The World Needs Better Climate Pledges

[BeckyDem]

Governments and businesses are looking to lead on climate change, but too many of their commitments are built on flawed “Net Zero” frameworks and “carbon offsets”. Authentic climate leadership requires more — a transparent and meaningful “Emissions 360” pledge that is focused on bringing emissions to zero, helping others do the same, and equitably addressing historic climate pollution.

Dr. Jonathan Foley

Jun 16 · 10 min read

The world’s conversations about climate change have fundamentally shifted during the last few years. We have moved beyond old debates around whether climate change is happening to more constructive discussions about addressing it.

That’s excellent news, even if we spent decades getting here.

In the rush to address climate change — or at least look like we are — we have seen many companies, industry groups, and countries stake out leadership positions. Many of them have made so-called “Net Zero” climate pledges, complete with fancy logos and bold-sounding names.

https://globalecoguy.org/the-world-needs-better-climate-pledges-4c3d969790d3

[jimfields33]

1. Getting 131 countries to do anything is difficult

I think we do the Paris accord and go from there. China needs to be on board fully as well as the United States.

[BeckyDem]

2. Yes, but we don't have a lot of time and we must get it right or too many

consequences from climate change will leave us without a remedy.

[jimfields33]

3. True. We already are too far gone and most countries are not doing a thing

About 20 out of 131 countries are even putting in some measures.

[Amishman]

4. China is a huge concern

Even if they agree to cut emissions, I have zero confidence in their actually doing what they promise.

A carbon reduction binding treaty, with enforcement mechanisms and independent measuring, plus a carbon tariff by all members on all trade from those who won't sign on.

[hunter]

5. The world needs to quit fossil fuels now.

Start shutting down the dirtiest industries tomorrow, close the last coal mines, oil refineries, and gas pipelines ten years from now.

Alas, that's not going to happen and we'll all have to suffer the consequences.

But it is something we could do if we willed it.

Remember the time just before World War II when so many people thought we could appease the Nazis and the Japanese Empire? Hell, many people in the U.S.A. thought the Nazis were good guys.

It's like that.

Most people haven't figured it out yet.

Maybe they will as increasingly bad things happen.

[Calculating]

6. How should we heat our homes in winter without gas?

The electrical needs would crash the power grid.

[CrackityJones75]

8. Great question and one people never answer.

I live in MN. I stay here because it might be habitable long term. But the winters are brutal some years. Not having heat isn’t an option.

We needed infrastructure 30 damn years ago to prep for this! I don’t have $80k to invest in solar on my own. And that is what it will take and that still will not get me enough energy to heat my home.

[BeckyDem]

9. But it is perfectly possible to heat buildings with very little or even no fossil fuels at all.

From a return to ancient building materials, to alternative heat sources such as drains and sunlight, it is becoming increasingly possible to warm homes without emitting CO2.

Tunnel vision

In Belgium, residential heating accounts for around 14% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Of that heat, the largest source of loss is through what goes down the drain and into the sewer. To try and recoup that loss, Broers has developed a prototype heat converter that can be installed in the sewers themselves.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200204-what-is-the-most-sustainable-way-to-heat-homes


We have to try a lot harder than we are at the moment.

[hunter]

10. How will people in cities of the U.S. Southwest live without water?

How will people living on the coasts survive rising sea levels?

How will people cope with frequent previously "1,000 year" floods?

It's all the same problem: global warming caused by fossil fuel use.

If we have to rebuild the electric grid with carbon free energy sources, if we have to power our transportation systems with electricity and carbon neutral synthetic fuels, if we have to super-insulate our homes, etc., then that's just what we have to do, damn the expense. Let the wealthy subsidize those who can't afford it.

The alternatives are worse.

We can only "afford" fossil fuels in the short term. In the long term fossil fuel use is likely to bring about the collapse of the world economy at least 90% of humanity depends upon.

If that world economy collapses then heating your home in the winter without gas will be the least of your concerns.

Instead you'll be wondering which of your frozen neighbors you'll be eating next and how best to cook them on your rocket stove.

Maybe they'll be stacked neatly outside in the ice alongside the cordwood.

Or maybe they'll be eating you.

[BeckyDem]

7. It is scary out there and one worry of many is, what will people do/go when their area of the world

is not sustainable any longer?