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Is all this recent Climate Change stuff pure hysteria?

julianalexander745

Active Member
I can remember being a young boy in primary school learning, in great scientific detail, about what climate change is, why it is happening and the role that human beings play in causing it.

This was something like circa 1998.

Since then, there have been modest yet genuine attempts to rectify the issue through carbon emissions schemes, changes to the materials corporations use, et al. It's modest, but progress has been made.

On the other hand, apocalyptic visions for the outcome of our impact of the world and a complete exaggeration of how we are all in imminent danger seems to have exploded into the forefront of the international media this year.

Personally, I think the biggest problem humans face today is that too many people in the West get off on being outraged.
 

julianalexander745

Active Member
One should consider the overwhelming consensus of qualified opinions.

In your opinion, what defines "qualified opinions" in this context?

Is it any person who understands what climate change is, or does it strictly refer to those who hold a PHD in ecology? Because if it is the latter, I think you are wading into dangerous territory.
 

leov

Well-Known Member
In your opinion, what defines "qualified opinions" in this context?

Is it any person who understands what climate change is, or does it strictly refer to those who hold a PHD in ecology? Because if it is the latter, I think you are wading into dangerous territory.
E.g. Tobacco safe to use, used to be opinion that was coming from tobacco products producers....
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I can remember being a young boy in primary school learning, in great scientific detail, about what climate change is, why it is happening and the role that human beings play in causing it.

This was something like circa 1998.

Since then, there have been modest yet genuine attempts to rectify the issue through carbon emissions schemes, changes to the materials corporations use, et al. It's modest, but progress has been made.

On the other hand, apocalyptic visions for the outcome of our impact of the world and a complete exaggeration of how we are all in imminent danger seems to have exploded into the forefront of the international media this year.

Personally, I think the biggest problem humans face today is that too many people in the West get off on being outraged.
It's been known about since the 50s and an issue since the '70s, when Exxon's scientists warned about it. Initially the company took the warnings seriously, but soon realized how this could affect the bottom line and began a disinformation campaign.
Exxon's Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels' Role in Global Warming Decades Ago

Why do you think the issue is exaggerated? Most of the scientists in the disciplines involved believe it's a very serious issue.

Have you looked into the evidence, accumulated from multiple unrelated disciplines? The effects seem to be exceeding predictions with each new data set.
How, knowing the increasing natural and human generated output of methane and carbon dioxide, could these not cause massive warming?

The ramifications really are apocalyptic, and the evidence is solid.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
In your opinion, what defines "qualified opinions" in this context?

Is it any person who understands what climate change is, or does it strictly refer to those who hold a PHD in ecology? Because if it is the latter, I think you are wading into dangerous territory.
Why fix on just ecology? What about climate science (a.k.a. climatology) and oceanography?
 

julianalexander745

Active Member
It's been known about since the 50s and an issue since the '70s, when Exxon's scientists warned about it. Initially the company took the warnings seriously, but soon realized how this could affect the bottom line and began a disinformation campaign.
Exxon's Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels' Role in Global Warming Decades Ago

Why do you think the issue is exaggerated? Most of the scientists in the disciplines involved believe it's a very serious issue.

Have you looked into the evidence, accumulated from multiple unrelated disciplines? The effects seem to be exceeding predictions with each new data set.
How, knowing the increasing natural and human generated output of methane and carbon dioxide, could these not cause massive warming?

The ramifications really are apocalyptic, and the evidence is solid.

And how far off into the future are these apocalyptic ramifications expected to become effectual?
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I can remember being a young boy in primary school learning, in great scientific detail, about what climate change is, why it is happening and the role that human beings play in causing it.

This was something like circa 1998.

Since then, there have been modest yet genuine attempts to rectify the issue through carbon emissions schemes, changes to the materials corporations use, et al. It's modest, but progress has been made.

On the other hand, apocalyptic visions for the outcome of our impact of the world and a complete exaggeration of how we are all in imminent danger seems to have exploded into the forefront of the international media this year.

Personally, I think the biggest problem humans face today is that too many people in the West get off on being outraged.

It is estimated that between 150000 and 200000 people die prematurely as a direct result of climate change.

Yes thats an outrage
 

Subduction Zone

Veteran Member
Part of the problem with credulity is when sources such as Hollywood address the idea. What science predicts is bad enough, but the changes are too slow and inexorable to make a good drama. They want a problem that occurs over a short period of time and has a short easy fix. That simply does not match reality.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
Okay, yeah, whatever.

Right, so that is a fairly large group of expert people, then.

These are the people advising the IPCC. There is one working group on the physical science of climate change, a second working on the effects on the planet - and on humanity, and a third working on mitigation measures.

Do you think these people are hysterical, or are you just sceptical about some of the media activity, e.g. around Greta Thunberg?
 

columbus

yawn <ignore> yawn
On the other hand, apocalyptic visions for the outcome of our impact of the world and a complete exaggeration of how we are all in imminent danger seems to have exploded into the forefront of the international media this year.
If you think that happened this year you haven't been paying much attention.

I'm in my 60s. You're in your 20s. I'm confident that the biosphere will get me to my grave. I don't think you should be as confident.
Tom
 

julianalexander745

Active Member
You've become strangely quiet.

Have I? I didn't know my posts included sounds.

Also - you're quoting my first post in this thread.

Oh, well, let me add that I think that the biggest problem humans face today is willful ignorance.

Willful ignorance is bad. Yes, I agree.

However, I think it's vastly understated how those in the West have taken to becoming outraged by topical issues as if it's some kind of hobby. The MeToo movement turned out to be a disgrace for example.
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
In your opinion, what defines "qualified opinions" in this context?

Is it any person who understands what climate change is, or does it strictly refer to those who hold a PHD in ecology? Because if it is the latter, I think you are wading into dangerous territory.
The opinions of biologists, botanists, geologists, climatologists, paleontologists, meteorologists, physicists, chemists, geographers, oceanographers, photographers, the military, &al, all have qualified opinions -- and they all seem to be in agreement.
 

julianalexander745

Active Member
The opinions of biologists, botanists, geologists, climatologists, paleontologists, meteorologists, physicists, chemists, geographers, oceanographers, photographers, the military, &al, all have qualified opinions -- and they all seem to be in agreement.

And what do they all agree on?
 

Laika

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
On the other hand, apocalyptic visions for the outcome of our impact of the world and a complete exaggeration of how we are all in imminent danger seems to have exploded into the forefront of the international media this year.

We are at a tipping point as far as climate change is concerned. We have ten years left to de-carbonise our economy before we exceed our "carbon budget" about the level of greenhouse gases we can emit before we have catastrophic climate change above 2'C pre-industrial average temperatures.

We need a group of experts to get in a room, talk things out round the water cooler and come up with a plan that will virtually eliminate fossil fuels from our economy in ten years, whilst also working to change agricultural and industrial practices that release emissions. (e.g. cattle farming is a major contributor to methane emissions from cows burping and farting as part of their digestive process).

Then we'd actually have to do it. And that's the problem. This pace of transformation is unheard of outside of planned economies. The Soviets managed to get industrialisation in Russia within 10 years and we've basically left it so long that's effectively what we'd have to do. But we've built our economic and political institutions deliberately to prevent that concentration of power in the economy and society to make this kind of change impossible. So, our current vision of planning for climate change is equivalent to the excuses of the school child at the back of the class. "My dog ate it." "It left it on the bus". "Aliens stole my climate strategy", etc.

Panic is a healthy and necessary response to the situation. But what we are doing now is counter-productive because it means letting the fossil fuel industry off the hook. By pretending that the destruction of the planet, the human race and civilisation is all "fate", we forget the fact that we created this mess and that our future isn't set in stone. We can change it- but there is a heck of alot of money invested in industries that rely on us not doing so, and politicians more than eager to sell out our future to advance their own careers or get re-elected.
 
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