The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate • Hacker News Board

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#101

Post by inigyou » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 12:56 PM UTC

rwmj wrote: post #80

glitchc wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would they be when they see the hypocrisy of the chattering classes? How many celebrities or billionaires have curtailed their own lifestyles while pitching for climate change? Has the number of luxury jets and superyatches gone up or down over time? The average person may seem stupid but they are paying attention to the actions, and it all sounds like "I got mine, screw yours" to them.

What have luxury jets and superyachts got to do with the chattering classes? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattering_classes

Gas stoves and ordinary jets do.

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#102

Post by inigyou » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 12:57 PM UTC

cxr wrote: post #65

tim-star wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

at the end of the day 'personal changes' as a fix for climate change are just another lie big corporations fed us to make it feel like the onus was on a personal level. the amount of co2 that industries pollute and that various regulation would be able to change is multiple orders of magnitude compared to regular personal responsibility.

"The amount[...] that industries pollute" is just "personal changes" with more steps.

Personal changes against the grain or personal changes following the grain.

Imagine I want to be responsible by drinking soy milk but it's hidden in a corner of the supermarket.

Now imagine every supermarket prominently displays soy milk and cow milk is hidden in the corner. Seems easier to make the change, right? Many people will change automatically because they don't really care and just do what's easiest.

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#103

Post by nradov » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 1:07 PM UTC

soco wrote: post #37

specproc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not at all about individual action. This scale of problem requires policy intervention and investment at national levels, and inter-governmental coordination internationally. The big, meaningful wins come from things like stopping the use of coal, not signing-off on new oil and gas exploration, tax-incentives and disincentives, grid work, fining polluters. We instinctively frame this as an individual problem, th…

At least in theory, our governments are voted in place exactly by us. Trump voters loved his ideas and he's implementing them now, yay success. Also industrial pollution is fueled by our buying habits just as well - if nobody would order stuff brought by ship from overseas, well, we wouldn't have many of those huge(ly) polluting ships around. So I wouldn't leave out the personal responsibility here: we make decisions…

Large merchant ships are extremely efficient in terms of CO2 and other pollutants released per ton of cargo. I agree with ordering less stuff when practical but most of the emissions happen due to manufacturing and use, not transport.

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#104

Post by ffsm8 » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 1:07 PM UTC

chicken-stew wrote: post #95

unsupp0rted wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would it be too late?

Thermal systems are slow. On the planetary scale of pump and dump heat the lag is something like 30 years. So the change you’re experiencing today is the effect of what was exhausted in the 90s. What we’re getting in 2050 is already locked in.

I don't disagree but I feel like this comment chain kinda implies taking action today would actually meaningfully change the trajectory too...

It really doesn't. Climate change is a global problem. It would need a global solution, and everyone should know that that's beyond unlikely to appear... So the only thing you can do is reduce local pollution - which is meaningful in it's way (better quality of life), but has no long term impact on the climate.

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#105

Post by mikkelam » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 1:09 PM UTC

nisegami wrote: post #43

Are we ready to have a discussion about seeding the upper atmosphere with SO2 yet?

Maybe after double digit million death count.

Or just a rogue country that's being hit by the crisis more than others

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#106

Post by Rover222 » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 1:10 PM UTC

I've always thought it's pretty obvious how all this climate change stuff will play out:

- Yeah some govts reduce carbon emissions, but others don't care (china) or can't afford to focus on that (developing economies).

- Climate activists will continue to act like we're to literally ruin the world (this is stupid). Climate change deniers will say temperature changes are just cyclical (also stupid).

- On a global macro scale, fossil fuels continue to be consumed as long as it makes sense economically

- Solar eventually gets cheap enough to begin to truly displace fossil fuels. EVs also go mainstream. Both happening now.

- In the end... life will just go on as we just naturally move up the tech tree and fossil fuels become an ever smaller part of the energy mix

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#107

Post by pingou » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 1:12 PM UTC

sdellis wrote: post #90

pingou wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who do these corporations pollute for? Isn't it for individuals?

For the accumulation of wealth and power. This is the natural consequence of unregulated capitalist incentives. Do you think the corporations care about the individuals?

I suppose you can see it that way, but ultimately the power is mostly in the hands of individuals, either by voting in elections or voting with their wallets.

However, this does not mean corporations aren't actively trying to influence and manipulate them, or that they don't exert pressure on politicians. Aren't Americans responsible as a whole for electing Donald Trump, for example?

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#108

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 1:12 PM UTC

sdellis wrote: post #90

pingou wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who do these corporations pollute for? Isn't it for individuals?

For the accumulation of wealth and power. This is the natural consequence of unregulated capitalist incentives. Do you think the corporations care about the individuals?

[deleted]

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#109

Post by ghusto » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 1:13 PM UTC

> This particular sub-genus of grifts, half-truths and strategic omissions ... “Manifest Destiny.” “Aryan superiority.” “The divine right of kings.” “The domino theory.” “Israel has a right to defend itself.”

aaaand, you lost me.

Re: The Gargantuan Lie That Is Collapsing the Climate

#110

Post by inigyou » Fri, Aug 07, 2026, 1:14 PM UTC

ffsm8 wrote: post #104

chicken-stew wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thermal systems are slow. On the planetary scale of pump and dump heat the lag is something like 30 years. So the change you’re experiencing today is the effect of what was exhausted in the 90s. What we’re getting in 2050 is already locked in.

I don't disagree but I feel like this comment chain kinda implies taking action today would actually meaningfully change the trajectory too... It really doesn't. Climate change is a global problem. It would need a global solution, and everyone should know that that's beyond unlikely to appear... So the only thing you can do is reduce local pollution - which is meaningful in it's way (better quality of life), but has…

It really depends on which action you take.