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Humans have caused 1.5 °C of long-term global warming according to new estimates

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399 points gmays | 3 comments | 17 Nov 24 18:49 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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shdh ◴[17 Nov 24 21:09 UTC] No.42167277[source]▶
The Earth is a complex system.

Warming is one aspect of climate change, but we'll likely see cascading effects in the system.

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For example, as global temperatures rise we are seeing that AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation), and as a result the Gulf Stream, are "slowing down". [1]

This could result in EU cooling down.

The clathrate gun hypothesis suggests that large releases of methane could cause abrupt climate shifts due to methane’s strong greenhouse effect. [2]

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Its likely developing nations and their citizens will increase CO2 usage as they move towards a more western lifestyle.

That means there will be an increasing amount of energy production and usage.

Ideally we generate more with solar and nuclear.

Decreasing energy production and consumption is not a real solution.

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[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-39810-w

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrate_gun_hypothesis

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CalRobert ◴[17 Nov 24 21:12 UTC] No.42167311[source]▶
"Decreasing energy production and consumption is not a real solution."

Why not?

A 5 passenger vehicle can be 1200kg or 3000kg but both offer almost the same utility. A diet of mostly-plants can be just as delicious as one with a lot of beef. Building a house closer to work can be just as useful as building one a long ways away (more, actually).

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1. wojcikstefan ◴[17 Nov 24 21:16 UTC] No.42167357[source]▶
> A diet of mostly-plants can be just as delicious as one with a lot of beef.

I strongly disagree – as a person who's eaten vegan for over a year, tried all the fancy meat alternatives, and has gone back because a good grass-fed steak is just 10x more delicious.

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2. jajko ◴[17 Nov 24 21:58 UTC] No.42167688[source]▶
... and if you would compare it with those meat alternatives most probably healthier too.

If folks go vegan, go full vegan and accept permanent change in your life, not some desperate half-assed attempts to change as little as possible, which don't seem to work. That's valid for any diet, or any other change in life.

Ie I eat beef steaks maybe once a year. I can really appreciate them, but its just not something that I feel should be part of my frequent diet, can prepare tons of other tasty stuff that are lighter on meat. Control a bit your emotions and understand where they come from, and you can be happy as a clam with any diet.

3. CalRobert ◴[17 Nov 24 22:00 UTC] No.42167709[source]▶
Sure, but I said mostly plants, not all plants. I’m not trying to take away Thanksgiving turkey. But most of the meat we eat we do thoughtlessly and it’s not especially good anyway.