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Meaningful action will happen by semi-random chance (breakthrough in low-emission energy) or by force of nature (climate changes so much that we have no choice

by ken47 4y ago

Meaningful action will happen by semi-random chance (breakthrough in low-emission energy) or by force of nature (climate changes so much that we have no choice but to act). In general, I don't think the average, or even somewhat above-average, person will be motivated by an abstract risk like the specter of CO2-induced climate change, unless incentives are created at a societal level to celebrate advancements in this field of technology and the associated low-emission lifestyle. And would it be safe to assume that low-emission energy has much lower ROI, in a traditional sense, than fossil fuels? If so, I double down on my above predictions about triggers for meaningful change. But that's life, isn't it? We're only capable of optimizing towards a finite distance in the future. If that weren't the case, we would be gods, not humans. And we certainly wouldn't be in this mess, or perhaps any mess, in the first place.

ehnto 4y ago
I agree, and I've been a proponent of remediation technology rather than preventative technology, since I have no faith we can actually pull off prevention. The incentives are not there for the majority of people. There has been no meaningful evidence to the contrary, as sad as that is. I think the severity of the issue is what makes it so easy to dismiss, and ignore. Just like people can ignore the impact a car accident would have on them, because such a thing is so severe that well, it's best not to think about it, so people don't.
mattnewton 4y ago
All you need to look at in the US is the current conversation around subsidizing gasoline / lowering taxes in most states currently due to inflation. I don’t think the average voter is going to care if cities they don’t live in are under water as much as they care about their own gas prices.
orwin 4y ago
Yes, andt sea-level CO2 have almost no impact on average temperature. Its only in the high troposphere that its impact is felt. And on average, CO2 takes twenty year to rise up to the level where it start to be impactful (and as it is an oxide, is ultra stable there). The the deregulation we have right now is caused by the emissions from 2002. What we emit today will start to have an impact on average temperatures (energy level, infrared re-emissions, whatever you want to call it) in 2042. That does not help us take decisions.
jacquesm 4y ago
We already have no choice but to act. But we don't act.

by ken47 4y ago

ehnto 4y ago

I agree, and I've been a proponent of remediation technology rather than preventative technology, since I have no faith we can actually pull off prevention. The incentives are not there for the majority of people. There has been no meaningful evidence to the contrary, as sad as that is. I think the severity of the issue is what makes it so easy to dismiss, and ignore. Just like people can ignore the impact a car accident would have on them, because such a thing is so severe that well, it's best not to think about it, so people don't.

mattnewton 4y ago

All you need to look at in the US is the current conversation around subsidizing gasoline / lowering taxes in most states currently due to inflation. I don’t think the average voter is going to care if cities they don’t live in are under water as much as they care about their own gas prices.

orwin 4y ago

Yes, andt sea-level CO2 have almost no impact on average temperature. Its only in the high troposphere that its impact is felt. And on average, CO2 takes twenty year to rise up to the level where it start to be impactful (and as it is an oxide, is ultra stable there). The the deregulation we have right now is caused by the emissions from 2002. What we emit today will start to have an impact on average temperatures (energy level, infrared re-emissions, whatever you want to call it) in 2042. That does not help us take decisions.

jacquesm 4y ago

We already have no choice but to act. But we don't act.