4 ms·

I agree with most of what you say. However, one thing I must point out is that climate change is a complex problem with no easy solutions. As much as it sounds

I agree with most of what you say. However, one thing I must point out is that climate change is a complex problem with no easy solutions. As much as it sounds like we should "just turn off the oil" that would in fact lead to millions of deaths. It's possible that there are problems that are unsolvable or at least a best outcome doesn't exist. Extinction maybe inevitable.

mschuster91 5y ago
> However, one thing I must point out is that climate change is a complex problem with no easy solutions. Indeed, but right now we are doing almost nothing meaningful. We shame people from taking vacation flights once every couple years but don't ban short distance "business flights" for corporate executives with a completely bonkers view on how important they are. We still don't mandate the end of "bunker fuel" burning on ships or the usage of land-line power of cruise ships. Instead of building electrified freight and passenger rail, large parts of the rail network run on decades old diesel engines, large parts of freight runs on trucks and in the US the word "high speed passenger rail" is as inconceivable as "fair minimum wage".
- TrispusAttucks 5y ago
  One again I agree with most of what you're suggesting here. One more point of nuance though. What is the carbon foot print of replacing all the rail and freight? Do we have the funds to make these changes all at once? How quickly can we realistically change out our entire fossil fuel infrastructure? The first motor car was in 1886, over 130 years ago. The first mass produced motor car was 1908, Over 110 years ago. We've built this current system for over 100 years. Rebuilding a new one may also take a similar time line. The tragedy is we may not be able to BUT... you are right. We should try!
  - mschuster91 5y ago
    > What is the carbon foot print of replacing all the rail and freight? You don't need to replace the rails, only add overhead power. Which, granted, isn't free in terms of CO2, but saves a lot of fossil fuel emissions and particulate matter emissions for those living adjacent to rail routes (which is mostly poor people, so this issue also has a social impact) down the roat. > Do we have the funds to make these changes all at once? The US spends more on their military than the next 7-11 (depending on which source you want to cite) countries combined. The US spends twice as much per person for healthcare than European countries, with worse results. There are way more than enough ways to fund a transportation revolution, and in the worst case the US Government can issue special ear-marked bonds. > How quickly can we realistically change out our entire fossil fuel infrastructure? Two to three decades. Which coincidentally lines up with the predictions on when climate change will hit the "irreversibility" point.

mschuster91 5y ago

> However, one thing I must point out is that climate change is a complex problem with no easy solutions. Indeed, but right now we are doing almost nothing meaningful. We shame people from taking vacation flights once every couple years but don't ban short distance "business flights" for corporate executives with a completely bonkers view on how important they are. We still don't mandate the end of "bunker fuel" burning on ships or the usage of land-line power of cruise ships. Instead of building electrified freight and passenger rail, large parts of the rail network run on decades old diesel engines, large parts of freight runs on trucks and in the US the word "high speed passenger rail" is as inconceivable as "fair minimum wage".

TrispusAttucks 5y ago
One again I agree with most of what you're suggesting here. One more point of nuance though. What is the carbon foot print of replacing all the rail and freight? Do we have the funds to make these changes all at once? How quickly can we realistically change out our entire fossil fuel infrastructure? The first motor car was in 1886, over 130 years ago. The first mass produced motor car was 1908, Over 110 years ago. We've built this current system for over 100 years. Rebuilding a new one may also take a similar time line. The tragedy is we may not be able to BUT... you are right. We should try!
- mschuster91 5y ago
  > What is the carbon foot print of replacing all the rail and freight? You don't need to replace the rails, only add overhead power. Which, granted, isn't free in terms of CO2, but saves a lot of fossil fuel emissions and particulate matter emissions for those living adjacent to rail routes (which is mostly poor people, so this issue also has a social impact) down the roat. > Do we have the funds to make these changes all at once? The US spends more on their military than the next 7-11 (depending on which source you want to cite) countries combined. The US spends twice as much per person for healthcare than European countries, with worse results. There are way more than enough ways to fund a transportation revolution, and in the worst case the US Government can issue special ear-marked bonds. > How quickly can we realistically change out our entire fossil fuel infrastructure? Two to three decades. Which coincidentally lines up with the predictions on when climate change will hit the "irreversibility" point.