The following is my uneducated opinion, and should be taken with a grain of salt. I think that 4 degrees is actually a low-ball estimate. If current trends continue, I would not be surprised to...
The following is my uneducated opinion, and should be taken with a grain of salt.
I think that 4 degrees is actually a low-ball estimate. If current trends continue, I would not be surprised to see 6+ degrees by then.
I firmly believe that global warming is an unstoppable juggernaut at this point. It can no longer be solved- only limited, and only through extreme means.
Why?
1.)Multiple, self-sustaining chain reactions have already begun in the arctic and throughout the planet. Even if the entire planet agreed to stop ALL emissions tomorrow, the planet would continue to warm anyway until it reached some sort of equilibrium, because there's a lag.
2.)Due to this lag, "limiting" warming under the Paris Agreements is nothing more than a misnomer- under these agreements, global warming WILL continue, just at a slightly slower rate (that, somehow, increasingly looks like the "normal" rate).
3.)Stronger global warming initiatives are simply not possible to implement due to politics.
The time to solve global warming was in the 1970s. The time to "limit" global warming to anything resembling "reasonable" will be gone within the next couple of years.
At this point, the best thing you can do is protect yourself and your future generations. When you buy a house, consider what sources of water it has.
Consider installing solar panels with the ability to operate them independently of the power company- in case electricity becomes less reliable in the future.
Consider purchasing an electric vehicle not because it's more "environmentally friendly" but because they are cheaper to maintain, will last much longer than an internal combustion vehicle, and can be charged via your solar panels if need-be.
Essentially, try to make decisions today that will not only help you, but- if you plan to have kids- the next generation as well. Don't make decisions based on "environmental friendliness"- your individual contribution really doesn't make a difference at this point.
Instead, focus on making your household more self-sustainable, and vote for people who favor stronger environmental regulations/safeguards- because global warming ain't going nowhere.
I wonder if anything can be done about it. To me the biggest issue is awareness. People simply don't realize that this is the biggest issue, by far, that our generation is facing. A LOT more...
I wonder if anything can be done about it. To me the biggest issue is awareness. People simply don't realize that this is the biggest issue, by far, that our generation is facing. A LOT more energy should be used to fight it.
While true, I think this is a bit misleading. Companies only exist because people buy their stuff. By simply getting people to buy less stuff, we could cut emissions a lot. That said, I think...
of global warming is being caused by companies
While true, I think this is a bit misleading. Companies only exist because people buy their stuff. By simply getting people to buy less stuff, we could cut emissions a lot.
That said, I think global warming should be fought on all fronts:
Tough regulations
Strong taxation
Public advocacy to get people to change their behaviors on an individual level
Public investment to create low-emission infrastructures for people to rely on (public transportation, energy, etc.)
Only focusing on one or two of these fronts is bound to fail.
The Paris Climate Accord is a good thing, the problem is that I don't see any sign of nations respecting it.
The following is my uneducated opinion, and should be taken with a grain of salt.
I think that 4 degrees is actually a low-ball estimate. If current trends continue, I would not be surprised to see 6+ degrees by then.
I firmly believe that global warming is an unstoppable juggernaut at this point. It can no longer be solved- only limited, and only through extreme means.
Why?
1.)Multiple, self-sustaining chain reactions have already begun in the arctic and throughout the planet. Even if the entire planet agreed to stop ALL emissions tomorrow, the planet would continue to warm anyway until it reached some sort of equilibrium, because there's a lag.
2.)Due to this lag, "limiting" warming under the Paris Agreements is nothing more than a misnomer- under these agreements, global warming WILL continue, just at a slightly slower rate (that, somehow, increasingly looks like the "normal" rate).
3.)Stronger global warming initiatives are simply not possible to implement due to politics.
The time to solve global warming was in the 1970s. The time to "limit" global warming to anything resembling "reasonable" will be gone within the next couple of years.
At this point, the best thing you can do is protect yourself and your future generations. When you buy a house, consider what sources of water it has.
Consider installing solar panels with the ability to operate them independently of the power company- in case electricity becomes less reliable in the future.
Consider purchasing an electric vehicle not because it's more "environmentally friendly" but because they are cheaper to maintain, will last much longer than an internal combustion vehicle, and can be charged via your solar panels if need-be.
Essentially, try to make decisions today that will not only help you, but- if you plan to have kids- the next generation as well. Don't make decisions based on "environmental friendliness"- your individual contribution really doesn't make a difference at this point.
Instead, focus on making your household more self-sustainable, and vote for people who favor stronger environmental regulations/safeguards- because global warming ain't going nowhere.
I wonder if anything can be done about it. To me the biggest issue is awareness. People simply don't realize that this is the biggest issue, by far, that our generation is facing. A LOT more energy should be used to fight it.
While true, I think this is a bit misleading. Companies only exist because people buy their stuff. By simply getting people to buy less stuff, we could cut emissions a lot.
That said, I think global warming should be fought on all fronts:
Only focusing on one or two of these fronts is bound to fail.
The Paris Climate Accord is a good thing, the problem is that I don't see any sign of nations respecting it.