How can we effectively diminish the impact of climate change?

Question

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

I can tell you, but you're not going to like it. To diminish the impact, we'd need to take more control of it: even assuming that all the current theories on anthropogenic climate change are correct, the vast majority of it isn't human-caused. If we want to keep things stable, we need to take more control, and that means having a helluva lot more knowledge on the subject than we do now.

That knocks out your third suggestion: fewer humans will make things WORSE, not better (we've had two hundred years of constant disproval of Malthus' ideas; how much more do you NEED?). And eugenics is a crime against humanity; let's have less of those, okay? The problem with your first is that "clean energy" doesn't exist. Burning coal, wood, natural gas and oil releases greenhouse gasses, solar power releases even MORE on top of producing hazardous waste, wind power means strip mining entire mountain ranges for rare-earth magnets, nuclear power produces radioactive waste, hydroelectric power screws with river life, and even geothermal power has some nasty ecological disruptions. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Your second suggestion wouldn't do squat, as CO2 is a fairly minor greenhouse gas (methane is a much bigger issue, and the sulfur hexaflouride that gets released with the production of every single solar cell would completely drown it out if they went into the kind of mass production we'd need to make it a mainstay of our power production).

We don't need to create a new political system, and capitalism is the one and only chance we have of changing things. What we need is acknowledgement of reality: that pie-in-the-sky schemes are no more a solution now than they ever were. Our best option is to start building molten-salt reactors (which CAN'T melt down) using thorium (no weapons production) and some geothermal plants, too, and investing heavily into better battery technologies to make renewables viable as a major component of our power grid, and for pity's sake figuring out how to RECYCLE solar panel materials so we don't just clog up the oceans with yet another form of trash (or dump it all in Tanzania, like we've been doing). We'll also need to accept that it's entirely possible that wind and solar will never be viable as more than supplementary sources of power. Most of all, we need to accept that complicated problems usually have complicated solutions. That's the big hurdle.

jshm2 · Accepted Answer

You don't.

If every human and industry was to disappear tonight, it would only make a few years of difference to anything climate related.

You see, the problem isn't climate change - the damage is already done. The problem is mitigation and reversal - which likely cannot be undone.

Thus really, this is about the people who made the problem aka The West, trying to shift the blame and reframe the problem. Why do you think Russia and China didn't bother with Cop26? they knew the Western leaders would try and pin the blame on them.

menina · Accepted Answer

Create a new economical & political system. The majority of world leaders are not interested in doing something to diminish the effects of climate change. They're only thinking about money and they can't see that we are destroying our planet. They're selfish, arrogant and ignorant. So maybe if we had politicians who actually believe in climate change and do something about it then maybe we would see some improvements and meaningful changes.

You're brave for asking questions about climate change on here. You do know that we also have a lot of climate change deniers, right? They might attack you just for saying something that is real and it's happening all over the world.

sawno · Answer

I don't believe that humans have that big of an impact on it. But lets for the sake of the argument work with the CO2 theory that is being proposed as the cause. You'd need to do 2 things.

1) Transition to the best forms of nuclear energy such as Thorium reactors. Those can't melt down or be turned into weaponry which means its safe to build them around the world including in more dangerous countries since they can't weaponize them.
2 ) Stop cutting down all the tree's on such a large scale.
3 ) Don't buy into the whole "Green Energy" scam, its actually more toxic for the planet and less efficient. Its causing the reverse of what they are hoping it will.

Wester1967 · Answer

We can't. Humans are wedded to their delusions. Especially rich entitled western MFs. It's an evolutionary test and humans are gonna fail with conservatives pointing guns at everyone's heads while carting their fat asses around in SUVs until the last human is extinct.

najekim · Answer

Both "A" & "B" could help. The others are ridiculous except getting Democrats & Republicans out of political power. But the world is in-between ice ages and still heading to the warmest time until it starts cooling off again for the next ice age.

Goforit1010 · Answer

Until science can HONESTLY explain "what" is climate change. Then SPECIFICALLY define the cause (s), spending money on what y'all THINK is causing it is pointless and wasteful.

This is the entire crux of the climate change religion. It is as ambiguous as the name sounds. And yes, the way most people approach it, it IS a religion!

DCooper · Answer

By giving the lefty loons free helicopter rides.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

How can you diminish something that already doesn't exist?

Me_I_guess · Answer

lots of nuclear energy and launch the waste into space, but also solar energy and store it using liquid hydrogen which can be used for anything from rockets to planes to cars to stoves with absolute zero emissions

HighValue · Answer

Ignore the BS fearmongering of climate change.

joeldalton · Answer

Most of the world’s pollution is coming from China and India. Bring them to heel.

robocop666 · Answer

global warming does not exist

OddBeMe · Answer

Lots of ways. Eugenics being least, as it’s thoroughly debunked.

notwoke · Answer

lets work on something that matters like not putting more trash in the ocean, GW is a farce

Celtero · Answer

With significant scientific advancement.

Massageman · Answer

To change policy, change those elected.

exitseven · Answer

Get rid of half the population.

EnglishEuropean · Answer

A and B, which is unlikely to happen without D.

888theGreat · Answer

quit lying about it

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How does climate change impact global economies, and what can be done to mitigate its effects?

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