Quote:
Originally Posted by Raev
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Even if we assume for the sake of argument that anthropogenic global warming is a 100% certainty (and I still think it's unbelievably stupid to trust a group of people who say they can simulate a chaotic system, regardless of how many PhDs they give themselves), so what?
Do you seriously think world leaders will agree to make real cuts in CO2 production when the global economy is even now melting down under a mountain of debt? And even if by some miracle emissions were slashed 25%, how much of an effect do you really think it will have?
Conclusion: if AGW is real, it's baked into the cake already regardless of what Trump, Hillary, or anyone else tries to do.
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Under the current system, no, it won't be fixed as long as the baby boomers are alive and likely long after they are dead. Fixing this problem would require widespread cultural changes away from a growth/consumption driven economy and towards a more sustainable model where we aren't gobbling down resources like fucking outrageous gluttons. Those cultural changes won't occur if huge swaths of society deny various environmental problems even exist.
When people like Trump and the Republicans deny facts and evidence regarding climate science, evolution, or any other issue (under considerable influence from energy companies, religious fundamentalists, etc), those cultural changes get stalled. Huge masses of people fall into lockstep with party dogma and it gets reinforced in conservative media that serves the party establishment (just like the liberal side and immigration, social justice, political correctness).
We don't even know for sure if the effects of global warming will be net-negative, but either way I just want policy to be guided by facts and evidence. The way I see it, this desire to deny global warming and the climactic effects of industry is tied in with our obsession with growth and consumption. Nevermind that there are a lot of good reasons to oppose coal and other forms of pollution aside from global warming.