Skeptical Climate Scientists Coming In From the Cold

[Goldwater]

Maybe I'm just being pessimistic, but I'm skeptical of the idea that we can really stop climate change. If I was in charge of everything, I would instead try to focus our resources on trying to adapt to the changing climate.

[Goldwater]

Maybe I'm just being pessimistic, but I'm skeptical of the idea that we can really stop climate change. If I was in charge of everything, I would instead try to focus our resources on trying to adapt to the changing climate.

If we are driving it though, as most scientists believe - doesn't it make sense to at least TRY? Like, if you have a problem in your life, do you just say, "well...I might not be able to do anything, guess I'll focus on just dealing with it".

But also, if GHG are driving it, as most scientists believe, you can adapt all you want - the problem will only get worse, and worse, until no one can survive, unless we curb emissions. I don't think we will get to that point, but is it possible? Absolutely. At some point, we have to solve the root of the issue.

If it really is all magnetic poles or solar variations from 1600 years ago or whatever, then sure, we're screwed, lol. But at least we tried to do something, based on the best evidence that we had...

Or we can just bend over for big oil, coal, and nat gas...at least someone is making money off our destruction, right? sigh...

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for investing in alternate energy and things like that. I just don't think that it will "save" us from climate change. I mean, even if hypothetically radical environmentalists somehow get their way in the U.S. (completely destroying our economy and ruining the lives of in the process), what about China and India? I don't know, I'm just not sure that it's even possible to get global Co2 levels down to an amount that will prevent the climate from changing significantly, which I why I think we need to just assume that the climate is going to change and try to adapt. Of course, I have no idea how to go about that either...

[Goldwater]

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for investing in alternate energy and things like that. I just don't think that it will "save" us from climate change. I mean, even if hypothetically radical environmentalists somehow get their way in the U.S. (completely destroying our economy and ruining the lives of in the process), what about China and India? I don't know, I'm just not sure that it's even possible to get global Co2 levels down to an amount that will prevent the climate from changing significantly, which I why I think we need to just assume that the climate is going to change and try to adapt. Of course, I have no idea how to go about that either...

Well first of all, as a resident of state that is going to take large land losses as a result of this...I agree with you that adaptation is important and should be looked into. But there's a big difference between that and "it's a Chinese conspiracy".

To quote Elon Musk, "There is going to be some level of damage". But it doesn't have to be total, and environmental policies don't have to totally destroy the economy either. Our lifestyle probably will have to change, though, but do we really need to use as much carbon as we currently do? Idk, I can't just write the species off to extinction, lol. We can beat this thing, or at least, give it our best shot.

A 4% investment of Global GDP over a 20 year period would probably solve the crisis. A carbon tax, which was supported by Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson (and dem socialist Bernie) would probably help quite a bit towards that goal. It might sound crazy, but hey, when the banks needed that kind of money in 2008, they got it. It is possible...the will just isn't there yet.

Well, I hope you're right. FTR, I do also support a carbon tax, and I don't recall ever saying "it's a Chinese conspiracy". If that's how my post came across, I need to get better at talking.