Climate Change

[Irrev-Black]

See you, Jimmeh!

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[stylofone]

Unfortunately it's becoming increasingly clear that things like the energy transition, net zero and renewables will not do all that much to ease the climate crisis. These things all still emit a lot of greenhouse gases, especially in the construction phase when we need to burn a whole lot of coal and gas to make all those solar panels, battery metals etc.. Only this year did I come to this realisation. People have been saying it for a while but it has taken 2023's apocalyptic disasters to raise my consciousness to this level. It is a relief to be free of all that cognitive dissonance. The Orwellian mental gymnastics of offsets, for example, is bizarre: if we don't cut down the last 5% of rainforest, we are allowed to burn more coal. How can that help?

But we are not even bothering to get started with the inadequate and unrealistic greenwashing project, let alone the actual degrowth and de-industrialisation of human activity which would really make a difference. I wonder how long it will take before mainstream organs like teh Graun stop kidding us about the illusory promise of the Transition

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... icity-grid

[Irrev-Black]

(SNIP)

But we are not even bothering to get started with the inadequate and unrealistic greenwashing project, let alone the actual degrowth and de-industrialisation of human activity which would really make a difference. I wonder how long it will take before mainstream organs like teh Graun stop kidding us about the illusory promise of the Transition

It's going to wind up as a mish-mash of Mad Max II, the Croods, and one of those typhoon-flood-disaster flicks.

And we're all in line for roles.

[pipbarber]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ate-crisis

It’s been a strange, cruel summer in the United States. From the dystopian orange skies above New York to the deadly immolation of a historic coastal town in Hawaii, the waning summer has been a stark demonstration of the escalating climate crisis – with experts warning that worse is to come.

A relentless barrage of extreme weather events, fueled by human-caused global heating, has swept the North American continent this summer, routinely placing a third of the US population under warnings of severe heat and unleashing floods, fire and smoke upon communities, with a record 15 separate disasters causing at least $1bn in damages so far this year.

A neat summary of climate change impact in the US over the past few months with the worrying caveat that all this has just happened prior to an El Nino developing. This is largely why there is reason for genuine, short term concern over survivability, or at least that's the case from my perspective.

However, it should be noted that ENSO moving into a positive phase is actually having less impact than it used to have because over all warming is already exceeding the normal warming impact an El Nino might produce. This is demonstrated by the fact that La Nina years now are actually hotter than El Nino years in the mid 20th century. Nevertheless, any warming added to the system is very very bad for regions susceptible to the impact of ENSO, which is certainly Australia.

[Irrev-Black]

Get ready to feel climate change in the belly and the pocket.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-27/ ... /102775796

[pipbarber]

I've held the belief that people (society, the State) will eventually start taking climate change seriously only after a natural disaster that produces mass fatalities. However, i've changed my mind. I don't think climate change will ever be prioritized over Economy and culture wars, it doesn't matter what disasters occur. I put it down to resistance to acknowledging entitlement.

To borrow Fukuyama's famous title, at the end of history the last (person), standing on dust and ash, will be furiously looking around for someone to blame, but they won't find anyone, because everyone will be dead - but it's better to be dead than give up your Netflix subscription, and a thousand other like comforts we're all entitled to.

[Irrev-Black]

(SNIP)

To borrow Fukuyama's famous title, at the end of history the last (person), standing on dust and ash, will be furiously looking around for someone to blame, but they won't find anyone, because everyone will be dead - but it's better to be dead than give up your Netflix subscription, and a thousand other like comforts we're all entitled to.

I don't think Netflix, internet and such have more than 20 years left at the outside.

The system is dependent on international cooperation for access, and has large amounts of vulnerable infrastructure (cue natural disasters and humans with bad intent), plus considerable power needs.

While it's sadly true that giving rich folk access to ElonZuckCrapSites will be prioritised over the survival of poor folk, a point must be reached when there's nobody willing or able to keep all the "tubes" running.

Afterthought: When power is harder to get, what's the tipping point where human work becomes cheaper than AI/drone work? Amazon2D2 isn't an independent thinker, and tends to get drowsy without volts.

[pipbarber]

I've had several discussions recently along the lines that transitioning toward more renewable energy isn't actually going to do jack shit, at this point, and it always seems to end with the question of 'what can we do then?' To which i respond we might limit electricity use to a few hours a day. The response to that follows a common line, which is overt dismissal, 'we're not going to do that, that's ridiculous...etc' There's always a bridge too far. Action is always welcomed, so long as it doesn't impinge upon personal lifestyles too much. It's a curious thing.

[Irrev-Black]

I've had several discussions recently along the lines that transitioning toward more renewable energy isn't actually going to do jack shit, at this point, and it always seems to end with the question of 'what can we do then?' To which i respond we might limit electricity use to a few hours a day. The response to that follows a common line, which is overt dismissal, 'we're not going to do that, that's ridiculous...etc' There's always a bridge too far. Action is always welcomed, so long as it doesn't impinge upon personal lifestyles too much. It's a curious thing.

We could look to Gaza, where the occupation forces have already begun a long-running practical experiment with a large number of unwilling participants.

[pipbarber]

I've had several discussions recently along the lines that transitioning toward more renewable energy isn't actually going to do jack shit, at this point, and it always seems to end with the question of 'what can we do then?' To which i respond we might limit electricity use to a few hours a day. The response to that follows a common line, which is overt dismissal, 'we're not going to do that, that's ridiculous...etc' There's always a bridge too far. Action is always welcomed, so long as it doesn't impinge upon personal lifestyles too much. It's a curious thing.

We could look to Gaza, where the occupation forces have already begun a long-running practical experiment with a large number of unwilling participants.

Well yes, i don't mean to suggest that electricity restrictions would necessarily and on their own have much impact, my point being that action is always filtered by lifestyle habits. We reject action on climate change if it inconveniences us too much and for those of us in the developed world there's so very much that would cause an inconvenience should it be no more.