The IPCC releases Sixth Assessment Report

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McElroy

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Report's web page

Avoiding
Global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C
that
will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades
requires immediate action towards zero emissions. The report also establishes how far we've come in the understanding of human influence on climate. The evidence, the effects, the predictions based on current emissions and if they are reduced or increase. The whole report is of course too long, but they wrote a summary for policymakers that has clear chapters and is about 40 pages.

It hasn't been long since the last report that recommended quick action. Now is the time and the response hasn't been "quick", and thus the window has shrunk yet.

My country has an easier time than many others. Even Finland's extreme weather isn't too cataclysmic, and to top that off our schedule towards carbon neutrality is achievable, because Finland is a forested country with more unused carbon sinks as well as readiness to implement "green technology". Global warming can only be stopped with a global effort. Maybe businesses start to catch the drift that their profits can only diminish if our climate fucks us up.

Personally I must pray for technology to save us. Downshifting isn't really an option when one's goals in life require spending (that of course could be renewable spending, but who am I kidding?). Options are always nice yet consumer choice is very limited even if you buy into all the marketing.
 

Bedinsis

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our schedule towards carbon neutrality is achievable, because Finland is a forested country with more unused carbon sinks
Unless forest fires removes them entirely.
 

Silvanus

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Climate change, and the failure to address it, represents the single greatest dereliction of duty in the world, perpetrated by the political class as a whole. And I mean that internationally and historically: governments around the world. Very few leaders over the last half-century have taken the necessary actions.

We're talking about thousands upon thousands of species extinctions, millions of acres of habitat destruction, permanent damage to the liveability of vast swathes of the planet. An issue recognised and warned of for decades, and unaddressed because its hard and unprofitable to do so.

The political class (almost) as a whole is murderously negligent. As Don McLean wrote: "You're now just a stagnant and rancid disgrace/ That is rapidly drowning the whole human race".
 

Agema

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IPCC Report summary:

Y'all boned.

Because let's face it, this report will make exactly no more difference than all the previous ones. Oh sure, we'll continue to gradually drift toward renewables, but don't think for a moment that the worst polluters are going to think to themselves "Holy shit this is bad, we need to fix stuff, pronto". If anything, it's going to make them dig stuff out of the ground even faster to make their money before its phased out.
 

Gergar12

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I hate to be that guy but these years are likely going to be the best years of our lives. Seeing as to how climate change hasn't hit us in full force yet, enjoy it.
 

The Rogue Wolf

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Nah, people like to act all "oh fuck we're all gonna die!!!" but I wouldn't worry about this. Remember that pandemic around April last year? Remember everyone working together, social distancing, wearing masks? And how we took care of that in a couple of months? Don't worry, we got this.
I'm sending you the repair bill for my sarcasm detector. Friggin' gauge got blown through three walls.
 
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Kwak

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I think we just need to accept our destiny as a species of death and destruction. That is our purpose and what we do best. In the long term we're just clearing the way for the lifeforms that come after us and can take advantage of the desolation we hath wrought.
 

stroopwafel

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The situation is very depressing but now it's just a matter to save what is left to be saved. I don't think zero CO2 emissions is possible in the next few decades but atleast some of the biggest economies are making work of it. Global warming, deforestation, extreme weather, heatwaves, severe loss of biodiversity etc are now sad facts of life but the the next step should be to prevent the rain forest and arctic from becoming CO2 contributors as this would truly become a cataclysmic event. Unfortunately the rain forest in particular is under serious threat by Bolsanoro who wants to pollute more to grow his economy. Meanwhile ice caps keep on melting and microplastics can be found in the arctic's most remote places.

I think that is ultimately the crux of the problem and why nothing climate wise ever improves. Climate change requires a concerted global effort to address it's most serious consequences. Individual countries should always make contributions to improve the situation for sure but if the nett benefit is offset by other countries polluting more than pollution in general still isn't reduced. That's the problem with CO2; emissions are still increasing year after year. Ofcourse a country like Brazil would argue why it would be denied the chance to industrialize like western countries and to an extent it would have a point. As long as not every country is convinced of the severity of the situation or prioritize economic or financial incentives over the environment(ie the entire western economies as well which are all predicated on economic growth) the environmental destruction will just continue to deteriorate until one day it is indeed too late.

It's kind of sad in a way that humankind as a whole is just never able to settle over petty differences but I guess it's just part of our nature that we can not change.
 

Specter Von Baren

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Ya know, if all of you really want to stop effecting the environment like this then there's a simple way to stop it by closing our factories, leaving our cities, and returning to a subsistence level of living.
 

XsjadoBlayde

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Weird how reality is forming a logical equilibrium to lifelong anxiety and depression. The world is the mad one now. Or maybe it always was.
 

Agema

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Ya know, if all of you really want to stop effecting the environment like this then there's a simple way to stop it by closing our factories, leaving our cities, and returning to a subsistence level of living.
We can obviously produce a ton of wind farms, solar, even nuclear to reduce fossil fuel use quite quickly.

The other obvious target are vehciles. Electric cars cost about 50% more at the low end although higher end are more comparable. They are cheaper to run (mostly fuel and servicing) so this can be made back later, although the initial outlay will be sufficient to dissuade many. So... subsidise them. People will follow the money pretty quickly.

A major problem of course is that as the developing world develops, it will become increasingly important at determining CO2 and other emissions. What are India and China going to do (because they are a massive problem, particularly re. coal), and what can we possibly do to encourage them?
 

tstorm823

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The other obvious target are vehciles. Electric cars cost about 50% more at the low end although higher end are more comparable. They are cheaper to run (mostly fuel and servicing) so this can be made back later.
When they make me a full electric minivan, I'll buy into that.
 

Seanchaidh

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A major problem of course is that as the developing world develops, it will become increasingly important at determining CO2 and other emissions. What are India and China going to do (because they are a massive problem, particularly re. coal), and what can we possibly do to encourage them?
Maybe get our own houses in order before we say the first fucking thing about what others are doing.