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Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

washingtonpost.com

191–200 of 525 posts

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#191
post #18

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

This. And also: The environment is an awesome way for people to virtue signal how much they care. But the fact is the real world consequences of what most environmentalists ask for would seriously affect the way of life they have. Politicians know this. Any serious attempt to change anything will not get you votes and out of government. That is not the governments fault. That is not the corporations fault. That is ev…

This isn't how it has to play out.

You can fly, you can eat meat, you can import things, you can do anything you want so long as it's sustainable.

What if cargo was travelling by modern, computer controlled sailboats that used zero fuel? What if planes used fuel produced by yeast that fed on raw sewage? What if cars could be made out of mushroom-based plastic and fully recycled metal?

None of these things are impossible, but nobody will do any of them until they're forced to. Either that's by preventative regulation, or, if things get really grim, by necessity.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#192
post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope, you just have reached the point that others haven't yet. Your carbon footprint is much lower than theirs for sure and trying to convince someone with a higher footprint to change will be vastly more efficient than trying to squeeze the last kilogram of carbon emission reduction out of your own life. Thanks for the effort by the way!

"Thanks for the effort by the way!" Uh, you are welcome, but these are not choices I've made due to any environmental reason. They are the most comfortable option for me personally at the moment.

What's with all the condescending "uh"s? Are you roleplaying as Daria?

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#193
post #62

The article wasn't very clear, how does extinction of one million species affect my well being?

Will you enjoy your life transporting pollen with a paintbrush? https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/5193-De...

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#194
post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. And you are right. I made these numbers up; and I ca n imagine a scenario that would allow MOST of the planet to go green and we can stop the damage. But in my scenario, what if that 20% are countries like China and Russia; that produce and consume alot of energy. Just a thought experiment. My point is, we have to have the whole world be on the same page to solve the real issues that would cause us to continu…

> China and Russia Well, that's already over 20% of the world population!

China is trying.

Russia is in the fossil fuel export business. Without it they're dead.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#195
post #101

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

Dude, none of the things what you suggest would make any impact. For me, personally - but those were kind of personal suggestions. I haven't flown anywhere in three years, and certainly don't visit conferences. "- Start working part time, and part of that part time remotely. Reduce your commute. " Uh, what? I commute by bike and with the bus in the winter. I don't really see how stopping that would contribute. "- If…

"Doesn't apply to me, thus it doesn't apply to anyone"

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#196
post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As humans, we are dependent on our ecosystem for e.g. food production. So a collapse of the ecosystem will lead to challenges for humans. You can't eat bitcoin once the bees are gone.

So bees are important, quick google search reveal the bee is important for pollination. So can't one of the solution be find alternative way for pollination. Maybe even robotic bees? With the advancement of robotic technology, its not far fetched to think that this is possible right ?

>quick google search reveal the bee is important for pollination.

I suspect that you might not be the best informed person out there.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#197

I have a theory, and I have no evidence to back this theory up. The increases in anxiety in the general public over the last decade or so is in large part to people knowing we're on an unsustainable path. We're all collectively marching towards the edge of the cliff to jump off together. More people than ever have anxiety because we subconsciously (or consciously) know this. We're unsustainable with how we pollute an…

What's the theory? So far you just stated a premise...

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#198
post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What a bunch of bullshit. I'm not a vegan, even though I'm sure you'll label me as having an "anti-meat agenda." I have substantially cut down on my own meat consumption due to the environmental impact. Do you fly less? Drive less or carpool? Recycle? Live in a small home? Did you decide to not to have children? Wear only used clothing? Do you track your trash and food waste? Do you eat less? Shower less? Do you do…

Sorry, didn't realize I was talking to someone who believed making changes at the margin don't matter. None of your arguments justify continued high meat consumption. I don't own a car, I recycle, I live in an apartment, don't have children, thrift, compost, ??eat less?? (no - I eat sustainably, and it more than makes up for the amount I eat). > The militant "your opinion is bullshit" on individual issues Thinking yo…

I think it kind of gets lost in this debate- but lets say that the facts point towards a very grim outcome in the relatively near future.

Now lets say we could possibly mitigate the grimness of that outcome with our actions...wouldn't it make sense for all of us to do everything in our power? What would we lose? A burger tastes good, sure, but who gives a flying fuck if the planet is essentially uninhabitable?

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#199
post #151

Hopefully this will make us ditch the planet and finally look towards the stars. But I fear it will actually lead us towards an "Interstellar" future: where our inter-planetary progress is hampered by this single planet that we want to save.

We're increasingly incapable of surviving on a planet that's perfectly suited to us.

There's no chance we "look towards the stars" if we can't fix the ground.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#200
Someone else commented: > If you have any investments shift them from fossil to green.

I'm interested in ideas about how to do this.

There are some MSCI indices along these lines like the "low carbon" ones[1]. But these still include fossil fuel companies, just with a lower weight.

There are also "ex fossil fuel" indices[2], but these only exclude companies that dig up the fossil fuels, and not necessarily those that emit. There is no weighting based on emissions in these.

Are there any broad equity indices that exclude fossil fuel companies and heavy emitters entirely, and then weight-adjust the rest based on emissions?

[1] https://www.msci.com/low-carbon-indexes

[2] https://www.msci.com/eqb/methodology/meth_docs/MSCI_Global_F...

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