504DR

504DR , 4 months ago to random

This is actual climate change work, with immediate results.

Govts should be supporting and investing more in cleaning up the messes we've already made, rather than wasting time and money on boondoggle solutions that don't work.

Video of cleaning up plastic and garbage from a river. Work is done by One Ocean organization.

504DR OP , 4 months ago

@breadandcircuses

Exactly.

If our govts were serious about combatting the climate crisis, they would be slashing energy use to it's bare minimum across the globe.

But crickets on that issue. 🙄

breadandcircuses , 4 months ago (edited 4 months ago) to random

The planet is hot and it's getting hotter fast, much faster than many "experts" predicted...

---

Our climate has crossed the dangerous 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warming threshold 50 years or more ahead of long-held projections, according to data analysis by a major climate organization. Of the four major Earth temperature evaluations released for 2023 so far, Berkeley Earth is at 1.54°C, the European Meteorological Service is at 1.48°C, the World Meteorological Service is at 1.45°C, and NASA is at 1.44°C.

In 2023, every month from June to December was warmer than the previous record warm month, something never before seen in the temperature record. Almost half of the days in 2023 were warmer than 1.5°C, more than doubling the previous record. Two days in November were above 2°C, a first ever occurrence.

Almost all climate change impacts are happening decades, generations and even a century ahead of projections.

This extreme jump in temperature can no longer be altered by simply eliminating future emissions. It has been caused by current warming from prior emissions, including feedback emissions, from collapsing Earth systems, and from cascading effects that amplify warming nonlinearly. In just two years in 2023 and 2024, global temperatures could rise as much as half of all excess planetary warming humanity has experienced in the last 200 years.

The 1.5°C warming threshold has now been surpassed in a big way. James Hansen, the retired but still publishing 32-year director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (the de facto United States climate modeling agency), says it’s quite likely that Earth’s temperature will not fall below 1.5°C again (unless we restore our climate, of course). We should anticipate climate disruptions far more extreme than what we have endured so far, as end-of-century impacts are now advancing to our immediate future.

Climate scientists warned us that if we did not reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, planetary warming would advance into a new and more acute mode where solutions become different, impacts increase nonlinearly and effects become irreversible. They urged us to understand that actions to limit emissions would likely eliminate the risk of entering this more acute warming mode, and that delay and lesser-than-suggested actions could cause warming acceleration to arrive sooner, with more extreme impacts and existential risks.

Over the last 30 years, the accumulated concentration of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has doubled. And in the last 10 years, the planet’s warming rate has more than doubled, amplified by the greenhouse gases already accumulated in our atmosphere. If we had stopped emissions a decade or more ago, we would still be seeing the current vault in global temperature from warming already locked in because cessation of emissions does not halt warming in time frames that matter.

---

That's just part of an informative, must-read analysis. Check out the rest!

FULL ARTICLE -- https://truthout.org/articles/kiss-1-5-celsius-goodbye-was-2023-our-last-year-below-key-climate-threshold/

#Science #Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency

504DR , 4 months ago

@breadandcircuses

This is why I don't give any credence to reports that talk about any goals or predictions beyond 2050 - all of the honest climate scientists are sounding the alarm that predictions on every climate change effect are happening much sooner than once predicted.

Add in the accompanying societal breakdown in response to these climate breakdowns and you've got another accelerator.

504DR , 4 months ago

@anubis2814 @breadandcircuses

Yup.

Obfuscating the totality of the problem by focusing on one aspect of climate change, while promising corrective measures that are untenable and actually add to the problem.

Ofc co2 is a major problem, but others are also pieces of the puzzle; deforestation, polluted skies, lands and waters, shrinking water reserves, degraded soils, the loss of biodiversity and wild lands.

Those things must never be fully acknowledged much less addressed, by leadership.

If they were properly addressed, it would mean an end to business as usual, meaning an end to their profits.

MikeDunnAuthor , 4 months ago to random

504DR , 4 months ago

@MikeDunnAuthor

Remember too that it's consumers driving the majority of those companies emissions thru their purchases.

Spend wisely is the overall message.
Stop supporting the worst actors out there.

The blame game is a distraction.
We all play a part.

No one can do everything but everyone can do something.

breadandcircuses , 7 months ago to random

The predictable lies of a billionaire oligarch...

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Jeff Bezos pledged four years ago that Amazon would lead the way on carbon reduction. Since then, the firm’s emissions have risen by 40% — and its use of deceptive accounting suggests that the real figure is far higher.

EMISSIONS: Amazon uses a creative form of accounting to massively understate its carbon footprint. In its methodology, Amazon acknowledges that it only includes “Amazon-branded product manufacturing, Whole Foods Market brands, and other Amazon Private Brands products.” But this is just the tip of the iceberg: a mere 1% of total sales. With Amazon not counting the sale of 99% of products sold and distributed directly by Amazon or by third-party sellers, most of the emissions the corporation is responsible for will remain unreported.

FOSSIL FUELS: Amazon Web Services is deeply involved in different phases of oil production, focusing on pipelines, shipping, and storage for oil and gas companies. In 2021, Amazon signed a strategic collaboration with TotalEnergies to help them “accelerate their digital transformation” — in other words, ensuring the profitability of fossil fuels by helping them make extraction more efficient. TotalEnergies used its record profits in 2022 to approve more new oil and gas expansions than any other international oil major.

WASTE: Amazon destroys many millions of new and unsold products every week. For instance, in the UK, an Amazon worker leaked a spreadsheet showing more than 124,000 new and unused items including laptops, smart TVs, hairdryers, headphones, drones, and books all marked for destruction — just at one warehouse. Some estimates suggest Amazon may be responsible for dumping about one billion items per year.

---

FULL STORY -- https://jacobin.com/2023/11/black-friday-amazon-climate-footprint-worker-organizing

MORE ON WASTE -- https://environmentamerica.org/articles/amazon-is-destroying-unsold-products-by-the-thousands/

#Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #Capitalism #BusinessAsUsual #CO2 #Emissions #Pollution

504DR , 4 months ago

@breadandcircuses

Bright Green Lies

breadandcircuses , 4 months ago to random

[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

504DR , 4 months ago

@breadandcircuses

Best wishes, B/C.

breadandcircuses , 4 months ago to random

What does the system value?

#Capitalism #Ecology #Environment #Climate #ClimateChange

504DR , 4 months ago

@greeneralia @breadandcircuses

The original forest was part of an interconnected ecosystem, supporting it's own area of flora and fauna.
A replacement plantation will take decades to mature, and it won't support the level of biodiversity the original Forest had.

We've learned how destroying one part of our eco world has ripple effects across the whole.

Could this be a part of the ecological problems were now seeing across the globe?

Most importantly, imo; do we really have the right to destroy the homes of others simply for our own pleasure and/or use?

breadandcircuses , 5 months ago (edited 5 months ago) to random

Asking has not worked.

Voting has not worked.

Marching has not worked.

Emissions keep going up. Extinctions are on the rise. Nothing has changed.

So, is it time now for some of us to take a step over the line? Would you commit a "crime" if you knew that doing so could potentially save thousands of lives?

Those are tough questions, and they are given thought-provoking and perhaps challenging answers in a piece titled "Sabotaging Oil and Gas Infrastructure is an Act of Climate Heroism"...

---

The environmental movement has offered waves of demonstrations, petition drives, lobbying and other forms of protest. Yet, despite all that, Earth and its inhabitants are losing the war waged against us by capitalism. It follows that a reevaluation of strategy and tactics of the environmental movement is in order, including a closer examination of how nonviolence should be understood and practiced.

In this context, we need to ask ourselves whether the destruction of planet-killing machinery is necessarily an act of violence. The answer should be no, because it prevents violence against nature. But, as a whole, the environmental movement’s dedication to the strict avoidance of property destruction is extreme in comparison to virtually all other social justice movements.

---

FULL ARTICLE -- https://systemchangenotclimatechange.org/article/sabotaging-oil-and-gas-infrastructure-is-an-act-of-climate-heroism/

#capitalism #Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction

504DR , 5 months ago

@Grootinside @breadandcircuses

Howard Zinn should be required reading in every high school in the world.

504DR , 5 months ago

@breadandcircuses

Ppl driven to desperation will act out in desperation when it is the only method left after all others have failed or been stymied.

breadandcircuses , 5 months ago to random

I miss a lot of my old comfort foods, like scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast, a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, then a burger and fries for dinner, with cheesecake for dessert. Sometimes I miss those things, BUT I don’t miss all the extra weight I used to carry.

In a few days I’ll celebrate my 70th birthday. Fifteen years ago, when I was still dining out at restaurants quite often and eating whatever made me feel good for the moment, I weighed about 60 pounds (27 kg) more than I do now. I was overweight, unhealthy, and unhappy.

Since then, by adopting a (mostly) vegan diet and getting regular vigorous exercise, I’ve reached an optimal weight and I feel wonderful — physically, mentally, and emotionally. So, even though I sometimes do miss those old comfort foods, I’m really glad they are now only a memory and not a daily habit.

#Food #Vegan #Health

504DR , 5 months ago

@breadandcircuses

Congrats and Happy Birthday, early. 🎂
Thank you for being here and sharing your life and wisdom with us.

breadandcircuses , 5 months ago to random

Have you felt any of this? If you're like me, probably some or even most of it!

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Eight Climate Emotions

⓵ Climate Anger: Climate anger is characterized by intense frustration, resentment, irritation, or outrage as a result of the perceived inadequacy of climate change action taken by governments. This often stems from witnessing the consequences of environmental degradation, the slow pace of mitigation efforts, denial of scientific evidence, or insufficient responses by policy makers, corporations, and society at large.

⓶ Climate Anxiety: Individuals experiencing climate anxiety may feel overwhelmed, stressed, or fearful about environmental changes and the uncertain future of the planet, their own lives or those of their loved ones, children, and future generations.

⓷ Climate Powerlessness: Climate powerlessness refers to feelings of helplessness, pessimism, apathy, inadequacy, or a lack of control that individuals experience in response to the scale and complexity of global environmental issues and the changes required to live a truly sustainable lifestyle. Research shows that individuals often experience “solastalgia,” or psychological distress resulting from environmental degradation.

⓸ Climate Guilt: Climate guilt refers to feelings of remorse, self-blame, and moral responsibility due to an individual’s perceived contribution to climate change, often arising from awareness of one's carbon footprint, unsustainable lifestyle choices, and feelings of not doing enough to help the planet.

⓹ Climate Isolation: Climate isolation refers to feeling disconnected, isolated or alone in one’s concern and understanding of the climate crisis, often fueled by perceptions that environmental concerns are not widely acknowledged or prioritized by their larger community.

⓺ Climate Enthusiasm: Climate enthusiasm refers to a positive and proactive emotional response to climate change and involves feeling inspired, hopeful, motivated, and energized to contribute to solutions. It is the belief in oneself and their community’s ability to meaningfully impact the trajectory of climate change.

⓻ Climate Contempt: Climate contempt is characterized by a dismissive or scornful attitude toward climate change discourse. Here, individuals downplay the severity of environmental issues, reject scientific consensus, or demonstrate a lack of concern for climate change stemming from various factors, including ideological beliefs or a desire to avoid the discomfort of acknowledging the urgency and gravity of the crisis. Interestingly, a 2023 study found that those who believe in an afterlife display a lower fear of death or extinction and are less likely to engage in sustainability practices as the fate of the Earth may seem secondary to an anticipated eternal existence.

⓼ Climate Sorrow: Climate sorrow involves a deep sense of sadness, grief, mourning, and concern for animal suffering, harm to ecosystems, and future generations.

---

FULL ARTICLE -- https://archive.ph/QQDqX
SCIENTIFIC PAPER -- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378023001309

#Science #Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #Psychology

504DR , 5 months ago

@breadandcircuses

I've come to terms with all, except 3 of them.

#4 and #8 still give me occasional concern, while #1 is the one I struggle hardest and most often with.

It
Just
Didn't
Have
To
Be
This
Way.
🤬💔🤬

gerrymcgovern , 5 months ago to random

The Green Transition will massively deepen the biodiversity crisis because it requires an explosion of mining in wilderness areas and in the deep seas. The Green Transition is killing the life it’s claiming to be saving.

In Australia, 144 species of mammals, frogs, plants and birds were added to the national threatened species in 2023. That was five times more than the yearly average and double the previous record year set in 2009.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/australia-threatened-species-2024-20240123-p5ezbw.html

504DR , 5 months ago

@FantasticalEconomics @lienrag @gerrymcgovern

Kyle, I came here to say thank you.

I recently made the comment that economists don't belong in the conversation on the climate crisis bc the goals of effectively addressing the climate crisis and of economists are mutually exclusive - being that one is to slow or (preferably) end growth and the other is to push for endless growth.

Until now, I wasn't aware there was such a thing as an environmental economist.

Since discovering your account and reading your posts, I realize I was wrong.

Your observations and writings are spot on, and we need more economists like you in the conversation.

I apologize for my earlier blanket statement, for opening my eyes on this subject, and I thank you for the work you do. 🙏

18+ breadandcircuses , 5 months ago (edited 5 months ago) to random

I’m torn.

Part of me can see how much nicer our world might be without any humans in it. Ecosystems could find their own equilibrium, unhindered by industrial pollution. Species could expand again and diversify, free of competition from the endless growth of factory farms, freeways, and parking lots.

It would take much time, centuries or even millennia, for the sky to regain its natural clarity, the forests to regrow, and the rivers to run clean. Even longer than that, probably, for all of the plastic eventually to degrade and disappear.

But someday, someday… the Earth would once again be a beautiful place.

It’s a lovely vision, and yet I’m torn. Because to get there means the suffering and death of billions of people. I wish there was a way to prevent that.

#Environment #Pollution #Climate #ClimateChange #Biodiversity

504DR , 5 months ago

@breadandcircuses @kentpitman @ArrowbearMoore @RichardAshwell

504DR , 5 months ago

@kristen_d @kentpitman @ArrowbearMoore @RichardAshwell @breadandcircuses

I like the term coined by Jordan Perry - Homo Colassus.

Humans and their domestic livestock are now the dominant mammalian species on the planet, wrecking it with colossal effects.

504DR , 5 months ago

@kristen_d @kentpitman @ArrowbearMoore @RichardAshwell @breadandcircuses

Animal Ag is horrendously cruel and unnecessary, and it adds to the climate crisis thru emissions, high water consumption, logging for pasture space, degradation of the soil, and they are removing wildlife from our public lands so welfare ranchers can graze their domestic livestock there instead.

As a species, we've come to accept cruelty.
And we reward the worst of us.

Fifty years ago, I really thought we'd be better by now.