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this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2023
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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:
How much each change to the atmosphere has warmed the world:
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meanwhile a third of the people are saying "oh we've got time, we just have to convince the people to come together and unify"
and another third that's saying "FUCK YOU I HAVE FIREARMS AND WILL ROLL COAL AS MUCH AS I WANT I WILL LITERALLY SPEW OIL! I AM ANGRY ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THE PAINT CHIPS AND LEADED FUEL EXPOSURE OF MY YOUTH AND ZERO HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WILL PUNISH EACH AND EVERY OTHER HUMAN BEING WITH MY EFFLUENCE."
We're stuck between kumbaya unity types and petrofascists meanwhile the world is COOKING.
Meanwhile the Shell, Exxon & BP execs are just happy no one's coming after them yet.
We already have critical mass in the US. We are the elephant leashed with a string:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-32412-y
We just need to start acting and ensuring our decision makers know that the majority want them to act too if they value getting relected.
no we don't. we have half the population supporting a party that literally doesn't see a climate crisis and wants to keep pumping more oil.
Tell me how to get sane legislation passed in a two party system when half literally don't see any problem at all.
In the US, climate policy has more support than people believe:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-32412-y
not enough to pass meaningful legislation.
From the article:
"While 66–80% Americans support these policies, Americans estimate the prevalence to only be between 37–43% on average."
I'd say 2/3 is more than enough. It doesn't all have to be at the national level. City govs could rezone to reduce car usage. State govs could give tax breaks for employees that telework.
the vast majority of americans support sane gun regulation but that's not happening either. I guess I have to explain how the GOP runs the house, and set the legislation to be passed up to the senate, and are on the take of the gun and petroleum lobbies?
really?
Again, it doesn't all have to be at the federal level. State and local governments can take action that would be impactful.
What these numbers mean are some of the GOP is going to have to flip or they will lose in the primaries.
What is the alternative other than complain about the state of politics?
The way I see it, we should take the wins that we get, and celebrate them loudly in the hopes that it will drive more wins.
this is already happening; see CA. But it's not going to be enough to stop the idiots from driving the bus over the cliff (odds are very good that the wheels on the bus are already going round-and-round in midair).
I'm glad you're optimistic, and not trying to bring anyone down, but from my perspective, we're gonna be arguing with the chuds and luddites until they literally cook.
I love the driving off the cliff comparison! My goal is to try to crash into the side of the mountain at a survivable speed.
I'm optimistic because I have to be. I'm a parent, so I feel it is my responsibility to do what I can so that my kids can have a future. They were born pre-trump. In today's environment, I would probably be child free.
Here is some good news. Chick-fil-A. Chicken production emits about 1/3 of the GHG than beef. I am well aware of their politics. They could have those politics AND serve mostly beef.
finally a metaphor that realistically responds to the crisis.
I want to find optimism. I have a teenager. I want them to have a better quality of life, but everything I'm reading and seeing points in the opposite direction and on a very short timeline. I hope I'm wrong. Genuinely.