Climate catastrophe

[Claytons Left Boot]

Thought this was appropriate, as well as amusing!

[jim mk2]

The Climate Change Performance Index ranked Australia last out of 57 countries responsible for more than 90% of greenhouse gas emissions on climate policy.

It highlighted the country's no-show at a UN climate summit in September and its withdrawal from an international fund to tackle climate change.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-50869565

Australia will have to decide whether to take a huge hit to the economy by weaning itself off natural resource exports or risk becoming an international climate pariah like Trump's US. 

The so-called lucky country is running out of luck.  

[Claytons Left Boot]

The points above are the reason why we’re past the point of no return. As individuals, we are gradually getting there with our awareness of the problems but it’s got to come from the top. Must come from governments. If governments renege on their promises, they have to be pushed by the people. Procedures have to be put in place such as limitations on each persons/families’ air journeys per annum, number of cars per household, number of children per household and so on. This, however, all becomes irrelevant to a large degree if countries like China (contributes to 29% to world CO2 emissions), the US and Russia pay the problem lip service. It’s more serious than most folk realise and it’s not going away.

[yoda]

The biggest polluter on the planet is growth. All Governments talk about growth as the panacea to fix economies i.e. their unsustainable spending plans. Growth for any Government equals increase in tax revenue and the kicker now is increase in growth generates the opportunity for “green” tax revenue.

We are all being played while the elites and super rich try to justify their excesses by buying carbon credits what a load of bollocks

[Upside Down]

2 hours ago, yoda said:

The biggest polluter on the planet is growth. All Governments talk about growth as the panacea to fix economies i.e. their unsustainable spending plans. Growth for any Government equals increase in tax revenue and the kicker now is increase in growth generates the opportunity for “green” tax revenue.

We are all being played while the elites and super rich try to justify their excesses by buying carbon credits what a load of bollocks

Actually the biggest polluter on earth is the US Military.

But yes I agree with what you're saying here. An economic system that pits humanity in a battle to the death with nature all so a very small clique of ultra wealthy people can gain even more wealth whilst the rest of the world is annihilated in a toxic holocaust doesn't seem like the direction we should be taking as a society.

[yoda]

8 minutes ago, Upside Down said:

Actually the biggest polluter on earth is the US Military.

But yes I agree with what you're saying here. An economic system that pits humanity in a battle to the death with nature all so a very small clique of ultra wealthy people can gain even more wealth whilst the rest of the world is annihilated in a toxic holocaust doesn't seem like the direction we should be taking as a society.

How did the Military get to that point ? Thru growth, the internet itself is one big polluter and last time I looked used over 45% of the worlds electricity consumption. Do we really have to buy the latest iPhone and other mobiles every 18 months because they design in obsolescence? 

[Upside Down]

1 minute ago, yoda said:

How did the Military get to that point ? Thru growth, the internet itself is one big polluter and last time I looked used over 45% of the worlds electricity consumption. Do we really have to buy the latest iPhone and other mobiles every 18 months because they design in obsolescence? 

The military are exempt from any climate regulations. Essentially wherever they set up shop they just absolutely poison everyone and everything around them.

The other stuff you mention is just symptoms of the capitalist system.

[yoda]

1 minute ago, Upside Down said:

The military are exempt from any climate regulations. Essentially wherever they set up shop they just absolutely poison everyone and everything around them.

The other stuff you mention is just symptoms of the capitalist system.

Capitalist system! Even Labour are promoting growth as the saviour

[bluebruce]

On 11/02/2024 at 08:10, yoda said:

Capitalist system! Even Labour are promoting growth as the saviour

Labour aren't left wing anymore, if what you were implying is that 'even socialists are promoting growth'.

[bluebruce]

On 28/01/2020 at 18:22, Claytons Left Boot said:

This, however, all becomes irrelevant to a large degree if countries like China (contributes to 29% to world CO2 emissions), the US and Russia pay the problem lip service. It’s more serious than most folk realise and it’s not going away.

Little update on this, since the post is over 4 years old. China is now the largest domestic producer of solar energy in the world. Hell, just in 2023 China added more solar capacity (216 GW) than the US had in total (175 GW). It brought them to 609 GW of solar generation. The US was in second place globally with their 175 GW, and after that it drops to 94 GW (India) and beyond. They're streets ahead for this. They also accounted for about 60% of global wind installations, and the belief is their emissions have peaked (ahead of government targets) and will decrease from now on.

Furthermore, they build the majority of the world's renewables and are at the forefront of many technological improvements in renewables and battery technology. It shouldn't be forgotten either that a lot of their pollution historically and now is in service of producing goods for the rest of the world, ie us.

Russia on the other hand would seem to be a problem, using oil and gas money to fund wars of aggression and conquest.

[Armchair supporter supremo]

On 28/01/2020 at 18:22, Claytons Left Boot said:

The points above are the reason why we’re past the point of no return. As individuals, we are gradually getting there with our awareness of the problems but it’s got to come from the top. Must come from governments. If governments renege on their promises, they have to be pushed by the people. Procedures have to be put in place such as limitations on each persons/families’ air journeys per annum, number of cars per household, number of children per household and so on. This, however, all becomes irrelevant to a large degree if countries like China (contributes to 29% to world CO2 emissions), the US and Russia pay the problem lip service. It’s more serious than most folk realise and it’s not going away.

Number of children per household! Bloody hell. I was watching Michael Palins latest documentary about Nigeria yesterday and honestly it's absolutely mind blowing how many children people have over their(commonly between 5-20! Per wife, but a man can have more than one wife...) I think they estimate Nigerias population alone is heading for around the half a 500 million mark. 

It's country's like that that make all our attempts at being more environmentally friendly seem futile