6 ms·

I’m having a hard time contributing anything intellectually interesting. This is emotionally terrifying to me. What can be said?

by ncr100 1y ago

simmerup 1y ago
I guess we can hope America starts taking climate change seriously again instead of chasing short term stock market returns
- codyb 1y ago
  Stand up, fight back now... gotta save democracy first sadly. What a thorn in my side it has been to trade one existential crises for humanity for a government that seems actively opposed to doing a god damn thing about it
  - jawilson2 1y ago
    Same. It pops into my head a few times per week that I haven't thought about global climate change recently, and it is because we are dealing with the more immediate thread of hypercapitalism-authoritarian-christofascism, and my neighbors in Chicago are being disappeared nightly.
- sys32768 1y ago
  And China too with its ~30-31% of world CO2.
  - John23832 1y ago
    China is leading the world in renewable energy production. Nuclear buildout, wind farms, solar farms. There's even some minor thermal (even though they're not geographically suited for that). Sure, they are starting from a high number as the worlds manufacturer, but they're are clearly making strides that the other major industrial nations (the US) are not.
  - deleted 1y ago
    [deleted]
  - simmerup 1y ago
    Considering America is literally promoting fossil fuels over renewables and the US administration is publicly saying climate change is a scam, I think America deserves more flack than China here
    - ahmeneeroe-v2 1y ago
      [flagged]
      - DangitBobby 1y ago
        Production rates are subject to change. China is showing it wants to move towards a future where it emits less CO2 and the US recently elected and appointed cronies to take us in the opposite direction.
        ahmeneeroe-v2 1y ago
        CO2 emissions by country: China vs US. Number only.
        DangitBobby 1y ago
        No idea, if you read my comment you'd understand that's not what I think matters.
        ahmeneeroe-v2 1y ago
        That is not a serious position, that is a political position.
        DangitBobby 1y ago
        Ok lol
        tonfa 1y ago
        https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/which-countries-have-contributed-the-most-to-historical-co-emissions https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/which-countries-hav... I would be surprised if China ends up dumping more CO2 than the US (and then if we look at per capita, even more so).
  - mikestew 1y ago
    Can't have a discussion on climate change without the obligatory "But what about Chiiiiina!?" It's time to own up to the fact that China is going out of their way to use renewables, and the U. S. is actively sabotaging renewable energy programs. Whining about China is starting to look pretty silly.
  - xandrius 1y ago
    Let's forget how they make almost everything we and you own. Until not long ago, they very likely even processed your own trash.
  - lm28469 1y ago
    Look at cumulative co2 emissions though, the US created 50% of the global cumulated co2 emissions alone
kgwgk 1y ago
[flagged]
- boston_clone 1y ago
  > If you are so emotionally attached to solid water [...] That's an oddly personal remark to be making when global warming is a concern for humanity. That final sentence is not a positive note, either: "we're still experiencing above average ice melt - but this year wasn't as bad and some other years!".
  - kgwgk 1y ago
    I found that the message I replied to was an oddly personal remark and I couldn’t help it. Anyway, this year was better seems a positive note (to end a negative melody if you will).
    - Hikikomori 1y ago
      It varies a lot by each year, but the trend is clear. Article also say that swiss glaciers lost 40% of ice volume in 25 years.
- timeon 1y ago
  > The overall summer melt this year was therefore only 15 percent above the 2010-2020 average -- its lowest level in the past four years. That is not really comforting. Is your comment satire?
kieranmaine 1y ago
You have to weigh up the negatives with the positives and look at trends. AI can gave you a more exhaustive list of positive developments, but some I've noticed: * "FERC: Solar + wind made up 91% of new US power generating capacity in H1 2025" [1] - The rollback of the IRA will reduce the speed of the US transition. * "Solar and wind growth exceeded global demand growth in the first half of 2025" [2] * Perovskite solar panels could lead to even lower solar costs [3] There's also increased investment in nuclear, exicting geothermal advances (eg. Fervo Energy), increasing EV sales, a massive expansion of battery storage, zero emissions concrete (https://sublime-systems.com/ https://sublime-systems.com/). There are lots of positive developments, so I'd recommend learning more about them to offset your current fears and introduce some hope. 1. https://electrek.co/2025/09/03/ferc-solar-wind-91-percent-new-us-power-generating-capacity-h1-2025/ https://electrek.co/2025/09/03/ferc-solar-wind-91-percent-ne... 2. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-mid-year-insights-2025/ https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-... 3. https://www.ft.com/content/a5095373-1762-41cd-a078-af533e2644fc https://www.ft.com/content/a5095373-1762-41cd-a078-af533e264...
- timeon 1y ago
  How does investing in new forms of energy help when old one is not decreasing? Demand for energy is still rising so those new forms are just covering (part of) new demand... > AI can gave you a more exhaustive list ...so maybe it should not?
  - kieranmaine 1y ago
    > How does investing in new forms of energy help when old one is not decreasing? In relation to electricity this is not the case for H1 2025, as shown in the article "Solar and wind growth exceeded global demand growth in the first half of 2025" [1] > ...so maybe it should not? Fair point. 1. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-mid-year-insights-2025/global-analysis/ https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-...
toomuchtodo 1y ago
China is building, domestically deploying, and exporting solar, wind, batteries, and EVs so fast that the world will have no choice but to rapidly move towards net zero simply due to economics. Existing excess atmospheric carbon emissions remain to be sequestered. China deployed 277GW of solar in 2024 and is accelerating, having deployed 212GW in the first half of 2025. 1GW of solar is being deployed globally every 15 hours. Clean energy and global electrification flywheel go brrrr. https://ember-energy.org/data/china-cleantech-exports-data-explorer/ https://ember-energy.org/data/china-cleantech-exports-data-e... https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/china-energy-transition-review-2025/ https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/china-energy-transi... https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/china-is-quietly-saving-the-world https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/china-is-quietly-saving-the-wo... https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/21/china-clean-renewable-energy-coal-plants-emissions/ https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/21/china-clean-renewable-e...
- landl0rd 1y ago
  Incorrect; energy dependence on a nuclear power with a general desire to displace existing hegemons isn't a wise or tenable policy. If you care about America using carbon-light power you should throw your weight behind nuclear, geothermal, and some wind/solar/battery manufactured domestically, by allies, or within our sphere of influence.
  - toomuchtodo 1y ago
    The United States had a chance to lead, they tried to build domestically (Inflation Reduction Act), and it was sabotaged by governance choices. Someone else has demonstrated their ability to execute and deliver. Elections have consequences. Better luck next time.
    - landl0rd 1y ago
      Cool, I do, and I care more about her than about carbon because I and my people live here. So I will oppose any policy that cedes leadership or hegemony. See you at the ballot box, I guess.
onlypassingthru 1y ago
If you have a bucket list, start working on the things that are most vulnerable. Things you want to see may disappear within your lifetime, so go see it while you can.
naldb 1y ago
Stop reading things that upset you.

I’m having a hard time contributing anything intellectually interesting. This is emotionally terrifying to me. What can be said?

by ncr100 1y ago

I’m having a hard time contributing anything intellectually interesting. This is emotionally terrifying to me. What can be said?

simmerup 1y ago

I guess we can hope America starts taking climate change seriously again instead of chasing short term stock market returns

codyb 1y ago
Stand up, fight back now... gotta save democracy first sadly. What a thorn in my side it has been to trade one existential crises for humanity for a government that seems actively opposed to doing a god damn thing about it
- jawilson2 1y ago
  Same. It pops into my head a few times per week that I haven't thought about global climate change recently, and it is because we are dealing with the more immediate thread of hypercapitalism-authoritarian-christofascism, and my neighbors in Chicago are being disappeared nightly.
sys32768 1y ago
And China too with its ~30-31% of world CO2.
- John23832 1y ago
  China is leading the world in renewable energy production. Nuclear buildout, wind farms, solar farms. There's even some minor thermal (even though they're not geographically suited for that). Sure, they are starting from a high number as the worlds manufacturer, but they're are clearly making strides that the other major industrial nations (the US) are not.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- simmerup 1y ago
  Considering America is literally promoting fossil fuels over renewables and the US administration is publicly saying climate change is a scam, I think America deserves more flack than China here
  - ahmeneeroe-v2 1y ago
    [flagged]
    - DangitBobby 1y ago
      Production rates are subject to change. China is showing it wants to move towards a future where it emits less CO2 and the US recently elected and appointed cronies to take us in the opposite direction.
      - ahmeneeroe-v2 1y ago
        CO2 emissions by country: China vs US. Number only.
        DangitBobby 1y ago
        No idea, if you read my comment you'd understand that's not what I think matters.
        ahmeneeroe-v2 1y ago
        That is not a serious position, that is a political position.
        DangitBobby 1y ago
        Ok lol
        tonfa 1y ago
        https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/which-countries-have-contributed-the-most-to-historical-co-emissions https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/which-countries-hav... I would be surprised if China ends up dumping more CO2 than the US (and then if we look at per capita, even more so).
- mikestew 1y ago
  Can't have a discussion on climate change without the obligatory "But what about Chiiiiina!?" It's time to own up to the fact that China is going out of their way to use renewables, and the U. S. is actively sabotaging renewable energy programs. Whining about China is starting to look pretty silly.
- xandrius 1y ago
  Let's forget how they make almost everything we and you own. Until not long ago, they very likely even processed your own trash.
- lm28469 1y ago
  Look at cumulative co2 emissions though, the US created 50% of the global cumulated co2 emissions alone

kgwgk 1y ago

[flagged]

boston_clone 1y ago
> If you are so emotionally attached to solid water [...] That's an oddly personal remark to be making when global warming is a concern for humanity. That final sentence is not a positive note, either: "we're still experiencing above average ice melt - but this year wasn't as bad and some other years!".
- kgwgk 1y ago
  I found that the message I replied to was an oddly personal remark and I couldn’t help it. Anyway, this year was better seems a positive note (to end a negative melody if you will).
  - Hikikomori 1y ago
    It varies a lot by each year, but the trend is clear. Article also say that swiss glaciers lost 40% of ice volume in 25 years.
timeon 1y ago
> The overall summer melt this year was therefore only 15 percent above the 2010-2020 average -- its lowest level in the past four years. That is not really comforting. Is your comment satire?

kieranmaine 1y ago

You have to weigh up the negatives with the positives and look at trends. AI can gave you a more exhaustive list of positive developments, but some I've noticed: * "FERC: Solar + wind made up 91% of new US power generating capacity in H1 2025" [1] - The rollback of the IRA will reduce the speed of the US transition. * "Solar and wind growth exceeded global demand growth in the first half of 2025" [2] * Perovskite solar panels could lead to even lower solar costs [3] There's also increased investment in nuclear, exicting geothermal advances (eg. Fervo Energy), increasing EV sales, a massive expansion of battery storage, zero emissions concrete (https://sublime-systems.com/ https://sublime-systems.com/). There are lots of positive developments, so I'd recommend learning more about them to offset your current fears and introduce some hope. 1. https://electrek.co/2025/09/03/ferc-solar-wind-91-percent-new-us-power-generating-capacity-h1-2025/ https://electrek.co/2025/09/03/ferc-solar-wind-91-percent-ne... 2. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-mid-year-insights-2025/ https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-... 3. https://www.ft.com/content/a5095373-1762-41cd-a078-af533e2644fc https://www.ft.com/content/a5095373-1762-41cd-a078-af533e264...

timeon 1y ago
How does investing in new forms of energy help when old one is not decreasing? Demand for energy is still rising so those new forms are just covering (part of) new demand... > AI can gave you a more exhaustive list ...so maybe it should not?
- kieranmaine 1y ago
  > How does investing in new forms of energy help when old one is not decreasing? In relation to electricity this is not the case for H1 2025, as shown in the article "Solar and wind growth exceeded global demand growth in the first half of 2025" [1] > ...so maybe it should not? Fair point. 1. https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-mid-year-insights-2025/global-analysis/ https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-...

toomuchtodo 1y ago

China is building, domestically deploying, and exporting solar, wind, batteries, and EVs so fast that the world will have no choice but to rapidly move towards net zero simply due to economics. Existing excess atmospheric carbon emissions remain to be sequestered. China deployed 277GW of solar in 2024 and is accelerating, having deployed 212GW in the first half of 2025. 1GW of solar is being deployed globally every 15 hours. Clean energy and global electrification flywheel go brrrr. https://ember-energy.org/data/china-cleantech-exports-data-explorer/ https://ember-energy.org/data/china-cleantech-exports-data-e... https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/china-energy-transition-review-2025/ https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/china-energy-transi... https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/china-is-quietly-saving-the-world https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/china-is-quietly-saving-the-wo... https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/21/china-clean-renewable-energy-coal-plants-emissions/ https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/21/china-clean-renewable-e...

landl0rd 1y ago
Incorrect; energy dependence on a nuclear power with a general desire to displace existing hegemons isn't a wise or tenable policy. If you care about America using carbon-light power you should throw your weight behind nuclear, geothermal, and some wind/solar/battery manufactured domestically, by allies, or within our sphere of influence.
- toomuchtodo 1y ago
  The United States had a chance to lead, they tried to build domestically (Inflation Reduction Act), and it was sabotaged by governance choices. Someone else has demonstrated their ability to execute and deliver. Elections have consequences. Better luck next time.
  - landl0rd 1y ago
    Cool, I do, and I care more about her than about carbon because I and my people live here. So I will oppose any policy that cedes leadership or hegemony. See you at the ballot box, I guess.

onlypassingthru 1y ago

If you have a bucket list, start working on the things that are most vulnerable. Things you want to see may disappear within your lifetime, so go see it while you can.

naldb 1y ago

Stop reading things that upset you.