How much are we all going to have to suffer before our governments actually take constructive action on the climate. Not to mention personal action as well.
A lot. Even if we start now, it will be a long time before our actions have any effect. And since we don't start now, and probably won't soon, again, a lot I'm afraid.
Our actions are just going to slightly reduce the rate at which things get worse. No matter how much energy transition we do in the developed world, things will continue to worsen. Even if we outright banned all combustion overnight, things would still get hotter due to feedback loops, especially while the methane still exists for the next century or two.
Don't give up so quickly. Where there's a will there's a way. I am not saying that it is likely going to be pleasant (as indicated above), but I don't think it's the right thing to just call this unsolvable. It's certainly a huge project, maybe the biggest mankind ever faced, but still we need to tackle it, right?
Having said that, I believe you are right that reducing CO2 output is most likely not going to cut it anymore (if that is even possible at all). But there might be other ways to slowly reduce the carbon levels in the atmosphere.
Whether it's possible to do something short term (effective within decades), yes, I also highly doubt that.
Some of use have been screaming about the bloody thing for 30 years. Now the car is crashing into the wall. It's too late to steer right or left. Bracing for impact is the best we can do.
> but I don't think it's the right thing to just call this unsolvable.
Making our peace with what could have been is often the only way to salvage what can be and prepare for real-world scenario, aka worst-case scenario regarding climate change.
While I share your frustration to a degree, I think what you say might signal to other people that what they do now doesn't matter anymore. This might make the situation even worse, which isn't necessary IMO.
We obviously already have a feedback loop that doesn't act in our favor. While it's surely a good idea to start preparing for the worst, I think it's not a good idea to add to the problems by spreading hopelessness.
Indeed. There are still plenty of people spreading doubt and nonsense about the climate emergency not being real or not being caused by our industrial-scale burning of stuff for "energy".
We unequivocally NEED to stand behind a singular message:
1) it IS our activities causing it
2) we can and should curtail these activities IMMEDIATELY
3) while we can't avoid the effects "in the pipleline", we can prevent further effects from piling up.
4) number 3 is our duty to the children and their children, it's our legacy.
be prepared for rich nations/people to aid poor ones.
there can be no winners in such a disaster, let's stop jostling for position.
(We, the USA, are literally the only unilateralist nation with regards to this issue. We are an outlier, some would say a criminally negligent outlier. Time to make up for past misdeeds!)
Lead by example. Time for global solidarity. Time for international accords, accords that are much more ambitious than the Paris agreement that the USA unilaterally pulled-out of under Trump.
"but mom, he's doing it worse/also!" is not a mature response to the single biggest threat facing humanity that has ever appeared in our known history.
the question is how long do we have to suffer until we elect a government standing for a no nonsense approach to climate change. and many people do not even believe in man made climate change ... my guess is it won't happen.
