Did We fix Global Warming?

[David Jamieson]

pollution and climate change are separate issues.
I would like to see more laws enacted in re: pollution.

climate change? I'm afraid there really isn't much we can do about it overall except to curb our wasteful ways, which brings us back to pollution reduction.

change the focus, change the plan and change the meme.

the climate change argument serves government and industry.

the pollution argument serves the people but grates against the government and industry because it is they who must pay the price and be policed.

in the meantime, how many of you have been told to watch your water and electricity consumption because of pollution and conservation?

how often do you hear that same warning being given to industry?

It is industry that consumes the most and has the most unfettered run at it.

from operations to distribution, it is where the focus needs to be when it comes to cleaning stuff up, but it always seems to come back to "use your ac less" or stop using a dryer or some such other nonsense that distracts from the real problem.

unfortunately, the depression that is upon us is probably what it's gonna take to really enact change.

alternatively, we may enter into full out global war which will also take care of many of the issues we are faced with.

either way, people are going to die because of the folly of humanity.

happy christmas!

[WinterPalm]

pollution and climate change are separate issues.
I would like to see more laws enacted in re: pollution.

climate change? I'm afraid there really isn't much we can do about it overall except to curb our wasteful ways, which brings us back to pollution reduction.

change the focus, change the plan and change the meme.

the climate change argument serves government and industry.

the pollution argument serves the people but grates against the government and industry because it is they who must pay the price and be policed.

in the meantime, how many of you have been told to watch your water and electricity consumption because of pollution and conservation?

how often do you hear that same warning being given to industry?

It is industry that consumes the most and has the most unfettered run at it.

from operations to distribution, it is where the focus needs to be when it comes to cleaning stuff up, but it always seems to come back to "use your ac less" or stop using a dryer or some such other nonsense that distracts from the real problem.

unfortunately, the depression that is upon us is probably what it's gonna take to really enact change.

alternatively, we may enter into full out global war which will also take care of many of the issues we are faced with.

either way, people are going to die because of the folly of humanity.

happy christmas!

They are definitely different issues but my point was that if we focus on one that we know is our fault: pollution, then maybe the one that we "MIGHT" be influencing should be dealt with as well. Natural climate change is a whole other story...

[firepalm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDVyY7RbTIY

Raises some good questions & with all this 'urgency' why isn't this being discussed?

[AJM]

David just keeps getting better and better. That's Gong fu.

[WinterPalm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDVyY7RbTIY

Raises some good questions & with all this 'urgency' why isn't this being discussed?

Although I suppose it's just a band aid, it is a great idea and should be mass produced! Just like the electric car and countless other devices that we just don't have. I've said it for a long time, unless the products are made available, people will not use them...seems like rocket science to some. As better lifestyle choices are made available, thus increasing the quality of life, people change.

Cleaning up the pollution we emit into the environment is the concern of everyone whether they're right, left, or just plain wrong...I asked a friend who is a conservative guy and basically opposes most any environmental issue: without the forests, which are getting clear cut, where would you go hunting? Unfortunately certain political interests are masking the real issue, cleaning up our behaviour. But that's a stretch: people still smoke cigarettes despite the package telling them they are going to die! LOL!

[David Jamieson]

regarding the scrubbers.

Our premiere in the province of Ontario in Canada has had these (Carbon Scrubbers) on the table of election promises since he came to office. In fact, the guy before him also had them as an issue.

They have resisted all measures of pollution reduction as far as clean energy goes and continually weasel out of doing their part in making the legislation happen.

Year after year, people die from smog related respiratory failure. the Toronto area alone is plagued with this year after year. smaller centers of less than 1 million people don't notice it much, but if they do, then there is an even bigger problem.

Here's some interesting info: http://spacing.ca/wire/?p=1037

So, what I am saying is that natural climate change is inevitable. For pete's sake we're living amidst the end of a peak ice age and we all know about it!

Secondly, the problem is pollution is killing us.

thirdly, as the clip points out and as I am saying the technology exists.

what's left but legislation to put it into use and gradual shifting to more clean energy that provides all the same conveniences we have now.

I for one am not at all interested in living like a dirty hippy if there is not a need to do so.

[Mr Punch]

Oh, economics part time student... therefore that is supposedly validates all your statements or arguments in support of Global Warming?

Nice guess. I'm not a part-time student, but I have worked on a financial feasibility study on implementation of the Marrakech Accord for the UFJ and UNEP, and do work directly for the ex-deputy environment minister of Japan (who incidentally is a highly qualified environmental scientist with expertise in hormone disrupters which as I'm sure you know has a direct bearing on air pollution and a tangental link to climate change problems) and can talk directly about the funding problems that even such major organisations have because of industry opposition... so no, sorry, no expert, but no part-time economics student either.

So again, who makes the money? In Japan, and this fairly typical of developed countries, the Ministry of the Environment has about 800 permanent employees: MITI - over 4000... and their budgets reflect that even more dramatically.

Money from the GW propaganda? Carbon Taxes... Research Grants...

LOL, this is proof you don't know wtf you're talking about right here.

Again: look at who's paying - which industries stand to make most out of this debate? The richest ones: oil, gas, chemical, medical which hand in hand with some countries' Depts of Industry are funding the big research. I've worked in funding for environmental research: it isn't there unless you have big business behind you.

Hell even John Coleman, founder of The Weather Channel says Global Warming is the greatest scam in history!

Hell, even John Coleman can prove you don't know what you're talking about!

News: (real news, not conservative knee-jerker Glenn Beck) Coleman is a weather man. Now, don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of skill and expertise to be able to tell what the weather's going to be like in a day or two, but look:

1) His job is to look at the weather on a day to day basis: not to look at the cumulative effects of say, an average rainfall of plus 5 mm in June-September plus a rise of .5 degrees on the population of English honey-bees...
2) His job is entertainment: if anyone is likely to have a vested interest in saying any old controversial **** I'd take him over climate change scientists and biologists any day!

And Glenn Beck...? Puhlease. He says we're overreacting - we haven't reacted at all yet. Look at it this way: we voluntarily return our standard of living to what it was immediately post-war, or we have it returned to what it was 150 years ago through a cycle of resource wars, terrorism, and yes, climate change.

[Mr Punch]

climate change? I'm afraid there really isn't much we can do about it overall except to curb our wasteful ways, which brings us back to pollution reduction.

Nice about-turn BTW, from agreeing with firepalm that climate change is a scam... and then the way you work in the ice age gag later as if it means we can't do anything in terms of preventative and protective measures/amelioration.

But, my snide BS aside, you're right: it all boils down to stopping arguing and reducing waste.

the climate change argument serves government and industry.

For the big industries I've mentioned who aren't interested in curbing their profligacy, sure. And for their vested interested government departments, sure. Personally, 'Id do away with the Department/Ministry of environment in every government, and instead have a (sensible = ie, agrees with me! ) scientific advisor in every dept instead.

in the meantime, how many of you have been told to watch your water and electricity consumption because of pollution and conservation?

how often do you hear that same warning being given to industry?

It is industry that consumes the most and has the most unfettered run at it.

from operations to distribution, it is where the focus needs to be when it comes to cleaning stuff up, but it always seems to come back to "use your ac less" or stop using a dryer or some such other nonsense that distracts from the real problem.

Sure, industry creates the most waste. But that doesn't mean we can't do more personally. It's a myth that individual's actions don7t mean anything.

1. In the United States, buildings are responsible for approximately 30% of greenhouse gas emissions and 72% of all electricity use.4 By making simple changes, like using the proper amount of insulation and the best windows, we can significantly save the energy it takes to heat, cool, light, and otherwise provide power to buildings. And, with buildings lasting for 40-50 years or more, efficiency choices we make now will last at least a generation.

2. Investment in efficiency now will pay for itself through lower energy bills. Lowering energy costs for schools means more funds for teachers, books, and scholarships. Retrofitting hospitals releases money for better patient care. And incentives for private-sector investment in commercial buildings and factories helps American businesses and consumers save money and improve our quality of life.5

3. Use of energy-efficient appliances in 2007 avoided global warming pollution equivalent to nearly 27 million cars.6 By similarly improving all of America's buildings, industry, and transportation -- we could reduce annual emissions equivalent to nearly 400 million cars. That's at least 2 billion fewer tons of CO2 or more than 6,000 times the weight of the Empire State Building.7

4. Improving energy-efficiency would provide much needed financial relief to very low-income families. Home energy costs have increased much faster than incomes for very low-income households, rising 33 percent since 1998. Families eligible for federal home energy assistance spend 20% of their income on home energy bills – six times more than average. Improving efficiency in very low-income housing would deliver 25 percent to 40 percent energy savings in up to 25 million residential units.8

Everything we do has an effect.

This year I have cut my family's use of tissues by about 80%, by using more handkerchiefs and towels. I've reduced the use of cling film by increasing use of Tupperware etc. I've reduced the use of water through a filter fitting on my tap (couple of hundred yen). I've cut the use of detergent and water through rinsing dirty clothes immediately, and rinsing dishes immediately. I've reduced water through not flushing the toilet every time I pee (obviously in the summer it would get pretty high if I left it but in the winter esp at night, no prob). I already switched off all lights in rooms we're not using... That's just off the top of my head.

unfortunately, the depression that is upon us is probably what it's gonna take to really enact change.

I don't see that as unfortunate: it was necessary and inevitable. I just hope the recession gets sufficiently bad before this:

alternatively, we may enter into full out global war which will also take care of many of the issues we are faced with.

gets worse...

[bakxierboxer]

http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...tmosphere.html

[David Jamieson]

I agree we can curb "fossil fuel" usage and use cleaner energy sources.

I disagree that we can't replace this technology gradually and maintain or even grow our current lifestyles and bring about even more leisure time in order to pursue self realisation as opposed to setting all your time around meeting goals of pollution reduction, recycling, reusing etc etc.

I think we can set our behaviours in other directions as a society, I also believe that our neglect, laziness and greed works against that end.

There is a dire need for legislation and it is not forthcoming. that is the most interesting part.

seems the powers that be are content with us bearing the guilt and altering our personal behaviours as opposed to actually hitting at the core of the problem which is industry and legislation around pollution standards.

for the natural part of climate change that is inevitable, there is zero zip nada we can do about it and better to simply adapt over time to it.