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.

 

[Sutruk]

Warming in the Arctic region has been four times faster than the global average​

https://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/press-release/4AF2vugjTI9hOrc8bK4Hk7

A study by researchers at the Finnish Meteorological Institute has shown that the frequently repeated notion that "the Arctic region is warming at twice as fast as the rest of the globe" significantly underestimates the observed warming in the polar regions.

In recent decades the warming has been strongest in the Arctic. This phenomenon is one of the most conspicuous manifestations of climate change and it is referred to as Arctic amplification. According to a study published in the scientific journal Communications Earth & Environment, the Arctic area has warmed at a rate that is nearly four times faster than the world on average in the past 43 years. This ratio – the magnitude of the Arctic amplification – is greater than has generally been reported in the literature and in the media. The warming has been even stronger at the local level: for example, in the Barents Sea area it has been seven times above the global mean.

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The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the globe since 1979​

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-022-00498-3

"In recent decades, the warming in the Arctic has been much faster than in the rest of the world, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. Numerous studies report that the Arctic is warming either twice, more than twice, or even three times as fast as the globe on average. Here we show, by using several observational datasets which cover the Arctic region, that during the last 43 years the Arctic has been warming nearly four times faster than the globe, which is a higher ratio than generally reported in literature."

 

[Cannuck]

Biden passes historic Climate Deal.

Al Gore calls it a turning point

 

[Cannuck]

I think that climate change is not just about saving the people, but also about saving hundreds, if not thousands, of other animal and plant species...

It is my hope that, "We don't throw out the baby with the bathwater". Meaning, in our quest to re-engineer the earth to suit ever-increasing human demands, we also conserve those natural places that provide animal and plant species habitat, but the competition between population growth and environmental pollution is simply overwhelming many (esp. fragile) ecosystems.

 

[Cal2]

Long winded, but for what it's worth:

Where to Find the Energy to Save the World​

Jamie Beard is pouring everything into a singular vision: Tap into the awesome potential of geothermal power in Texas, and beyond. She has no time to lose.

https://www.wired.com/story/where-to-find-the-energy-to-save-the-world-geothermal-texas/

I like her thought of "To her, there are problems in everything big. Being afraid of them helps nobody, and the climate doesn’t have time."

 

[Cannuck]

Good to have debate, for instance, he says "we are in one of the coldest periods in earth history", which may be true. This is fortunate because if it weren't, we would not have the luxury of time to take proactive action.

If you look at the data, the 10 warmest years in the 143-year modern climate record have all occurred since 2010, with the last nine years ranking as the nine warmest years on record. Satellite data clearly shows polar ice caps diminishing.

Data from the Arctic provides keys to understanding how much sea ice has melted:

Data from Antarctic shows the ice is diminishing at an even greater rate:

Unfortunately, Dr Moore has often quoted faulty evidence and debunked research to fuel his book sales. Yet climate denialists (like PragerU) have gobbled it up, afterall, they are funded largely by the fossil fuel industry.

 

[Cannuck]

This one is all Canada’s fault.

The earth could be destroyed by meteors by 2029.
The United States have a nuclear was with Russia by 2024.
Solar flares from the Sun could destroy all life on earth by 2027.
Kamala Harris could become president by 2024.

Conspiracy theorists would agree...

 

[Cannuck]

I am so jealous that you can call upon the wide experience, great learning,
and wisdom of young school girls. I only have Nobel Prize winning scientists in my corner.

Who, Kary Mullis? I suppose you believe in talking flourescent racoons?

He is the poster child for not assuming a Nobel Prize is a qualification for anything.

 

[Cannuck]

Professor Curry has also bravely opened a can of worms concerning the science world. She has exposed what she described as a "climate change industry" where scientists have become puppets of politicians and moneybags.

Professor Curry also suggests that instead of doing nothing, we ought to minimize our impact on the environment, including reducing air and water pollution. She suggests we need to reduce our vulnerability to extreme weather patterns and update infrastructure with 21st century renewable technology. Is there a problem with that?

While politicians have finally embraced the long-standing Green Party platform, these mainstream parties also have a base on which to tool up the machinery of innovation.

 

[NameInbox]

Last few years, was BTC mining and nowdays GPT

https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-climate-change-dilemma

 

[Cannuck]

Matt Ridley is a science writer. I have 3 of his books myself....Genome, Viral and Francis Crick.
I thought I would look up his view on climate change. In this video he speaks about Carbon Dioxide.

The same Matt Ridley, who as chairman, collapsed the Northern Rock Bank driving UK into financial distress and costing British taxpayers over 37 Billion pounds? Not surprising he has tried to reboot his career as a science denialist...another aristocrat who talks alot but says nothing - zero plus zero is still zero. I would wager he's never even seen a polar bear in the wild, yet he's the science guy? Gimme a break, lol.

 

[Cannuck]

There are plenty of people out there taking apart his position, couple of examples below. It seems you tend to favor the opinion of those getting paid off by fossil fuel companies.

He's just one of many serial misinformers with their pro-fossil fuel agenda. Matt Ridley is on the Wall of Shame.

Here is a database collection of other individuals and organizations referenced to have helped delay and distract the public and from taking action to counter Climate Change...

https://www.desmog.com/climate-disinformation-database/

 

[Cal2]

A couple interesting new solution ideas/idea directions for addressing environment issues:

Coal-to-protein livestock feed uses 1/1000th as much land as farming

"the team set about research into processes that could use fossil fuels to produce proteins, building on oil-to-protein biotechnology pioneered by BP as far back as the 1960s.

The CAS team's process works something like this: firstly, coal is transformed into methanol via gasification – a technique that can now be executed with near-zero carbon emissions. That methanol is then fed to a special strain of Pichia pastoris yeast, which ferments the methanol to produce a single-cell protein complete with a range of amino acids, vitamins, inorganic salts, fats and carbohydrates. The resulting organism is much richer in protein than plants are, and it can be used to partially replace fish, soybeans, meat and skimmed milk in a range of animal feeds."

https://newatlas.com/science/coal-protein-feed/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=e7f85d1fcb-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_01_10_09_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-e7f85d1fcb-[LIST_EMAIL_ID]

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China’s Solar Dominance Faces New Rival: An Ultrathin Film (msn.com)

"Developers of perovskite cells say their versatility sets them apart because they are light and flexible. The layer of crystalline perovskite is only one micron thick, resulting in a cell that is one-tenth the weight and one-twentieth the thickness of current solar cells. They can be installed on walls or curved surfaces and generate electricity under weak sunlight, even indoors. ........

“We want to start off by aiming for places where silicon panels can’t be used. We think that there’s a bigger market there,” said Tamotsu Horiuchi, EneCoat’s chief technology officer."

 

[Cannuck]

I've had the privilege of traveling around the globe, met some extraordinary people on my journey and visited some remarkable places. I'm inspired by what this man has to say:

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet - A Netflix Documentary

 

[Cannuck]

Reason 2: Apathy?

http://therelease.co.uk/the-danger-of-environmental-apathy

 

[Cal2]

Is the human species destined to evolve or are we doomed to extinction?

Reasons 6, 7, 8, ....: In general humans are arrogant, ignorant, egotistical, greedy, lazy, self-centered, self serving, thick headed, unbalanced, too good at coming up with things that can destroy us and the planet, poor at effective thinking, poor at ..... .

But I don't see us going totally extinct from climate change. Maybe something else, though.... like an earth destroying asteroid.

 

[Cal2]

There will always be competing interests, but if the answers are already out there, and they are - we just need to be made aware. As a species, to take conscious action to correct, maybe even reverse, the damage already done - what will it take for us to get there?

If the way/s being used aren't working or working well, we might have to go at things differently from what we've traditionally been taught as being 'The way', 'The right way'. Example:

Lateral thinking
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_thinking#:~:text=Lateral thinking is a manner,step-by-step logic.

 

[Cal2]

Adding to this:

“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.” - Earl Nightingale

 

[Cannuck]

Science and Technology isn't political, or is it? Read the fine print

While scientific researchers are looking for answers, confusion and doubt is fueled and manipulated by the media embroiled in heated political debate. There have been many technological breakthroughs in the recent past that have been quenched by those who have little knowledge of actual science. Many potential solutions to the world's problems are lost in mundane pursuits merely for economic benefit.

“Policy making must be informed by the best available evidence without it being distorted, concealed, or otherwise deliberately miscommunicated incidents of the politicization of science, particularly the overriding of evidence and advice from public health officials and derision of government scientists.”

That said, this thread is not about politics, however; it must be acknowledged that, in order to advance our society, we must take off the blinders of political affiliation and recognize the value of science. It is the most timely question of our day, and that question is: who do we owe the future to? Do we rest our faith in the politics of the day or in the knowledge and understanding gained by those who have spent careers in pursuit of clarity and rigor? Future generations will be the judge, hindsight is 2020.

 

[Sutruk]

Humans waging 'suicidal war' on nature

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55147647

"Our planet is broken," the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, will warn on Wednesday.

"Humanity is waging what he will describe as a "suicidal" war on the natural world.

"Nature always strikes back, and is doing so with gathering force and fury," he will tell a BBC special event on the environment.

Mr Guterres wants to put tackling climate change at the heart of the UN's global mission.

In a speech entitled State of the Planet, he will announce that its "central objective" next year will be to build a global coalition around the need to reduce emissions to net zero.

Net zero refers to cutting greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible and balancing any further releases by removing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.

Mr Guterres will say that every country, city, financial institution and company "should adopt plans for a transition to net zero emissions by 2050". In his view, they will also need to take decisive action now to put themselves on the path towards achieving this vision."

 

[Sutruk]

Wildfires, heat waves and hurricanes broke all kinds of records in 2020

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/climate-change-wildfires-heat-waves-hurricanes-records-2020

"2020 was a year of unremitting extreme climate events, from heat waves to wildfires to hurricanes, many of which scientists have directly linked to human-caused climate change (SN: 8/27/20). Each event has taken a huge toll in lives lost and damages incurred. As of early October, the United States alone had weathered at least 16 climate- or weather-related disasters each costing more than $1 billion. The price tags of the late-season hurricanes Delta, Zeta and Eta could push the final 2020 tally of such expensive disasters even higher, setting a new record."

 

[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/

 

[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]

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