Climate Change & Environmental Issues - It's Not Weather

[Deleted]

There is no denial, climate change is here between severeflooding in areas in Europe no one expected to flood and now intense fires. It’s very scary and worrying.

Italy, Greece, Turkey, Algeria... and look at this map. The whole region is in danger. We always had wildfire problems but never of this entity. *this* is climate change


Wildfires Continue to Rage in the Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe

Turkey, Greece and Italy: A roundup of the wildfires sweeping southern Europe


And in Siberia Everything is on fire’: Siberia hit by unprecedented burning

[silverlake]

Fitz thank you for bumping this chat, I didn’t know there was a section here talking about climate change. I posted something the other day in the weather chat.

I find it all so worrying and depressing. Have we any hope of changing things around?

Edited to add this more hopeful article
Dare We Hope? My cautious case for climate optimism by Rebbeca Solnit

[tabby]

The fires are horrendous for people in those areas, but they're also doing damage elsewhere. Minnesota has had unhealthy air conditions for several days this summer because of fires in Canada. Last Friday and Saturday, the air was so hazy it looked like we were under a fog, and you could smell smoke in the air. My husband and I double-masked when we ran errands, what with the Delta variant and the smoke, and kept the windows closed at home.

[ratscabies]

Hey, Yo, Sardonictart!

Let’s get that dead dinosaur discussion going over here!

[Ridha]

Yes I came here hoping she had posted about what she alluded to in the current events thread. Technically though given that dependence on oil and the current situation IS so inextricably linked, I guess it’s not off topic in either. sardonictart whichever you post in, looking forward to reading.

[Deleted]

I missed this interview on Irish telly Friday chat show with our 2 previous Presidents, Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese I would love to see it in full, ( I no fan of the interviewer he has his Qs and likes them answered no room for going off on interesting tangents) this from Mary Robinson was an incredible statement that was brushed off to go to a break.

Unrelatedl, I’m immensely proud that we had these two women as voted in head of state, ceremonial it may be, one after the other from 1990 to 2011 Ireland had incredible female Presidents.

[sardonictart]

I'm sorry that I haven't been in this thread and appreciate the shoutout (dead dinosaur discussion ). I've been bombarded with work (partly dealing with Ukraine) so I haven't had much time for fun like this board. I should be able to tear myself away in a few days and have a much more substantive discussion.

Meanwhile, good statement by Mary Robinson. Thanks for posting it, Fitz. I agree with investing in cleaner/greener energy, but there needs to be an understanding that given the world's massive need for energy (and current geopolitical situation), a feasible greener replacement will not happen quickly enough.

It will take decades to right this energy ship, but the policies that lead to that need to be decided upon now, and the money needs to be invested now. This means that we (most countries really) need to rely somewhat more on domestically-produced fossil fuels for awhile and nuclear for more than awhile. Yes, I said nuclear. *ducks from cow patties*

We also need to fix/futurize our infrastructure and figure out how to use less energy period - businesses, institutions, and people. I have lots of thoughts around this topic because I've lived in several countries and have seen the good and the bad of various policies. I've also worked in fields that are extremely impacted by climate and geopolitical challenges.

Please don't throw tomatoes at me just yet, and recall that I did say everyone ultimately dislikes my ideas because I don't leave ANYONE or ANY INDUSTRY out of the sustainability/conservation/pollution discussion. "A good compromise leaves everybody mad."

[prisma]

I am not going to throw tomatoes at you, sardonictart! I have great anxiety over environmental issues but I honestly would rather not put my energy into efforts that don't make much difference. I'd rather face ugly realities now.

[Ridha]

I’d be interested in learning the pros and cons of nuclear energy. On a completely knee jerk reaction I just find nuclear so scary in the event of a malfunction whether human error or a force majeure as after the Japanese tsunami. But I don’t quite even understand the difference between nuclear weapons and energy and clearly there are many. So whenever you have the time (and don’t worry if it takes a while, sound like you have a very worthwhile job), I’d welcome the chance to know about more.

I mean clearly the current sources are not sustainable, hell are barely even working for now.

We just placed an order for solar panels on our roof (which we might cancel because the bankrupt govt has just decided to tax solar by 17.5 pc while every other govt subsidises it!) but I’ve also heard that it might not be as clean as it could be since neither the batteries or the panels can degrade after their shelf life is over. But I would have thought that applies to a lot of things.

[prisma]

I'm also interested in solar panels. Worth the investment?

I am looking into buying a new car and I want to get a hybrid. I discovered that my state taxes hybrids at a higher rate to make up for the taxes they won't make from gas. Annoying, but won't change my decision.