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Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
31–40 of 210 posts
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is a cost-effective way: Planting trees, cutting them down and turning the wood to charcoal. You'd need huge areas dedicated to such forests. You'd also need to "unburn" most of the coal and oil we burned so far. That's a mind-boggling amount of matter we're talking about here. But who would pay for that? If there were the political will we would long have passed a simple carbon tax that, after some adjustment…
What about vegetal roofs ? not strong enough ? because there's a huge surface area to tap into.
Just having the biomass is nice, but the crucial step is turning it into charcoal. Roofs also don't produce a lot of biomass per area.
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#33Ouch. I read this and I am completely confused about what to do with the rest of the time I have left. Should I even bother with my current career in tech, or would it be better to quit it and do something that could have even a slight impact now?
These articles are great, but preaching to the choir. What should any of us do? I'm seriously and sincerely asking. Are there any suggestions, from a personal stand point i.e. excluding a completely new economic model and government structure? Is it to drive less and cut out meat? (done) Buy less stuff? Support the right organizations and political candidates?
What if one is doing all of those things already, now what? Just sit here and watch our homes go up in flames as the entire place becomes a desert? Some actionable things would be great to have.
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
US emissions of CO2 have fallen much faster than Europe's. Europe likes to talk a lot but not to compromise. So while they could be fracking and displacing dirty energy sources, they instead use oil and coal where the US uses natural gas.
That is correct no country in the world has reduced CO2 emissions like the US did in the past decade, thanks to Shale revolution. Pennsylvania is the world's #3 producer of NG. I mean one state in US. Even if some people grudge this fact, the Grid is not ready for variable generation that Wind and Solar does, they do buy some time for Grid to become smarter (Grid of MicroGrids) where it can digest Solar and Wind, esp…
It may be true that the USA has achieved the largest reduction in CO2 emissions in absolute terms. But they’re coming off a very large base.
In percentage terms, there are several countries that have done significantly better, including the UK who’s CO2 emissions are now 38% below 1990 levels (and 25% below 2012 levels!) despite significant population growth.
While US emissions have, by some measurements, dropped in the past decade, they are still well above 1990 levels.
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is a cost-effective way: Planting trees, cutting them down and turning the wood to charcoal. You'd need huge areas dedicated to such forests. You'd also need to "unburn" most of the coal and oil we burned so far. That's a mind-boggling amount of matter we're talking about here. But who would pay for that? If there were the political will we would long have passed a simple carbon tax that, after some adjustment…
What about vegetal roofs ? not strong enough ? because there's a huge surface area to tap into.
The global CO2 production dwarfs what you could do with trees, I'm fairly certain even if we planted a tree on every square centimeter available, it would not be sufficient to counter our production sufficiently.
What we need is to invest in technology to reduce CO2. Nuclear fusion/fission, solar, wind, electric or alternative fuel cars, redesign CO2 industry processes, etc.
The petrol and coal industry would have to go entirely bankrupt. No exceptions.
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#36Who is into low tech and (near) zero waste ? How much would you be happy to lose in today's practices ? (I'm curious about what people need/want)
For sure without the industrial revolution, synthetic fertilizers and the green revolution we could not achieve such population, but turning back is no longer an option.
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#37Ouch. I read this and I am completely confused about what to do with the rest of the time I have left. Should I even bother with my current career in tech, or would it be better to quit it and do something that could have even a slight impact now? These articles are great, but preaching to the choir. What should any of us do? I'm seriously and sincerely asking. Are there any suggestions, from a personal stand point i…
Don’t give up on tech. It’s technology that offers the best hope of solving these problems.
Consider applying your skills to the renewable energy sector, companies working on transport electrification, and other “clean tech” sectors. These are exciting growth industries and you’ll be making a difference.
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#38Ouch. I read this and I am completely confused about what to do with the rest of the time I have left. Should I even bother with my current career in tech, or would it be better to quit it and do something that could have even a slight impact now? These articles are great, but preaching to the choir. What should any of us do? I'm seriously and sincerely asking. Are there any suggestions, from a personal stand point i…
If you want the honest but depressing answer: it's probably too late. Don't have kids unless you want them to have a worse life than you've had.
On the plus side, the worst consequences from climate change will occur after we're dead.
Just enjoy the rest of your life and try not to think about it too much. After all, that's what everyone else has been doing.
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#39Ouch. I read this and I am completely confused about what to do with the rest of the time I have left. Should I even bother with my current career in tech, or would it be better to quit it and do something that could have even a slight impact now? These articles are great, but preaching to the choir. What should any of us do? I'm seriously and sincerely asking. Are there any suggestions, from a personal stand point i…
evangelize in high birthrate countries things like contraception and encourage education especially of women. The fewer people destroying virgin forests and becoming western style consumers the lesser the better for environmental health.
An earth of 7.5 billion is more sustainable than an earth of 10 billion. 7.5 will live better lives than a world of 10, given sociopolitical realities.
Re: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can't vouch for the comparison you are questioning, but did find this: 'Germany emitted more greenhouse gasses in 2016 than in the previous year, but is still seen as a positive model for the rest of the world.' https://euobserver.com/environment/137298 Best thing we could have to reduce co2 would be a massive global recession I'd say, unless that is things got so bad that we had to revert to cutting down trees to su…
Of all countries to pick on, Germany are the one doing the most to change to a carbon-free economy. Read up on the Energiewende - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energiewende_in_Germany It is govt policy to reduce Co2 emissions by 80–95% by 2050. Germany is at the top in on-shore wind, off-shore wind, and solar. If they had kept nuclear power, they could be doing even better. I am sure closing the nuclear power plants…
Nope. Try France (since the 70's), Sweden, Switzerland, the UK. Germany is pumping out way more CO2 per capita than most of its neighbors.