discuss The Environmental Thread - Earth Matters, so what's holding us back?

[Cannuck]

I believe everyone would agree on at least one point - planet Earth matters! For years, scholars and environmentalists have touted the idea - that the boundaries of life on our planet have been stretched to a breaking point by human activity. From a scientific perspective, the notion of climate change is no longer up for debate. Our species and life as it exists on planet Earth now depends on the choices we humans make. Each individual with a brain possesses the ability to contribute solutions to our common current dilemma, so what's holding us back?

Is it our lack of knowledge; a conflict of interest; the lack of will, and/or other priorities that define the human race? Do we possess the courage to take an initiative, to act upon our convictions and choose to help preserve the Blue planet? Have our environmental problems become too big for individuals to tackle that we must leave it for governments to handle?

Are we limited by our own self-interests, by the confines of our own box or bubble? Have we merely been caught up in our daily mundane existence, distracted by the media and current affairs, that we fail to consider the future? Is Climate Change simply a hoax? Is the human species destined to evolve or are we doomed to extinction?

Here is place to discuss any pertinent thoughts or ideas you may have on the subject. Every thought counts. Please be respectful.

 

[Cannuck]

Great Lakes advocates hope new administration will take on climate change

https://phys.org/news/2020-12-great-lakes-advocates-administration-climate.html

"With the Earth on track to finish out another year among the warmest on record and the impact of climate change mounting around the globe, advocates around the Great Lakes are looking ahead to what a new administration could mean for the Midwest, the region containing one of the world's largest freshwater sources.


Much is at stake when it comes to the Great Lakes region. Warming temperatures and more precipitation can mean more flooding. Shoreline protections are up against rising lake levels and million-dollar damage storms. Invasive species threaten to upend ecosystems and toxic algae blooms are intensifying. Human health is at risk if water quality takes a hit."

The Great Lakes have actually had considerable drop in water levels... I began surveying water levels there in the early 80's after massive syphoning of water flow south through diversions (ie. Lake Michigan into the Mississippi basin) which, since the early 1900s, sends 2.1 billion gallons of Lake Michigan water to the Mississippi River every day via the reversed flow of the Chicago River. This has also introduced invasive species like Asian carp into the Gt Lakes. There is still considerable meltwater to rejuvenate the groundwater from north of Lake Superior, however, winter snow levels are not what they used to be, nor has the winter ice coverage been consistent. In addition, factories and mills should not be allowed to take the water or dump million of gallons of toxic water per day back into our ecosystem.

https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/wlevels/levels.html

https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/ice/historicalAnim/

 

[Cannuck]

Big Reason: Politics - particularly divisive politics, big business lobbying and propaganda.

Many are led to believe that developing clean alternative energy is not profitable, reliable or even necessary. Yet with modern technological developments, green energy is profitable, reliable and sustainable. Of course in the meantime, there will still be a need for oil, coal and natural gas, but if we can reduce dependance on those sources while providing alternative, clean energy, costs and environmental impact will be lowered. In future, as we develop independence, we'll save money and reduce greenhouse gasses.

 

[Cal2]

The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science

When people grow polarized over a body of evidence, or a resolvable matter of fact, the cause may be some form of biased reasoning, but they could also be receiving skewed information to begin with—or a complicated combination of both.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/denial-science-chris-mooney/

Reminds me of 2 dimensional thinking:

http://leanmeanprocessimprovement.com/dimensional-thinking/

https://thesecularjurist.wordpress....nking-and-the-limitations-of-human-cognition/

 

[Cannuck]

Lies, distraction,deception and deflection...

For cross reference: https://www.namepros.com/threads/is-save-the-earth-a-lie.1223475/

 

[Sutruk]

A Global Tour of a Record-Hot Year

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/14/climate/hottest-year-2020-global-map.html

"2020 was effectively tied with 2016 for the hottest year on record, as global warming linked to greenhouse gas emissions showed no signs of letting up.

Siberia and the Arctic were among the hottest regions. The heat fueled wildfires that pumped even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

“We are now very, very clear about the underlying long-term trends,” he said. “We understand where they come from. It’s because of the greenhouse gases being pumped into the atmosphere.”

As climate scientists have predicted, the world is seeing an increase in heat waves, storms and other extreme weather as the planet warms, and in disasters like droughts, floods and wildfires that result. Last year offered no respite, with record fires in Australia and California, and severe drought in central South America and the American Southwest."

 

[Sutruk]

Earth’s oceans are storing record-breaking amounts of heat

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/earth-oceans-storing-heat-record-breaking-amounts

Seas may have absorbed enough heat last year to boil 1.3 billion kettles of water

"Water temperature measurements from around the globe indicate that the total amount of heat stored in the upper oceans in 2020 was higher than any other year on record dating back to 1955, researchers report online January 13 in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. Tracking ocean temperature is important because warmer water melts more ice off the edges of Greenland and Antarctica, which raises sea levels (SN: 4/30/20) and supercharges tropical storms (SN: 11/11/20)."

"The three other warmest years on record for the world’s oceans were 2017, 2018 and 2019. “What we’re seeing here is a variant on the movie Groundhog Day,” says study coauthor Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Penn State. “Groundhog Day has a happy ending. This won’t if we don’t act now to dramatically reduce carbon emissions.”

 

[Cannuck]

Earth’s oceans are storing record-breaking amounts of heat

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/earth-oceans-storing-heat-record-breaking-amounts

Seas may have absorbed enough heat last year to boil 1.3 billion kettles of water

"Water temperature measurements from around the globe indicate that the total amount of heat stored in the upper oceans in 2020 was higher than any other year on record dating back to 1955, researchers report online January 13 in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences. Tracking ocean temperature is important because warmer water melts more ice off the edges of Greenland and Antarctica, which raises sea levels (SN: 4/30/20) and supercharges tropical storms (SN: 11/11/20)."

"The three other warmest years on record for the world’s oceans were 2017, 2018 and 2019. “What we’re seeing here is a variant on the movie Groundhog Day,” says study coauthor Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Penn State. “Groundhog Day has a happy ending. This won’t if we don’t act now to dramatically reduce carbon emissions.”

Be thankful... it's not too late.

"We need to choose a plan that adds up.
It is possible to make a plan that adds up, but it’s not going to be easy.
We need to stop saying no and start saying yes.
We need to stop the Punch and Judy show and get building."

"We, humanity, cannot release to the atmosphere all, or even most, fossil fuel CO2.
To do so would guarantee dramatic climate change, yielding a different planet..."

J. Hansen et al (2007)

“Avoiding dangerous climate change” is impossible – dangerous climate change is already here. The question is, can we avoid catastrophic climate change?

David King, UK Chief Scientist (2007)

https://www.withouthotair.com/

 

[Sutruk]

Be thankful... it's not too late.

"We need to choose a plan that adds up.
It is possible to make a plan that adds up, but it’s not going to be easy.
We need to stop saying no and start saying yes.
We need to stop the Punch and Judy show and get building."

"We, humanity, cannot release to the atmosphere all, or even most, fossil fuel CO2.
To do so would guarantee dramatic climate change, yielding a different planet..."

J. Hansen et al (2007)

“Avoiding dangerous climate change” is impossible – dangerous climate change is already here. The question is, can we avoid catastrophic climate change?

David King, UK Chief Scientist (2007)

https://www.withouthotair.com/

Not too late... but unfortunately the world doesn't seem to take it as seriously as it should.
North and South poles are melting and CO2 levels not stopping as they should.

 

[Cannuck]

Not too late... but unfortunately the world doesn't seem to take it as seriously as it should.
North and South poles are melting and CO2 levels not stopping as they should.

Agreed, there is definitely a disconnect. Certain governments appears to be more fixated on military spending in the sake of national defence, while the general public is "mind-bent" on their daily news feed with Global and International co-operation depicted as "Big Brother". It will take a serious wake-up call before we reason as a species and re-evaluate our priorities. However by then, it may be too late.

 

[Sutruk]

It will take a serious wake-up call before we reason as a species and re-evaluate our priorities. However by then, it may be too late.

Agree. World climate and nature won't be politicians priority until it's too late. The world won't really move until a very serious climate change will be already in place. They are already seeing climate changes, but still don't take it as serious as they should. But when the disaster happens and the hard climate change begins, it can really be difficult to come back, at least until next few hundred years.

 

[Cannuck]

Agree. World climate and nature won't be politicians priority until it's too late. The world won't really move until a very serious climate change will be already in place. They are already seeing climate changes, but still don't take it as serious as they should. But when the disaster happens and the hard climate change begins, it can really be difficult to come back, at least until next few hundred years.

It's a really a question of sustainable energy, current inefficiency and carbon reclamation. Once the real price of carbon is reflected by actual cost in the free-market, we may see a reversal. Carbon-tax, viewed as a government money grab, is not enough of a deterrent IMO. It will take a series of catastrophic events to shake the world view as is evidenced by the current wave of disbelief in the Climate Crisis ie. fake news (reference not required). I might even suggest that period of reclamation, when Earth's natural systems shut down and the rebound effect (mini-ice age) prolonged from a few hundred years to 1000 years.

 

[Cannuck]

Vision, compassion, guidance, understanding, values, leadership, responsibility...for the next 7 generations

 

[Cannuck]

Climate change: How 1.5C could change the world

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-45792362

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55276769

 

[Cannuck]

Report: AMERICA MISLED

How the fossil fuel industry deliberately misled Americans about climate change.

 

[Sutruk]

Elon Musk to offer $100 million prize for 'best' carbon capture tech

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/env...illion-prize-best-carbon-capture-tech-rcna234

"Tesla chief and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Thursday took to Twitter to promise a $100 million prize for development of the “best” technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions."

--------------------

That's already invented, long time ago:

Tree planting 'has mind-blowing potential' to tackle climate crisis

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...le-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions

"Planting billions of trees across the world is one of the biggest and cheapest ways of taking CO2 out of the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis, according to scientists, who have made the first calculation of how many more trees could be planted without encroaching on crop land or urban areas."

"As trees grow, they absorb and store the carbon dioxide emissions that are driving global heating. New research estimates that a worldwide planting programme could remove two-thirds of all the emissions from human activities that remain in the atmosphere today, a figure the scientists describe as “mind-blowing”.

 

[Cannuck]

Burning The Remaining Oil Reserves & Potential Impact On Global Warming

Sources indicate we will have to leave between 65 to 80 percent of current known reserves untouched if we are to stand a chance of keeping average global temperature rise below our two-degrees global target.

https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/how-much-oil-is-left-in-the-world-when-will-we-run-out/


Do we really only have 60 harvests left?

While often disputed or denied, one of the main problems humanity is currently facing is not only global warming and extinction of species etc., but the degradation of our soils. The world population continues to increase while we destroy more and more topsoil. If this is allowed to continue there won’t be enough fertile soil left to feed a growing world population in the future.

Some disturbing facts are:

• 24 billion tonnes of fertile or 12 million hectares topsoil are lost every year.
• 25% of the earth’s surface has already become degraded. This could feed 1.5 billion people.
• The UN FAO calculated that we have about 60 years of harvests left – and then?

http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/events/detail/en/c/338738/

 

[Cannuck]

10 grand challenges we'll face by 2050

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170713-what-will-the-challenges-of-2050-be

We're also turning the Earth into a huge garbage heap by contaminating it with our non-recyclables and societies' incessant need for the newest and trendiest consumer goods. Fortunately the Canadian government is banning the use single-use plastics in 2021...a step in the right direction IMO.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/06/canada-single-use-plastics-ban-2021/

Globally, 3/4 of food crops require pollination...

Disappearing Pollinators Hurt Biodiversity & Threaten Food Security

A sustained pollinator decline means lower yields from crops that depend on animals for pollination, and so prices would increase; or there would be less variety available as farmers switch from growing insect-pollinated crops to the restricted range of self-fertilizing ones that give reliable fruit or grain production.

https://blog.pachamama.org/disappea...cosystem-biodiversity-threatens-food-security

 

[Cannuck]

Burning The Remaining Oil Reserves & Potential Impact On Global Warming

"You can't drink oil, just as you can't eat money" - Cannuck

 

[Sutruk]

Climate change may have driven the emergence of SARS-CoV-2

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210205085718.htm

"Global greenhouse gas emissions over the last century have made southern China a hotspot for bat-borne coronaviruses, by driving growth of forest habitat favoured by bats."

"A new study published today in the journal Science of the Total Environment provides the first evidence of a mechanism by which climate change could have played a direct role in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study has revealed large-scale changes in the type of vegetation in the southern Chinese Yunnan province, and adjacent regions in Myanmar and Laos, over the last century. Climatic changes including increases in temperature, sunlight, and atmospheric carbon dioxide -- which affect the growth of plants and trees -- have changed natural habitats from tropical shrubland to tropical savannah and deciduous woodland. This created a suitable environment for many bat species that predominantly live in forests.

The number of coronaviruses in an area is closely linked to the number of different bat species present. The study found that an additional 40 bat species have moved into the southern Chinese Yunnan province in the past century, harbouring around 100 more types of bat-borne coronavirus. This 'global hotspot' is the region where genetic data suggests SARS-CoV-2 may have arisen."

 

[Cannuck]

Is it too late to prevent climate change?

There is a time lag between what we do and when we feel it. But it may not be too late to avoid or limit some of the worst effects of climate change.

Responding to climate change will involve a two-tier approach:

1) “mitigation” – reducing the flow of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; and
2) “adaptation” – learning to live with, and adapt to, the climate change that has already been set in motion.

Because climate change is a truly global, complex problem with economic, social, political and moral ramifications, the solution will require both a globally-coordinated response (such as international policies and agreements between countries, a push to cleaner forms of energy) and local efforts on the city- and regional-level (for example, public transport upgrades, energy efficiency improvements, sustainable city planning, etc.).

The key question is: what will our emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants be in the years to come? It’s up to us what happens next.


https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/16/is-it-too-late-to-prevent-climate-change/