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(I work in a climate group) These graphs really would benefit from error bars, especially the breakdowns into sector. I would not want a policy maker to rely o
by chris_va 3y ago
(I work in a climate group)
These graphs really would benefit from error bars, especially the breakdowns into sector. I would not want a policy maker to rely on those numbers.
- IshKebab 3y agoDon't worry; policy makers don't seem to care about any of this.
- jfengel 3y agoOr much of anything, for those committed to doing nothing regardless of the data or presentation.
- acdha 3y agoRepublicans + Joe Manchin don’t care about this. Most policy makers aren’t captured by the fossil fuel industry and many are pushing for the kind of structural changes we need, but it’s hard for them to accomplish as much with active opposition at the U.S. federal level.
- lucb1e 3y agoNot just U.S. Just ask the German green party whether to invest money in a new highway or in a new train track. The result may surprise you. I wouldn't know why anyone votes for these clowns if not for that the other parties don't even claim they'll do something good for climate if elected But at least they succeeded in getting rid of nuclear ¯\_(:))_/¯
- acdha 3y agoYeah, I’m not saying it’s just Republicans but there is a significant amount of leverage in controlling the massive US economy which the fossil fuel industry has used carefully to stymie international agreements.
- akudha 3y agoCould you please give an example graph from the site, and how you’d improve it?
- chris_va 3y agoWell, the land/ocean flux numbers for the "Yearly Absorption of Human-Induced Gross CO2 Emissions" have quite large error bars in the literature. CH4 numbers are also questionable.
- fwungy 3y agoPolicy makers are rewarded for making decisions. Scientists are rewarded for being accurate. It's a constant battle. A politician with a science report has official CYA for whatever they do, as they were making the decision based on scientific estimates.
- lucb1e 3y agoAnd an error bar on a graph makes it less useful for making decisions? Assuming they're not broader than the signal being measured, and they certainly won't be for recent history, it ought to actually make it more useful for politicians
- fwungy 3y agoNot my point. Politicians always push for a scientific consensus they can act on, whether it's there or not.
- lucb1e 3y agoThen please enlighten us how politicians are rewarded for making decisions. Is there an award "most decisions made"? Do people vote based on number of decisions made? I'd rather think people vote based on what it was that a politician decided, and whether that is in line with their beliefs. Beliefs that may or may not come from scientific consensus
- fwungy 3y agoThey have to make decisions. That's how things are accomplished. Did you ever see a politician run seriously on "I didn't get anything done?" Little people select politicians by their feelings about the information the media presents about them. Big people look at the politician will make or cost them money. They do this by acting, and they often want "science" to validate and cover for them as being wise.