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Global coal consumption is 8MT, same as 2012, whereas world population is 15% larger and also richer, it is absolutely on the decline as a percentage of primary

by mrpopo 3y ago

Global coal consumption is 8MT, same as 2012, whereas world population is 15% larger and also richer, it is absolutely on the decline as a percentage of primary energy. Coal is also unfortunately an essential resource for many impoverished countries, flying is a privilege that very few people can afford, and has a huge per-capita impact. We should absolutely try to reduce coal usage as fast as possible, but it's more complicated. Stop coal today, and billions of people will die (the same people that would be impacted by climate change). Also, it costs money, whereas taxing flyers makes money.

melling 3y ago
Climate change doesn’t care if there are 15% more people, etc. Fill up the atmosphere with greenhouse gases and we have a problem. We’ve had over 40 years to adapt. That’s 400 years of aviation in terms of coal usage.
- mrpopo 3y ago
  You have made your point, 3 times the same one, but you are yet to discuss mine. "We should solve coal immediately": Who is "we" (I for one don't have coal at home) How can coal be "solved"? Coal is in India, China, US, etc. I don't live in these countries and try not to buy anything from these countries anyway. My country has given up on coal completely. The only country from the top 3 that has enough economic leeway to transition quickly and completely is the US, and that would be "only" 8% of the total share, which by your logic would be not worth looking into, since 10 years of Chinese coal is 50 years of American coal, or something. I absolutely think we should work on reducing coal usage as much and as quickly as possible, but it's out of my capacity. However, I can give up/reduce flying, and that's what I am doing.
  - melling 3y ago
    “I can give up/reduce flying, and that's what I am doing” That’s completely meaningless. It accomplishes absolutely nothing. Climate change isn’t slowed. This is one of those problems where we need to fix the big problems. And we need to fix it globally.
    - mrpopo 3y ago
      OK thanks for the life lesson. I think what you're doing is completely meaningless too.

by mrpopo 3y ago

melling 3y ago

Climate change doesn’t care if there are 15% more people, etc. Fill up the atmosphere with greenhouse gases and we have a problem. We’ve had over 40 years to adapt. That’s 400 years of aviation in terms of coal usage.

mrpopo 3y ago
You have made your point, 3 times the same one, but you are yet to discuss mine. "We should solve coal immediately": Who is "we" (I for one don't have coal at home) How can coal be "solved"? Coal is in India, China, US, etc. I don't live in these countries and try not to buy anything from these countries anyway. My country has given up on coal completely. The only country from the top 3 that has enough economic leeway to transition quickly and completely is the US, and that would be "only" 8% of the total share, which by your logic would be not worth looking into, since 10 years of Chinese coal is 50 years of American coal, or something. I absolutely think we should work on reducing coal usage as much and as quickly as possible, but it's out of my capacity. However, I can give up/reduce flying, and that's what I am doing.
- melling 3y ago
  “I can give up/reduce flying, and that's what I am doing” That’s completely meaningless. It accomplishes absolutely nothing. Climate change isn’t slowed. This is one of those problems where we need to fix the big problems. And we need to fix it globally.
  - mrpopo 3y ago
    OK thanks for the life lesson. I think what you're doing is completely meaningless too.