Open Thread - Thurs 27 April 2023: Climate Change - Entering a New Phase?

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 5:00am

Climate Change - Entering a New Phase?

Bill McKibben, amongst others, has recently written about the next stage of climate change, one which we are rapidly entering. This isn't unexpected. It's going to take more, much more, work to even reduce, let alone stop, the steep and rapid progression of climate change. And we aren't at that level of 'work', and perhaps, unfortunately, never will be (says the pessimist in me).

McKibben writes:

there are myriad scattered signs that we’re about to go into a phase of particularly steep climbs in global temperature. They’re likely to reach impressive new global records—and that’s certain to produce havoc we’ve not seen before.
Climate change is, of course, an inexorable and grinding process; every year we pour more carbon and methane into the air, and eventually this inevitably results in higher temperatures.

We always get colder periods in the midst of this warming, but the graph in this tweet (McKibben links to another instance of the graph) really shows how relative 'cold' is:

If it is not literally the warmest year ever, someone will complain that global warming has stopped.

Year-to-year fluctuations are a normal part of the ongoing global warming trend. Don't be distracted by the noise. pic.twitter.com/80hpCYo8j9

— Dr. Robert Rohde (@RARohde) January 16, 2023

El Nino is coming back, of course. McKibben discusses that in his article. One of my local news stations had an article about El Nino's return yesterday (Looming El Nino Might Be Bad News for Ocean Life) and the Beeb also had an article yesterday (Recent Rapid Ocean Warming Ahead of El Nino Alarms Scientists). Not sure why suddenly the news is allowed to talk about this, except that the results of this El Nino, like some of those before this one, will probably be really bad; much warmer oceans, dead fish, dead birds, even weirder, more extreme, weather. We might even go over (temporarily) the 1.5C temperature rise limit TPTB set only 8 years ago...

McKibben knows that this is going to really depress people. He says,

I don’t say all this in the service of despair, but of preparation. We need to be psychologically prepared for the fact that, for all we’ve tried to do together, this crisis is about to worsen.

He talks about being politically prepared, and how we have to push, push, push the politicians and leaders and companies and governments and everyone to do the right thing. He still has hope.

Things are, and will be, changing rapidly. Have you noticed any of these changes, local to you? There are the huge, worldwide changes, such as stronger storms, more tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, amazing amounts of rain, drought, arctic animals moving south, animals going extinct, reduction in number of bugs, fish dying, etc, etc. But locally, what has changed?

Where I'm at, one of the first things I really paid attention to was the reduction and then disappearance of slugs. When I first moved here, the non-native slug species would decimate some of my crops, unless I used slug bait and other methods of slug control, like going out every night and picking slugs for a month or so. Now, I haven't seen a non-native slug in about 2 years, maybe 3. It's weird, but I kinda celebrate when I do see one, as I gently remove it from whatever plant it's eating and put it on one I don't care about.

The bird population has changed. We've got far less red-winged blackbirds, less robins, and some local places have less swallows in the summer. Brewers' blackbirds have replaced the red-winged blackbirds to a certain extent.

When I moved here, my winter pond, 'Winter Mere', supported huge flocks of ducks, both fresh water and sea water types. In late Winter and all of Spring the sounds of the ducks at night would fill the air, greatly adding to the songs of the native tree frogs. About 15 years ago the ducks started to reduce in number, and now there are almost NONE. NONE. The winter pond still forms but it's got a few geese and sometimes swans on it, not huge numbers of ducks.

There are no, and I mean NO, bug splats on the windshield anymore. Used to be 20 or so every time I'd drive more than 10 miles, now, there is almost none; maybe 1 splat every 20-30 miles. We've even got less mosquitoes, I think because of the changes in the rain patterns.

We got hit by lightning a few years ago. That NEVER happens (or happened) here. Now, thunderstorms, while still not common, are not super rare in this location any more. And on, and on. Those are some of the changes here, what has changed where you are at?

So, thanks for reading and here's the open thread - and remember, comment about whatever you are learning, doing, and more. We wanna know about it!

Tags:

Open Thread

#Climate

#McKibbon

#oceans

#el_nino

Vote

Comments

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 3:14am

Hey Everyone!

It's finally sunny here! I hope the weather is doing great at your place too. Since the rain has stopped, we've been working hard outside. Mowed, weed eated, planted, weeded, weeded, weeded... yea. Pruned! And much more still to do! Here's a little helper, doing their job as best they can...

Hope you are having/had a great day! Let us know what's up in the comments!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by Lookout on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 8:17am

Another rainy day here...

after 1" yesterday and already another 1.5" this AM. However, April has been relatively dry for us, so the rain is welcomed.

Climate is just one symptom of ecological disruption. As you mention, insect and bird populations are in decline. Change has always been endemic, but these changes are going to impact living systems across the planet. As you suggest, we need to prepare...and nothing is better than growing a garden...or getting to know your local farmers.

One thing's for sure, The Green Party in Germany sure isn't green. They shut down their remaining Nuclear power plants this week, and tore up the windmills built on their old coal mines to access the coal for coal fired plants. That's a net gain in Atmospheric CO2 We're being controlled by idiots.

Not to mention the huge release of methane (CH4) when we blew up the Nord Stream which never makes it to the MSM conversation...where is Greta on that release?

Guess I'm saying, I see lots of hypocrisy on climate change. I fear, just as in the case of the pandemic, climate is going to be used as a means of controlling people and their behavior. Just look at what the dutch farmer have to contend with from their government. I suspect that is coming here.

I've been an environmentalist my entire adult life, and I hate to see the cause used as a means of controlling people and their actions. Persuasion through education is fine, but coercion is a step too far for me. We have tried to live with a light footstep on the planet. That's all I see to do as an individual.

Our species is relatively new to the planet and is probably going extinct, or if we survive we'll certainly see declines, in the next century or two. Our generation had the privilege of living in a golden age. I feel for all the children...our young nieces and nephews.

Being aware is better than being caught off guard. Thanks for the OT!
7 min

James Lovelock, the renowned scientist, has died aged 103. In 2019, to mark his 100th birthday, The Economist interviewed him about why he thinks the human race is under threat of destruction—and his radical plan for saving it.

Lovelock as always has interesting ideas.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by mimi on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 9:10am

the green party in Germany is a party to forget /nt

@Lookout

after 1" yesterday and already another 1.5" this AM. However, April has been relatively dry for us, so the rain is welcomed. Climate is just one symptom of ecological disruption. As you mention, insect and bird populations are in decline. Change has always been endemic, but these changes are going to impact living systems across the planet. As you suggest, we need to prepare...and nothing is better than growing a garden...or getting to know your local farmers. One thing's for sure, The Green Party in Germany sure isn't green. They shut down their remaining Nuclear power plants this week, and tore up the windmills built on their old coal mines to access the coal for coal fired plants. That's a net gain in Atmospheric CO2 We're being controlled by idiots. Not to mention the huge release of methane (CH4) when we blew up the Nord Stream which never makes it to the MSM conversation...where is Greta on that release? Guess I'm saying, I see lots of hypocrisy on climate change. I fear, just as in the case of the pandemic, climate is going to be used as a means of controlling people and their behavior. Just look at what the dutch farmer have to contend with from their government. I suspect that is coming here. I've been an environmentalist my entire adult life, and I hate to see the cause used as a means of controlling people and their actions. Persuasion through education is fine, but coercion is a step too far for me. We have tried to live with a light footstep on the planet. That's all I see to do as an individual. Our species is relatively new to the planet and is probably going extinct, or if we survive we'll certainly see declines, in the next century or two. Our generation had the privilege of living in a golden age. I feel for all the children...our young nieces and nephews. Being aware is better than being caught off guard. Thanks for the OT! 7 min James Lovelock, the renowned scientist, has died aged 103. In 2019, to mark his 100th birthday, The Economist interviewed him about why he thinks the human race is under threat of destruction—and his radical plan for saving it. Lovelock as always has interesting ideas.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:20pm

Sadly, that is so true!

@mimi
N/M

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by exindy on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 9:57am

I think Einstein's addition to Hanlon's razor applies

@Lookout

... but don't rule out malice.

The elites don't care if people die. Cost of doing business.

True environmentalism is so quaint. /s

after 1" yesterday and already another 1.5" this AM. However, April has been relatively dry for us, so the rain is welcomed. Climate is just one symptom of ecological disruption. As you mention, insect and bird populations are in decline. Change has always been endemic, but these changes are going to impact living systems across the planet. As you suggest, we need to prepare...and nothing is better than growing a garden...or getting to know your local farmers. One thing's for sure, The Green Party in Germany sure isn't green. They shut down their remaining Nuclear power plants this week, and tore up the windmills built on their old coal mines to access the coal for coal fired plants. That's a net gain in Atmospheric CO2 We're being controlled by idiots. Not to mention the huge release of methane (CH4) when we blew up the Nord Stream which never makes it to the MSM conversation...where is Greta on that release? Guess I'm saying, I see lots of hypocrisy on climate change. I fear, just as in the case of the pandemic, climate is going to be used as a means of controlling people and their behavior. Just look at what the dutch farmer have to contend with from their government. I suspect that is coming here. I've been an environmentalist my entire adult life, and I hate to see the cause used as a means of controlling people and their actions. Persuasion through education is fine, but coercion is a step too far for me. We have tried to live with a light footstep on the planet. That's all I see to do as an individual. Our species is relatively new to the planet and is probably going extinct, or if we survive we'll certainly see declines, in the next century or two. Our generation had the privilege of living in a golden age. I feel for all the children...our young nieces and nephews. Being aware is better than being caught off guard. Thanks for the OT! 7 min James Lovelock, the renowned scientist, has died aged 103. In 2019, to mark his 100th birthday, The Economist interviewed him about why he thinks the human race is under threat of destruction—and his radical plan for saving it. Lovelock as always has interesting ideas.

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:21pm

Boy, this is so true,

@exindy
'The elites don't care if people die. Cost of doing business.'
So true!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by MrWebster on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:34am

Interesting video about Lovelock

@Lookout Move into megacities? It seems that sci-fi movies if not writers have imagined megacities as dystopian hell holes (Soylent Green?). The damages of nuclear power taken against the damages of fossil fuels might be a better alternative to mitigate the worst outcomes. And the Russians seem to be the leaders in nuclear energy from what I have been reading.

Saw an animated doc-drama showing what will happen if don't do anything about climate change. Damn I cannot find it. It was done by one of the cable outlets. Maybe Discovery? National Geographic? But in the end, by the turn of the century, modern civilization will be destroyed. Humans survive but live most like ancestors pre-industrial revolution.

after 1" yesterday and already another 1.5" this AM. However, April has been relatively dry for us, so the rain is welcomed. Climate is just one symptom of ecological disruption. As you mention, insect and bird populations are in decline. Change has always been endemic, but these changes are going to impact living systems across the planet. As you suggest, we need to prepare...and nothing is better than growing a garden...or getting to know your local farmers. One thing's for sure, The Green Party in Germany sure isn't green. They shut down their remaining Nuclear power plants this week, and tore up the windmills built on their old coal mines to access the coal for coal fired plants. That's a net gain in Atmospheric CO2 We're being controlled by idiots. Not to mention the huge release of methane (CH4) when we blew up the Nord Stream which never makes it to the MSM conversation...where is Greta on that release? Guess I'm saying, I see lots of hypocrisy on climate change. I fear, just as in the case of the pandemic, climate is going to be used as a means of controlling people and their behavior. Just look at what the dutch farmer have to contend with from their government. I suspect that is coming here. I've been an environmentalist my entire adult life, and I hate to see the cause used as a means of controlling people and their actions. Persuasion through education is fine, but coercion is a step too far for me. We have tried to live with a light footstep on the planet. That's all I see to do as an individual. Our species is relatively new to the planet and is probably going extinct, or if we survive we'll certainly see declines, in the next century or two. Our generation had the privilege of living in a golden age. I feel for all the children...our young nieces and nephews. Being aware is better than being caught off guard. Thanks for the OT! 7 min James Lovelock, the renowned scientist, has died aged 103. In 2019, to mark his 100th birthday, The Economist interviewed him about why he thinks the human race is under threat of destruction—and his radical plan for saving it. Lovelock as always has interesting ideas.

Submitted by Lookout on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:38am

might not be a bad idea...

@MrWebster

live most like ancestors

Lovelock is fascinating to me. His means of putting sulfur in the upper atmosphere is to modify jets to burn diesel fuel instead of jet fuel. He's an out of the box thinker, and always thought provoking.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:25pm

Megacities...

@MrWebster
I too, have read too many dystopian sci-fi novels about megacities. But maybe it would work if... if... what feeds them? The people in the cities?

Now, if there is a huge population reduction, then I guess, there will be food.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:19pm

Agree with what you say in this great comment!

@Lookout
Thanks for the Lovelock video, that was cool. I have spent my life trying to do what an individual can do to lesson my environmental footprint on the earth. I've come to realize, it's not enough. So, I just refuse to kill bugs, move slugs to other plants, feed the birds as I can, don't drive when possible, use as small an amount of plastic as possible, and so on. It's not enough, but at least that slug, that bug, those birds, that fish that lived because it didn't have to swallow my plastic, at least they get another hour or day or whatever to live on the earth.

after 1" yesterday and already another 1.5" this AM. However, April has been relatively dry for us, so the rain is welcomed. Climate is just one symptom of ecological disruption. As you mention, insect and bird populations are in decline. Change has always been endemic, but these changes are going to impact living systems across the planet. As you suggest, we need to prepare...and nothing is better than growing a garden...or getting to know your local farmers. One thing's for sure, The Green Party in Germany sure isn't green. They shut down their remaining Nuclear power plants this week, and tore up the windmills built on their old coal mines to access the coal for coal fired plants. That's a net gain in Atmospheric CO2 We're being controlled by idiots. Not to mention the huge release of methane (CH4) when we blew up the Nord Stream which never makes it to the MSM conversation...where is Greta on that release? Guess I'm saying, I see lots of hypocrisy on climate change. I fear, just as in the case of the pandemic, climate is going to be used as a means of controlling people and their behavior. Just look at what the dutch farmer have to contend with from their government. I suspect that is coming here. I've been an environmentalist my entire adult life, and I hate to see the cause used as a means of controlling people and their actions. Persuasion through education is fine, but coercion is a step too far for me. We have tried to live with a light footstep on the planet. That's all I see to do as an individual. Our species is relatively new to the planet and is probably going extinct, or if we survive we'll certainly see declines, in the next century or two. Our generation had the privilege of living in a golden age. I feel for all the children...our young nieces and nephews. Being aware is better than being caught off guard. Thanks for the OT! 7 min James Lovelock, the renowned scientist, has died aged 103. In 2019, to mark his 100th birthday, The Economist interviewed him about why he thinks the human race is under threat of destruction—and his radical plan for saving it. Lovelock as always has interesting ideas.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 12:33pm

Well,

I am on my way to court. I represent wife who is divorcing her darling hubby.
He has a history of being in mental health facilities, yet, he is extremely well armed. He has threatened to kill my client repeatedly.
I am ok today, since he doesn't know me by sight. I can get an escort out of the courthouse.
Final hearing, sometime down the road, is gonna be the tricky part. He will know me.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 1:47pm

mental heath facilities

@on the cusp

maybe better than criminal justice facilities?
We, as a nation have neglected the poor, insane
sick and elderly to a point where laws can no longer
mitigate the disasters.

Hope poochie survives.

—

question everything

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 2:55pm

The hubby was a no show

@QMS so he still doesn't know me by sight. One more safe journey to court.
Animal Control is coming to scan Poochie to see if she is chipped. I asked the officer if I would be permitted to kick the owner's ass. Waiting for his response.
This is the longest spring I can remember. Very cool and rainy. Far fewer insects than in my youth, except for flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and roaches, of course. Growing seasons are so different now. It is like, scrap what you were always taught, figure out a different schedule to plant.
The Animal Control officer just texted me and gave me permission.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:30pm

Growing Season here is becoming really different...

@on the cusp
too. I think it's gonna end up being like the season was when I was a kid living in central California. Except, colder in winter/spring then hot as heck in summer.

Sorry the bugs are reduced there too. We still have flies and gnats, mosquitos (but not as many) and roaches. We've got earth worms! Lots! Might be the compost we use

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:40pm

Earthworms good!

@Sima We still have them. Wish we had more honey bees.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:27pm

How the heck can someone with...

@on the cusp
a history of being in mental facilities get a gun? It's a rhetorical question, I don't expect an answer. But it really does show how nuts our society is, doesn't it? Be safe! Hope Poochie is doing ok!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by The Wizard on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 2:48pm

The task is too big and we waited too long

At least we have more people who are aware that the Global Climate Crisis is real. Our political leaders who believe this are yet unwilling to do do anything serious about the problem. This problem is planetary in scale. The only sector that operates at that scale is the Fossil Fuel sector, of course. But they make tons of money. Saving the human species is invaluable, but there is little money to be made. Hmm, says something about our organization as a species. ok, I won't beat around the bush, the main culprit is Capitalism. According to Free Market Capitalism, if everyone works to maximise their own profit them society reaches a high level of efficiency, except in this case it becomes extinct. We have put 1,000 gigatons of free CO2 into the atmosphere, another 300 gigatons into the oceans and many gigatons onto the land. We have captured and sequestered none of this. The Earth is out of equilibrium in energy balance, more energy in from solar radiation then out by IR radiation and reflectivity. We are cruising for a bruising. I live on the East Coast of the US. My coastal city will be 240 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in a few centuries, but human life will not last that long, not even close.

How do we fix it? First we have to stop emitting CO2, CH4 and NOx. Where will we get our energy? Nuclear Power plants are the only possibility, with some assistance from Solar and Wind. Any other solution is wishful thinking. It's midnight and the wind is blowing less than 5 kts. OK, where is your energy coming from to heat millions of homes in the US? From batteries? Do the math, look at the cost per kilowatt hour for batteries. It would cost about a $trillion just to do California. Add to that maintenance and battery replacement every 8 years.

How about CO2 capture and sequestration? Yeah, how about it? We are nowhere at the technology level or scale required. If we had the technology we would have to spend $100 Trillion dollars to implement it, about the total global GDP. Where's the profit? Yeah, survival of the species? There is no free market mechanism to price this in.

Even if we had the technology to do this, our leaders would never get behind this. How to get re elected if you have an honest message? Besides we would rather spend money on war. Globally we spend about $2Trillion on our militaries. That's obscene, but we need to spend ten times that for 10 years to make a dent in the Global Climate Crisis.

If you look at the areas that motivate the average politician in the US, the only conclusion that you can come to is that they are beyond hope. If we can't change this drastically then we need to hope that the US economy crashes to near zero, at least, to reduce its fossil fuel consumption and negative political effect on the RoW (Rest of the World).

—

Capitalism has always been the rule of the people by the oligarchs. You only have two choices, eliminate them or restrict their power.

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 3:05pm

a possible future for the planet

@The Wizard

may be nestled in our ability to transcend present limitations
If there is to be a future for our power hungry species, it will be in
a different make-up. Not Coal, Oil, Nuclear, Wind or Sun, although
each has potential. The new, (magic) source is right in front of us.
Capitalization prevents development.

At least we have more people who are aware that the Global Climate Crisis is real. Our political leaders who believe this are yet unwilling to do do anything serious about the problem. This problem is planetary in scale. The only sector that operates at that scale is the Fossil Fuel sector, of course. But they make tons of money. Saving the human species is invaluable, but there is little money to be made. Hmm, says something about our organization as a species. ok, I won't beat around the bush, the main culprit is Capitalism. According to Free Market Capitalism, if everyone works to maximise their own profit them society reaches a high level of efficiency, except in this case it becomes extinct. We have put 1,000 gigatons of free CO2 into the atmosphere, another 300 gigatons into the oceans and many gigatons onto the land. We have captured and sequestered none of this. The Earth is out of equilibrium in energy balance, more energy in from solar radiation then out by IR radiation and reflectivity. We are cruising for a bruising. I live on the East Coast of the US. My coastal city will be 240 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in a few centuries, but human life will not last that long, not even close. How do we fix it? First we have to stop emitting CO2, CH4 and NOx. Where will we get our energy? Nuclear Power plants are the only possibility, with some assistance from Solar and Wind. Any other solution is wishful thinking. It's midnight and the wind is blowing less than 5 kts. OK, where is your energy coming from to heat millions of homes in the US? From batteries? Do the math, look at the cost per kilowatt hour for batteries. It would cost about a $trillion just to do California. Add to that maintenance and battery replacement every 8 years. How about CO2 capture and sequestration? Yeah, how about it? We are nowhere at the technology level or scale required. If we had the technology we would have to spend $100 Trillion dollars to implement it, about the total global GDP. Where's the profit? Yeah, survival of the species? There is no free market mechanism to price this in. Even if we had the technology to do this, our leaders would never get behind this. How to get re elected if you have an honest message? Besides we would rather spend money on war. Globally we spend about $2Trillion on our militaries. That's obscene, but we need to spend ten times that for 10 years to make a dent in the Global Climate Crisis. If you look at the areas that motivate the average politician in the US, the only conclusion that you can come to is that they are beyond hope. If we can't change this drastically then we need to hope that the US economy crashes to near zero, at least, to reduce its fossil fuel consumption and negative political effect on the RoW (Rest of the World).

—

question everything

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:34pm

Great Comment, just a great comment!

@The Wizard
I think we are stuck, I really do, because, as you say, the end result of capitalism is extinction. Maybe a huge economic crash will stop this, but... I dunno. It's a weird thing to hope for and yet there's not a lot else, is there?

At least we have more people who are aware that the Global Climate Crisis is real. Our political leaders who believe this are yet unwilling to do do anything serious about the problem. This problem is planetary in scale. The only sector that operates at that scale is the Fossil Fuel sector, of course. But they make tons of money. Saving the human species is invaluable, but there is little money to be made. Hmm, says something about our organization as a species. ok, I won't beat around the bush, the main culprit is Capitalism. According to Free Market Capitalism, if everyone works to maximise their own profit them society reaches a high level of efficiency, except in this case it becomes extinct. We have put 1,000 gigatons of free CO2 into the atmosphere, another 300 gigatons into the oceans and many gigatons onto the land. We have captured and sequestered none of this. The Earth is out of equilibrium in energy balance, more energy in from solar radiation then out by IR radiation and reflectivity. We are cruising for a bruising. I live on the East Coast of the US. My coastal city will be 240 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in a few centuries, but human life will not last that long, not even close. How do we fix it? First we have to stop emitting CO2, CH4 and NOx. Where will we get our energy? Nuclear Power plants are the only possibility, with some assistance from Solar and Wind. Any other solution is wishful thinking. It's midnight and the wind is blowing less than 5 kts. OK, where is your energy coming from to heat millions of homes in the US? From batteries? Do the math, look at the cost per kilowatt hour for batteries. It would cost about a $trillion just to do California. Add to that maintenance and battery replacement every 8 years. How about CO2 capture and sequestration? Yeah, how about it? We are nowhere at the technology level or scale required. If we had the technology we would have to spend $100 Trillion dollars to implement it, about the total global GDP. Where's the profit? Yeah, survival of the species? There is no free market mechanism to price this in. Even if we had the technology to do this, our leaders would never get behind this. How to get re elected if you have an honest message? Besides we would rather spend money on war. Globally we spend about $2Trillion on our militaries. That's obscene, but we need to spend ten times that for 10 years to make a dent in the Global Climate Crisis. If you look at the areas that motivate the average politician in the US, the only conclusion that you can come to is that they are beyond hope. If we can't change this drastically then we need to hope that the US economy crashes to near zero, at least, to reduce its fossil fuel consumption and negative political effect on the RoW (Rest of the World).

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 3:45pm

Good afternoon Sima. More and more every decade we humans

indulge in magical thinking. It takes the form of: "some miracle will happen to save us because we always find a technological fix for the problems we face. In the meantime, steady as you were."

When the disaster is incontrovertibly immanent, we will urgently try to simultaneously implement a ton of risky, untested fixes, each to an extreme extent, which will, if they at all significantly mitigate the problem, also bring down a shitstorm of unforeseen negative consequences upon our heads. The could very well do the latter without doing the former.

be well and have a good one

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:37pm

That last paragraph is so apt...

@enhydra lutris
'When the disaster is incontrovertibly immanent, we will urgently try to simultaneously implement a ton of risky, untested fixes, each to an extreme extent, which will, if they at all significantly mitigate the problem, also bring down a shitstorm of unforeseen negative consequences upon our heads. The could very well do the latter without doing the former.'

And that, is probably the way it'll all proceed, eh? Great point!

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 5:51pm

Poochie update

She was chipped, and Animal Control is contacting the person. It remains to be seen if the owner responds, and if they want the dog back.
She is happy for now, and if the owner comes for her, she will go home.
She loves Kibbles and Bits.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:41pm

I Hope the owner responds...

@on the cusp
but with a reservation. I want them to be a good owner! Heh. Good on you for doing all this for Poochie.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Fri, 04/28/2023 - 9:20am

Hope the owner doesn't want her back

@Sima

IMHO they shouldn't be allowed to get her back after dumping her in the first place. If they get away with it, they will probably just dump her somewhere else - maybe farther away where there is less (or no) chance of her getting help - or worse.

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 6:42pm

Absolutely this

What started out as a demand from ordinary people to insist that big business take better care of the world we live in was morphed into a "no, we all need to do our bit" so that industry still pumped out poisons except now into regions far away, CO2 emissions increased exponentially and carcinogenic products still proliferated, but we the people lost track of that while we assiduously sorted plastic from aluminum and paper foolishly imagining we were 'saving the planet'.

How many years did I sort my different waste products into 2 separate bins only to find out that both bins are emptied in the same dump? Too damn many I say. We are also supposed to spare the air and not burn wood and do everything we can to decrease whatever adds to climate change whilst the parasite class has to make no sacrifices or effort to do their part. How many climate summits have we seen 100's of private jets parked at airports or when Biden went to Canada for the climate summit only to watch his 77 large SUVs drive around the city?

It’s like I’m supposed to water less so we can refill the GSL while water guzzling Saudi alfalfa farms don’t have to make any changes themselves. States that rely on the Colorado river are getting cuts to their water allotments, but Biden gave the Saudis and other foreign governments a pass to make any themselves.

If only one side has to make sacrifices and do their part, but the ones who use the most of everything don’t then how serious is the problem in the first place?

And don’t get me started on companies that steal water so they can sell it back to us. They buy it for pennies on the dollar and then they sell it to us for a few bucks and pocket the difference.

—

The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.
~Hannah Arendt

Submitted by Sima on Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:45pm

All of this is very true!!

@snoopydawg
I still sort trash but, I wonder why when I do it. Still, most of our trash ends up on the compost heap, except the frapping plastic. The SUV and private jet thing is just astounding. How can they even pretend to give a crap about the environment with that stuff?

The hay going to other countries? Gads! I hate it. And your other points fit right in too. I dunno, I just dunno. But the work of the 'little people' is always going to be dwarfed by the excesses of those in charge, I'm afraid. Dang.

—

If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so