourselves, the overwhelming majority of Americans are waiting for others to change first.

In the meantime, most Americans, which I suspect includes most people reading these words, contribute more to global warming than nearly every human who has ever lived -- needlessly so, and not making them any happier.

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#4
"The state has a plan to implement more than 100 restoration and protection projects — like rebuilding marshes and barrier islands..."

Sounds like a terrible plan to me. Treating symptoms instead of the disease won't solve the problem. Just because we humans are "determined" doesn't mean fighting nature like this will be successful. I'm sure the locals will feel better about their politicians for a few years and probably just long enough to 'forget' until the next time this exact problem needs to be solved.

The true options in this case are: 1) prevent rising sea levels, 2) move away from the coast. Wasting money "rebuilding" barrier islands is just folly.

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#5
post #4

"The state has a plan to implement more than 100 restoration and protection projects — like rebuilding marshes and barrier islands..." Sounds like a terrible plan to me. Treating symptoms instead of the disease won't solve the problem. Just because we humans are "determined" doesn't mean fighting nature like this will be successful. I'm sure the locals will feel better about their politicians for a few years and prob…

Why not both? Half of my country (NL) exists due to smart protection against water and we're doing pretty good. Doesn't mean global warming isn't an important consideration.

If someone has a broken bone, you want to fix that, but you'll also want to give them some painkillers if they're in a lot of pain.

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#6
post #2

I have real issues with states like this where it's leaders deny climate change and prevent action on it, yet cry when issues like this occur. Similar when the BP oil spill occurred and they cried about the affect on their coast and fishing industries. They seemingly are fine with destroying their environment so long as it occurs over 50 years rather than 5 months.

Isn't most of the coastline damage a result of creating shipping canals and pushing brackish water further inland?

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#7
post #3

I've been asking people to name the most effective leaders in the area of global warming. When I say my answer, they look surprised, but then agree: the Koch Brothers and Donald Trump. They are leading people not to change their behavior and this is the result. No one is leading in the direction of reducing consumption with nearly the effectiveness as them. Instead of leading ourselves, the overwhelming majority of A…

What's wrong with losing coastline? There's no shortage of land in America or the world in general.

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#8
post #4

"The state has a plan to implement more than 100 restoration and protection projects — like rebuilding marshes and barrier islands..." Sounds like a terrible plan to me. Treating symptoms instead of the disease won't solve the problem. Just because we humans are "determined" doesn't mean fighting nature like this will be successful. I'm sure the locals will feel better about their politicians for a few years and prob…

Actually when you consider the global implications of climate and the local effects of shore, a local area using local money to protect local shore in the face of global inaction they are powerless to change makes perfect sense.

It is actually your position which makes no sense. "Hey 4.6 million Louisianans, sure you're only 0.00063% of world population, but protecting yourself and your land from what the other 99.9994% do is futile, you must instead convince the other ~7.1 billion humans to change so your land will be safe!"

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#9
post #3

I've been asking people to name the most effective leaders in the area of global warming. When I say my answer, they look surprised, but then agree: the Koch Brothers and Donald Trump. They are leading people not to change their behavior and this is the result. No one is leading in the direction of reducing consumption with nearly the effectiveness as them. Instead of leading ourselves, the overwhelming majority of A…

The members of the creative class who live in the major cities and take mass transit or bike or walk to work have the right idea. Bonus points for working at home or going full Mr. Money Mustache.

Unfortunately that's not practical for most people. Also, we overinvest in our highways and cars because there seems to be almost no collective will to build a national transportation network beyond that.

And I don't want to completely rag on one side of the political spectrum because if we could build a whole bunch more nuclear reactors we could solve a lot of this very quickly in the short-term.

Finally we could all eat a whole lot less beef. But I don't see any of this happening even if the current crop of leaders is kicked out the next round of elections.

There are solutions to a lot of the problems we face here in America but many of them are going to annoy both sides of the political fence differently therefore they're not going to happen. I'd love to see that change but I'm not holding my breath.

Re: Louisiana’s Governor Declares State Of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

#10
post #3

I've been asking people to name the most effective leaders in the area of global warming. When I say my answer, they look surprised, but then agree: the Koch Brothers and Donald Trump. They are leading people not to change their behavior and this is the result. No one is leading in the direction of reducing consumption with nearly the effectiveness as them. Instead of leading ourselves, the overwhelming majority of A…

Maybe they look surprised because the question is misleading. They hear "name the most effective leaders in the [fight to stop] global warming."
Post reply on HN