17 votes

Good news on climate change

15 comments

  1. nothis
    Link
    What always floors me is the drop of solar/MWh cost. It's down 89% in 10 years! I know there's other factors to consider (space requirement, footprint of production, weather dependency etc) but it...

    What always floors me is the drop of solar/MWh cost. It's down 89% in 10 years!

    I know there's other factors to consider (space requirement, footprint of production, weather dependency etc) but it makes me hopeful. Just putting up a lot more solar panels on rooftop should have a tremendously positive impact on clean energy production.

    5 votes
  2. [10]
    lou
    Link
    I don't think we're allowed to be hopeful on the internet. This feels weird. Someone please bring an apocalyptic spin to it ASAP.

    I don't think we're allowed to be hopeful on the internet. This feels weird. Someone please bring an apocalyptic spin to it ASAP.

    8 votes
    1. [2]
      Eric_the_Cerise
      Link Parent
      Okay, seriously, this article is talking exclusively about the highest-end, worst-case versions of climate change (>6.0° C), noting the the risk of things going that badly, have declined...

      Okay, seriously, this article is talking exclusively about the highest-end, worst-case versions of climate change (>6.0° C), noting the the risk of things going that badly, have declined significantly. And yeah, that's unambiguously good news.

      But the most likely middle-range, where we are probably headed ... that's still the same, probably in the range of 2.5°-3.0°, aka too high and not likely to improve.

      Feel better now?

      8 votes
      1. lou
        Link Parent
        Not at all. Thanks. I needed that.

        Not at all. Thanks. I needed that.

        7 votes
    2. [5]
      babypuncher
      Link Parent
      Everyone is going to die.

      Everyone is going to die.

      6 votes
      1. [3]
        Eric_the_Cerise
        Link Parent
        It should be noted that this was always the case.

        It should be noted that this was always the case.

        9 votes
        1. whbboyd
          Link Parent
          We don't know this! Approximately 7% of humans who have ever lived haven't died—we're only assuming they will. (Granted, the second law of thermodynamics makes a very good basis for that assumption.)

          We don't know this! Approximately 7% of humans who have ever lived haven't died—we're only assuming they will.

          (Granted, the second law of thermodynamics makes a very good basis for that assumption.)

          7 votes
        2. lou
          Link Parent
          Talk for you, buddy!

          Talk for you, buddy!

          1 vote
      2. lou
        Link Parent
        Thank you so much for bringing me back to my senses. I'm just not used to breathing without a sense of impending doom. I almost fainted.

        Thank you so much for bringing me back to my senses. I'm just not used to breathing without a sense of impending doom. I almost fainted.

        4 votes
    3. [2]
      Adys
      Link Parent
      Do you want me to add a questionmark to the end of the title, just for kicks?

      Do you want me to add a questionmark to the end of the title, just for kicks?

      1 vote
      1. lou
        Link Parent
        Nah, keep it real, bro,

        Nah, keep it real, bro,

        1 vote
  3. [3]
    Adys
    Link
    Semi OT since this is a post on effectivealtruism.org: Who here is familiar with it and wants to write an introduction on it or give some recommended initial reading?

    Semi OT since this is a post on effectivealtruism.org: Who here is familiar with it and wants to write an introduction on it or give some recommended initial reading?

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      teaearlgraycold
      Link Parent
      Does that mean "on topic" or "off topic"?

      OT

      Does that mean "on topic" or "off topic"?

      3 votes
      1. Adys
        Link Parent
        Are you more of a topic semi on or semi off kind of person?

        Are you more of a topic semi on or semi off kind of person?

        8 votes
  4. Abrown
    Link
    The economics read very similar to what RethinkX wrote in their recent report as well: https://www.rethinkx.com/s/Rethinking-Implications.pdf

    The economics read very similar to what RethinkX wrote in their recent report as well: https://www.rethinkx.com/s/Rethinking-Implications.pdf

    2 votes