zlacker

[return to "I used to not worry about climate change. Now I do [video]"]
1. alexvo+xJ1[view] [source] 2024-01-28 08:46:48
>>onnnon+(OP)
@dang Is it just my impression that HN is drifting rigtwards on this topic? I remember HN being more in favour of proactive action against anthropic climate change. This thread feels dominated by attitudes reflecting inaction.
◧◩
2. konsch+oM1[view] [source] 2024-01-28 09:17:51
>>alexvo+xJ1
Im not dang but I would like to share a hypothesis why this maybe isn’t so terrible.

The thing that always stood between the world and climate action was the fact that fossil fuels were the best energy source.

Since a few years, the tables have turned and solar seems to be marching towards absolute dominance.

So there isn’t much to do in terms of political climate action, since the incentives are now mostly economical.

I agree though, the extend to how people are happy to just roll over and accept that the world will go down with them is surprising.

◧◩◪
3. resolu+9i2[view] [source] 2024-01-28 14:01:42
>>konsch+oM1
> Im not dang but I would like to share a hypothesis why this maybe isn’t so terrible.

> The thing that always stood between the world and climate action was the fact that fossil fuels were the best energy source.

> Since a few years, the tables have turned and solar seems to be marching towards absolute dominance.

> So there isn’t much to do in terms of political climate action, since the incentives are now mostly economical.

If we could put climate change on hold for 50 years we would probably be in pretty good shape, because in 50 years we will probably have enough renewable energy that we can just decide to stop burning (most) oil.

But in the real world, in 2024 we haven't actually reduced emissions at all yet, and the possibility of cutting down emissions in 50 years isn't enough.

It's true that in that sense we aren't that far from a scenario that "isn't so terrible" but that seems more like an ironic fact than something that should be comforting.

Because of the way climate change works, the future possibility of reducing emissions simply isn't enough if we aren't actually currently reducing emissions when we would really need to be at approximately zero right now to fix the problem.

[go to top]