How about calculating the lives lost by manufacturing solar panels, batteries and wind turbines?
Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
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Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's too late for nuclear. If the last 30 years had seen R&D anything like wind and solar we'd be in a much better place. And the battle for public opinion is lost. Unfortunately, there's no time left for nuclear (fission), so the best we can do is jump on the renewables bandwagon.
Could you offer some insight into why you believe this is the case? As someone in my 20s, I don’t think I know anyone who is opposed to nuclear. From my vantage it’s not clear why this would be considered a lost battle.
I think he's saying that research is far behind on fission because it hasn't been supported, and since it takes so long (and so much money) to spin up new plants, that it's better to invest that money into renewables.
That's the impression I got. I don't know enough about the specifics to say if I agree with it or not. The opposition to nuclear was so effective in the 70's and 80's that they shutdown any further development on it. That's probably why you don't know anyone opposed to it. It's not really even an option anymore.
Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#13How many thousands get to not die because of use of fossil fuels? Just for perspective...
> Just for perspective...
How does that give you any perspective? A huge percentage of the air pollution in NYC is from the same couple dozen buildings that were grandfathered into not needing to meet air pollution laws, as well as things like construction vehicles and cruise ships, which are completely unregulated. There is almost zero relationship between the benefits from fossil fuel use and the deaths from air pollution due to fossil fuels.
Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#14How many thousands get to not die because of use of fossil fuels? Just for perspective...
Plenty, but just the same number + 10k for moving to renewables, if a bit more expensive at this point in time.
Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#15Kurtis Baute is actively protesting against pipelines by camping betwixt two trees. In the video he shares some envelope math on how many lives we'll lose from using the fuel that the finished pipeline would transport:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3hXMsJbt3c
We absolutely must stop burning fossil fuels.
Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#16We really need to ramp up on nuclear. Either by building more traditional fission power plants, figuring out fusion, or capturing more of the energy from the giant, infinite nuclear reactor in the sky.
It's too late for nuclear. If the last 30 years had seen R&D anything like wind and solar we'd be in a much better place. And the battle for public opinion is lost. Unfortunately, there's no time left for nuclear (fission), so the best we can do is jump on the renewables bandwagon.
It seems like China could change this -- they have a dire need for vastly more energy as their per-capita GDP grows, and they are well aware of the problems caused in the big cities from burning coal.
Nuclear could provide far more power and improve air quality. The government could simply prioritize development of modern nuclear power without much worry about NIMBY pushback.
Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#17We really need to ramp up on nuclear. Either by building more traditional fission power plants, figuring out fusion, or capturing more of the energy from the giant, infinite nuclear reactor in the sky.
It's too late for nuclear. If the last 30 years had seen R&D anything like wind and solar we'd be in a much better place. And the battle for public opinion is lost. Unfortunately, there's no time left for nuclear (fission), so the best we can do is jump on the renewables bandwagon.
There's been much R&D, 4th gen coming. Third gen is ready. Public opinion is lost because of posts like yours, and it adds up in terms of costs. Millions of people dying every year from carbon burning power stations cannot wait for a 100% renewable cycle.
Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#18We really need to ramp up on nuclear. Either by building more traditional fission power plants, figuring out fusion, or capturing more of the energy from the giant, infinite nuclear reactor in the sky.
It's too late for nuclear. If the last 30 years had seen R&D anything like wind and solar we'd be in a much better place. And the battle for public opinion is lost. Unfortunately, there's no time left for nuclear (fission), so the best we can do is jump on the renewables bandwagon.
Unfortunately, there's no time left for nuclear
People have been making that argument for at least 30 years; renewables have always been just a few years away from being cheaper than coal and obsoleting nuclear. I remain skeptical.
And the battle for public opinion is lost.
I also question this. Countering FUD about nuclear power seems much more feasible than the Green New Deal approach of trying to ram through trillions in spending and substantial lifestyle changes.
Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#19How much has life expectancy been boosted by universal access to electricity in the Western world enabled by hydrocarbons aka fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels have boosted our quality of life so much that we have no really big industrial problems left except for getting rid of fossil fuels.
Re: Every Day 10k People Die Due to Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels
#20How many thousands get to not die because of use of fossil fuels? Just for perspective...
If only we had a huge fusion reactor floating in the sky that gave us energy for free.