this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2024
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Climate - truthful information about climate, related activism and politics.

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Discussion of climate, how it is changing, activism around that, the politics, and the energy systems change we need in order to stabilize things.

As a starting point, the burning of fossil fuels, and to a lesser extent deforestation and release of methane are responsible for the warming in recent decades: Graph of temperature as observed with significant warming, and simulated without added greenhouse gases and other anthropogentic changes, which shows no significant warming

How much each change to the atmosphere has warmed the world: IPCC AR6 Figure 2 - Thee bar charts: first chart: how much each gas has warmed the world.  About 1C of total warming.  Second chart:  about 1.5C of total warming from well-mixed greenhouse gases, offset by 0.4C of cooling from aerosols and negligible influence from changes to solar output, volcanoes, and internal variability.  Third chart: about 1.25C of warming from CO2, 0.5C from methane, and a bunch more in small quantities from other gases.  About 0.5C of cooling with large error bars from SO2.

Recommended actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the near future:

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[–] John@socks.masto.host 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

@theneverfox I just commuted across Los Angeles. I saw every sort of car, but far more gas guzzlers than hybrids or EVs. These are free choices, by people who might say "they care" or "someone should do something."

The person who buys a Mercedes Maybach SUV, 16 MPG, certainly has other options.

They would probably tell you they care.

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 1 points 1 month ago

That's it exactly. You're asking why they didn't pick a greener car. I'm telling you the problem is that you need to drive across Los Angeles

My mom likes the idea of hybrids, but is scared to even rent an electric car because she's heard things like "range anxiety" and doesn't understand the technology. I've explained the technology, the availability of charging stations, and the options for charging at home. We ended the conversation with her saying she's had her car for a decade, and doesn't see the need for a new car - I told her "absolutely, your car has good fuel efficiency and safety features, there's no reason to get a new car"

The waters are muddy by design, but the true problem is car centric infrastructure. Electric cars aren't a solution - they're a lesser evil. My mom cares - not because she understands, but because she trusts me and my siblings to understand things she doesn't. We all are much more passionate about health and climate change, she just does the best she knows how. When we all told her "it's bad to eat meat everyday, let alone every meal", she listened. If I took a stand and told her to get an electric car, I could wear her down - but driving her car into the ground is better. She recycles less because I've taught her what can't be recycled - recycling is a lie, "if in doubt throw it out" is good public communication

Our choices are limited. People overwhelmingly care - they also have to live their lives. Choices won't make a dent in climate change - it's a systematic issue that must be solved systematically