131–140 of 168 posts
I guess we're going to do this every year now. Like last year: if the politicians gathered at this conference agree and do anything - literally anything at all - to combat climate change that they wouldn't have done otherwise, the effect of their plane flights will be dwarfed by whatever thing, no matter how tiny, they agreed to do. "Leaders working on world hunger problem ate lunch, exacerbating problem" "Leaders wo…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
On the contrary, big things are always started by individuals. I can't think of a single case where all nations have 'agreed' and magically solved some global issue.
First thing that comes to mind is Nazis. Imagine some American guy gearing up and landing in France all by himself instead of trying to get his government to intervene.
Unpopular Opinion: There is no viable solution to climate change through policy or political action. No one wants to give up their own personal comfort or lifestyle for the sake of "the planet." Even people I know who are self-described ardent environmentalists still fly in planes frequently to all manner of touristy destinations so they can keep "collecting experiences." Shit, look at Paris. They champion this clima…
But believe me: you don't want to be on the side of the argument that claims individual virtue is the only way to save the world.
Luckily, it's not! There are lots of technological solutions to pursue once we want them.
One of my favourites is using jet engines on the back of container ships to loft salt water spray into the air where it seeds/brightens low marine layer clouds. Super cheap, very high impact.
https://www.washington.edu/news/2017/07/25/could-spraying-pa...
Then we can go back to trying to promote biodiversity, like real environmentalists. Save the rainforest!
Unpopular Opinion: There is no viable solution to climate change through policy or political action. No one wants to give up their own personal comfort or lifestyle for the sake of "the planet." Even people I know who are self-described ardent environmentalists still fly in planes frequently to all manner of touristy destinations so they can keep "collecting experiences." Shit, look at Paris. They champion this clima…
Fight the groupthink. Many, many believe we aren't allowed to take a technological viewpoint to climate problem solving because "technology got us into this situation". Plus, they claim a "moral risk": that technological solutions will allow people to continue to lead their big lifestyles. But believe me: you don't want to be on the side of the argument that claims individual virtue is the only way to save the world.…
But if the permafrost starts melting, spiking methane, we'd better take the technological approaches available!
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I really want to scream a big FCK you to your face for saying that "No one wants to give up their own personal comfort or lifestyle for the sake of "the planet."". Can you understand that? You seem to have given up any hope in political change, but please, don't speak for other. You expect a political solution but your immediate reaction to someone expressing a differing opinion is overt hostility. I don’t know how…
That isn't my intention at all. English is not my first language so it might not help but please bear with me. I intentionally said "I really want to scream" and not "Let me say" because I certainly do not want to be hostile. I shared the point of view of the person I responded to, so no, I really did not express hostility but an invitation to understand that some people actually are giving up "their own personal com…
Metaphorical martyr. Half of your post was about the sacrifices you make (e.g. biking in the snow). Most people are not willing to make enormous sacrifices to stave off climate change, especially because they don’t feel their sacrifices meaningfully impact the outcome. This is why they riot over fuel taxes.
Unpopular Opinion: There is no viable solution to climate change through policy or political action. No one wants to give up their own personal comfort or lifestyle for the sake of "the planet." Even people I know who are self-described ardent environmentalists still fly in planes frequently to all manner of touristy destinations so they can keep "collecting experiences." Shit, look at Paris. They champion this clima…
>No one wants to give up their own personal comfort or lifestyle for the sake of "the planet." Seriously? Who are you to say that of others?! I'm French (Parisian, actually) and I keep demonstrating with yellow vests to try and force political action so we can save the biosphere. I've been giving up on my personal comfort for years to reduce my environment footprint and help others do the same: I don't go skiing anym…
Unpopular Opinion: There is no viable solution to climate change through policy or political action. No one wants to give up their own personal comfort or lifestyle for the sake of "the planet." Even people I know who are self-described ardent environmentalists still fly in planes frequently to all manner of touristy destinations so they can keep "collecting experiences." Shit, look at Paris. They champion this clima…
I'm hoping a radical centrist can win the US presidency in 2020 and get some such deal done with Congress. The USA needs to lead and then we would have a chance to help/arm twist China, India, and the rest of the world to follow suit.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
First thing that comes to mind is Nazis. Imagine some American guy gearing up and landing in France all by himself instead of trying to get his government to intervene.
I think the point is somebody, somewhere, started the ball rolling with the various governments. Everyone in the government didn’t all wake up one morning and simultaneously decide to oppose the Nazis.
Rich people flying less won't do anything to convince governments to fight climate change, so what's the point?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are there oil subsidies? I thought there was a Federal tax on gas...the opposite of subsidies?
Depending on what you consider a direct subsidy, the US subsidizes fossil fuels to the tune of $5-15 billion per year. There was a study that came out claiming that around half of US oil production is only profitable because of these subsidies.