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As far as I can tell, we are reasonably certain that the effects of climate change will be very bad. It’s hard to say exactly what will happen, though. The tru
by currymj 8y ago
As far as I can tell, we are reasonably certain that the effects of climate change will be very bad. It’s hard to say exactly what will happen, though.
The truly apocalyptic predictions are just not very likely. We are not going to be boiled alive or turn into Venus or whatever. It’s not going to get so hot that all plant matter catches on fire.
- jellicle 8y agoNo scientist is predicting that "all plant matter will catch on fire". In fact I've never heard anyone predict that. If we do nothing, within the next 80 years large parts of the currently inhabited planet will be uninhabitable by humans, however. That's a sort of apocalypse. It's also the consensus view of scientists who study the global pollution epidemic.
- currymj 8y agoI would bet you and I evaluate the problem similarly, I think there are remote but plausible scenarios that are almost intolerably bad (and these become likely if we keep polluting). But there are left-leaning but not scientifically literate people who honestly believe most life on Earth is already doomed. This obviously leads to despair in their political thinking and personal lives. I’ve even heard of people contemplating suicide. I don’t think this is warranted given what we know and the uncertainties involved. Humanity still has a future worth living for even in the most frightening scenarios.