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Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

nature.com

51–60 of 147 posts

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#51
post #28

This weekend I read about how our food supply chain is responsible for a lot of greenhouse gases. As much as automobiles. That changing it could have a massive impact. But, people don't like change that touches their food and leaders just won't even talk about it. How do we get people to be open to changes in stuff like this?

yes the government should tell people what they are and aren't allowed to eat

i propose cockroaches and grasshoppers in lieu of chicken and beef. anyone else have suggestions?

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#52

but um global warming...err, I mean climate change...

When they realized they can unite "Global Cooling" from the 1970's with what replaced it: "Global Warming"! That way you are always right. If the world is getting hotter? Climate change! But if you were wrong and it's getting cooler? Still climate change!

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#53
post #23

Quoted post unavailable.

The description on that episode: >Steven E. Koonin is a theoretical physicist, professor, former Chief Scientist for the BP petroleum company, and former Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy under the Obama administration. He's also the author of "Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters." I'm not sure "former Chief Scientist for the BP petroleum company" i…

Why not let scientists challenge his arguments then?

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#54
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The IPCC report—again, just like last year—put a major emphasis on implausible scenarios throughout the report over more likely, realistic scenarios. https://twitter.com/RogerPielkeJr/status/1498317086157774866 Similar to last year, too, the media takes that emphasis, reports it as absolute reality, and then starts the campaign of fear ("red alert") on the public, arguably, to whittle down their critical thinking ski…

Comparing what you wrote with the quotes below, I get the sense that you and Pielke Jr., might have different opinions on climate change: Pielke has also written extensively on climate change policy. He has written that he accepts the IPCC view of the underlying science, stating, "The IPCC has concluded that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activity are an important driver of changes in climate. And on t…

No, I agree with those statements (generally speaking). I also believe in investment in proven solutions like nuclear being implemented/invested in now so that, by the end of the century, we're more likely to be in a better position.

What I _don't_ agree with is intentionally distorting the truth to scare people which, despite the claims that it motivates people, accomplishes nothing (objectively, as those "nudges" are rarely backed by concrete steps/plans—just more hyperbole and fearmongering to stoke the political fire).

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#55
post #7

One of my concerns as someone who is part of the tech community is the innovation delusion. Many of us are focused on "magic pill" technology solutions to get us out of this. Things like fusion, carbon capture, electric cars, etc... As someone with an engineering background, I've been guilty of this type of thinking too. Whenever I encounter a problem I think about how I could apply technology to solve it. However, I…

Exactly - it's not a smart bet to make on technology on behalf of billions of humans who stand to suffer or perish if technological progress does not keep up. Sure, the neolib Steven Pinkers of the world have been right so far that we're not sleepwalking into a malthusian trap, but you only have to be wrong once to spell incalculable consequences for humanity and the planet. The greatest challenge of this century will be moving human activity globally to operate within the safe planetary boundaries, of which we are currently exceeding 5. Our global society is certainly playing with some very risky dice right now.

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#56
post #7

One of my concerns as someone who is part of the tech community is the innovation delusion. Many of us are focused on "magic pill" technology solutions to get us out of this. Things like fusion, carbon capture, electric cars, etc... As someone with an engineering background, I've been guilty of this type of thinking too. Whenever I encounter a problem I think about how I could apply technology to solve it. However, I…

I don’t understand why this is downvoted. This is exactly my perception as well: techno-optimism is dangerous, and there really is no excuse for the amount of pointless conspicuous consumption that occurs in modern life.

So techno-optimism is dangerous, but social/political optimism is not? At least we somewhat know how to make technology, but I don't think anyone knows how to force this social change on the world.

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#57
post #7

One of my concerns as someone who is part of the tech community is the innovation delusion. Many of us are focused on "magic pill" technology solutions to get us out of this. Things like fusion, carbon capture, electric cars, etc... As someone with an engineering background, I've been guilty of this type of thinking too. Whenever I encounter a problem I think about how I could apply technology to solve it. However, I…

I don't see any alternative, people will not accept lower living standards, except possibly minor inconveniences. There may not be a single magic pill but there are multiple technologies in concert that can be utilized to slow this down and possibly stablize things (e.g. there are multiple alternative energy sources)

That attitude is a self fulfilling prophecy.

People have rarely been presented with any realistic trade offs between the climate and their own consumption. Typically it’s been “become and aesthetic and give up all material goods or it’s pointless”. Large portions of waste and pollution are already accounted for by the time individuals are presented with a choice.

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#58

Quoted post unavailable.

It’s good to make you feel better. Oh the former employee at BP thinks we are fine!

But it doesn’t mean he’s right or that his “balanced” view is actually balanced of what is likely to happen.

Re: Climate change is hitting the planet faster than scientists originally thought

#59

Scientists have had a pretty good record on this, compared to the general public, industry, and policymakers. I am happy to not throw them under the bus.

You seem to treat scientists as an infallible group of people unable to be corrupted by biases (corporate funding, personal idealogy, etc).
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