←back to thread

399 points gmays | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0.723s | source
Show context
jmyeet ◴[] No.42166284[source]
Call me pessimistic but I don't think anything is going to change and a lot of people are going to die due to climate-forced migration.

That being said, it's a difficult topic to discuss rationally. Part of the issue is deciding on what your baseline is. Looking at the last 200 years tells a pretty limited view. Consider around 100,000 years ago when global temperatures were similar [1].

That raises some questions about what caused that spike but, more importantly, what caused it to lower. You can say "an ice age" but what really triggers an ice age?

My point here is that doomsday predictions of Venus-like runaway inflation I think are both unrealistic and unhelpful in actually motivating people about an otherwise very real problem. We really have no idea of the mechanics in place.

But like I say, we're going to do absolutely nothing about it anyway.

[1]: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/analysis-is-it-actually...

replies(3): >>42166326 #>>42166419 #>>42170849 #
baq ◴[] No.42166326[source]
It’ll take a couple of mass casualty wet bulb events to shift the discourse from ‘it’s too expensive, just drill more’ to ‘oh shit whatever it takes’
replies(5): >>42166421 #>>42166422 #>>42166466 #>>42166472 #>>42167067 #
1. piyushpr134 ◴[] No.42166472[source]
It would happen in poor countries and won't result into much "discourse". It has already happened actually. Moreover, even if it happens in the rich countries, are companies & countries ready to ban crypto or AI training of LLMs ? Would we be okay to increase airline prices (by putting a tax) so that people fly less ? Will countries be willing to reduce thermal energy by prioritising solar, wind and nuclear energy ? Can all countries decide to reduce petroleum usage by putting a 100% tax on gas ? Or will be ready to go vegetarian and vegan for reducing cattle farming ? Will be okay to put fines on food wastage ? If not, then there won't be any "whatever it takes"
replies(1): >>42166702 #
2. BobbyTables2 ◴[] No.42166702[source]
Economically taxation would be the solution.

But the Carbon Tax credits/handling shows that we aren’t grown up enough to handle taxes properly.

replies(1): >>42167088 #
3. morkalork ◴[] No.42167088[source]
Indeed, any and all rebuttals seem to reduce to:

>Nice argument. Unfortunately I have coined the phrase "Axe the tax" and shall depict you as the soy wojak.