Lots of ecosystems will/might crash hard, taking down their ability to support (such large numbers of) humans as well, leading to uncertainty, disarray, chaos & maybe even (more) wars in many regions as people start battling over things like clean(ish) water, still arable land and such. We already see this starting in places like California where their ability to produce food is starting to get severely affected by long-lasting droughts. This has just been the beginning, California might end up suffering from near endless decades long drought, if some worst case scenarios come true. That's quite a lot of food that won't get produced, because California can't support much in the way of farming & agriculture anymore.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
How climate change is rapidly taking the planet apart and towards human extinction
- Thread starter Lime
- Start date
- Status
Al Gore seems optimistic, though...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVfgkFaswn4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVfgkFaswn4
It's about as exaggerated as what I quoted.
Skellig Gra
Member
On the other hand, when you are shouting hyperbole on the other side and the planet isn't dead in January 2035 that will just further entrench the opposition.
andthebeatgoeson
Junior Member
I hope it just won't severely affect my life.
How is voting for politicians that believe in climate not action?
You're familiar with Mad Max, aren't you?
ClosingADoor
Member
For a lot of things, we don't have to give up our comforts. Unless that comfort is an unobstructed view of the ocean, because we don't want wind farms in view or something.
Energy production and transportation can be done with a lot less fossil fuel then now. We even have the technology for it, either in renewables or nuclear. Yet we use a ton of coal, gas and oil for this.
You want government enforced Mad Max?
if shit hits the fan this probably is the best time to be alive
sorry next generation
Skellig Gra
Member
Congress will now hold session in Thunderdome
Speak for yourself, I live in Canada. Although, as you will see the transition to renewables comes at a cost.
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
I won't be. I'm not going to judge anyone else, having kids is what we do, everyone knows (or assumes) their ability to raise another human being, but my personal perspective is that it would be irresponsible of me. This isn't a decision I've taken lightly or come to recently, but it's one I've found little reason to change as the years pass.
We have multiple solutions to climate change, all they need funding. For example, funding electric cars and public transportationcan lead to less pollution from cars.
Sure, it's action, no argument from me. But do you think a politician is going to fix the world? I think the general population has a better chance at getting things done. lol
You have too much faith in the uneducated masses.
Is that cost greater than not existing?
Not true. We could transition to a low carbon economy by the end of the century and avoid disastrous environmental damage. This could be done through subsidising/national renewables, carbon capture methods, electric vehicles, recycling etc. But you know that would mean taxes or stopping trying to kill each other and people hating those
You have too much faith in politicians.
This goes beyond individuals. The changes needed are systematic, in business, society and government.
Which means it'll never be solved as the way we are set up right now, those three forces are often very much working against each other.
You say this like electric vehicles don't already exist.
Cow Mengde
Banned
Don't worry, Hillary and the oil companies will come and save us.
Lord Frieza
Member
Such as? What specifically are you talking about?
Considering that the politicians blocking climate change solutions got elected by stupid people, I disagree. It's the people's fault we're in this mess.
ClosingADoor
Member
And Canada does not use coal for its power? Every country does and it needs to change, since those things pollute an awful lot.
What cost are we talking when transitioning to renewable energy production? Energy is energy in the end, no matter if it is made in a nuclear or coal plant.
We will always use oil for other things and it has its uses. But energy production should move on from fossil fuels quickly and it can be done.
travisbickle
Member
The government's not going to enforce this, most of them are paid millions to deny it.
It would take public change, probably starting with a movement that states the way society has been governed is going to lead us to extinction.
Is this the atheist version of the biblical end of the world?
I was on a coach that transported 8 people on a 6 hour drive at about £7 each. (so pretty much the driver ate all the money with his or her salary). It's not like it makes sense to automatically upgrade us to use the train or something, which is probably only 30% filled.
We're fucked =(
I was on a coach that transported 8 people on a 6 hour drive at about £7 each. (so pretty much the driver ate all the money with his or her salary). It's not like it makes sense to automatically upgrade us to use the train or something, which is probably only 30% filled.
banefirelord
Banned
So in other words, there's literally no way of stopping this. Good to know.
So the prevalence of the attitude that climate change is a big deal and we need to treat is seriously gives us not hope of stopping it?
Sorry, I'm just a little skeptical that an 'extinction event' is going to start in 2035. That doesn't mean I think we should sit and do nothing.
There is. The technology and knowledge are there. The political will is not (due to a host of factors, such as corporate power, apathy, voter belief in neoliberal and libertarian ideology)
But it needs to happen now.
Melkezadek
Member
It's disheartening to see this issue so widely ignored by the general populace. We can do something about it, but we won't.
If we don't kill ourselves with nuclear war or constant warfare, this absolutely will. It's only a question of when.
If we don't kill ourselves with nuclear war or constant warfare, this absolutely will. It's only a question of when.
Nope, thats an even more dangerous framing of the issue.
Every little helps, reducing your own footprint and voting for more environmentally friendly politicians (if more existed) may not stop Climate Change but it could slow it down giving us more time to adapt and realise the error of our ways.
Edit: I don't mean to pick on you in particular, this view point is present in several other posts
There was a way of stopping it. We didn't do it.
We can still make sure it doesn't get any worse though... but we probably won't do that either
Lord Frieza
Member
Not literally. There's ways to stop it, or at least ways that can be done to lessen the damage. The odds of that happening, though, are slim.
Skellig Gra
Member
Yeah, better to let the people in favor of ruining the world have kids and pass on their messed up ideologies to them instead.
No. In the movies, fuel shortage leads to nuclear war, and the survivors fight over the remaining resources. There won't be any government to enforce anything, especially when people realize it's too late and see what the politicians helped get us into.
I guess I was speaking to Ontario specifically, no coal. I believe there is a bit of coal in a few provinces.
We are talking real cash cost. No one wants to see their taxes rise, or their electricity bills. In Ontario, our electricity costs have doubled over the past few years, to the highest in the country. Many people are not able to afford their bills.
I totally agree we need to move to renewables, I don't think nuclear should be overlooked.
SlickShoesRUCrazy
Member
Don't worry, it will be accelerated when trump wins in November.
Same on my end!
Subpar Spatula
Banned
It is a big deal. It's most likely will not start in 2035 but it will get progressively worse each year. British Columbia, Canada is breaking new climate records every year. Snowfall has gone down drastically for the BC southern coast, drought measures are becoming more common, our forests are becoming increasingly susceptible to the pine beetle (which usually dies off in winter) but doesn't anymore--it's why you see leagues and leagues of brown trees. You're just being a crazy person at this point.
pelicansurf
Needs a Holiday on Gallifrey
RIP Human Race
Money. Electricity rates rise, taxes rise. I'm not against it, but it's hard to control and a lot that money gets completely wasted while people struggle to pay their bills. Plus, you shift jobs from on industry to another, so you have to deal with the layoffs and what not. It's not as black and white as most people like to believe. It is blatantly obvious that we shouldn't be generating electricity with coal.
As more vehicles become electric, the source of electricity will become more and more important. I can't see how we can sustain this shift without investing in nuclear. Ontario has been preparing for this for some time now, we burn no coal and have been reducing our consumption gradually. I believe this is to allow capacity for electric vehicles, which will be an insane strain on our grid.
But all the stupid people and religious zealouts are having droves of children and indoctrinating them to create more. You want to let them win? Better out-spawn them.
I feel like you are not reading what I am saying at all. I literally said climate change is a big deal.
Individual action is the preferable course, but to make a realistic difference we need swift systemic change that can only happen top-down.
Basicslly, we collectively are justspoiled children that need someone to discipline us because we can't help ourselves.
I'm beginning to think the only thing that can save us is some kind of technocratic panel to make decisions on issues like these. Democracy is proving too easy to exploit in a free market system.
- Status