Climate Change | UN Report: Code Red for humanity

Pogue Mahone said:
Just read a vaguely optimistic article on climate change. Get out there and plant trees, folks.
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In Germany the talk is big about the decrease of all kind of insects and with hit a lot of the nature - and especially the number of bees. So the newest trend is to get yourself your "private" beehive in your garden.

The only insects I am scared of are all this yellow-black insects that can fly... - I really get into panic when one is near me or flies into the room I am in.

My neighbour just celebrated the "birth" of his beehive - it stands near his garden fence just 5 metres away from my bedroom window... - despite temperatures near the 40s C last week I did not open my bedroom window in the nights as I am just too afraid that I awake with bees in my room in the mornings...
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Just read a vaguely optimistic article on climate change. Get out there and plant trees, folks.
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As we lose 1 football pitch every minute from the Amazon, then that'll take a massive amount of effort just to counter. If all the climate change stuff is correct, it very much looks to me means we've already sealed our fate. People complaining about refugees now have seen nothing of what is to come. Seems the economy and growth is far more important to the vast majority of governments to give 2 shits about the environment. Greed is leading the human population into some serious serious shite.
 
Red_toad said:
As we lose 1 football pitch every minute from the Amazon, then that'll take a massive amount of effort just to counter. If all the climate change stuff is correct, it very much looks to me means we've already sealed our fate. People complaining about refugees now have seen nothing of what is to come. Seems the economy and growth is far more important to the vast majority of governments to give 2 shits about the environment. Greed is leading the human population into some serious serious shite.
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It should be the number one issue around the world. All other issues should pale in comparison really. Sadly,like you say, greed and money are going to be the destruction of the planet and mankind. What kind of world are we leaving for our kids and grandkids?
 
Stookie said:
It should be the number one issue around the world. All other issues should pale in comparison really. Sadly,like you say, greed and money are going to be the destruction of the planet and mankind. What kind of world are we leaving for our kids and grandkids?
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Leaving them a load of pollution, oceans full of plastic, a weather system that will be extremely hostile to them and wars over resources and habitable land.
Somehow this is expected to be solved by technology we don’t have and investment from the pixies.
I’d say a lot of us will still be around as pretty frail older people who will get shafted over for allowing it to happen. Shame the likes of Trump will be long gone by the time it turns to shite.
 
Stookie said:
Oddly that’s what I’ve done today. 12 horsechestnuts and 6 oak. A couple of them self seeded in my garden so I potted them and I planted the rest to see if they came up. I’ve put them on the edge of the wood where I walk my dog where I think they’ll be ok.
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Interestingly enough we've been having massive problems with oaks in the Netherlands over the last couple of years, purely due to the higher temperatures or climate change.

The 'oak processionary' has been wreaking havoc on both humans and also very much dogs, thanks to the warmer climate they've come over from Southern European countries where they've traditionally been kept in place by natural enemies that aren't prevalent in the northwest. The caterpillars each have like 50k of toxic bristles that give severe irritation and can do damage to eyes and lungs, when released by the caterpillar they can stay active around the area for years and are only destroyed at temperatures above 600 celcius.

So far it's not been possible to properly eradicate them because no one knows exactly how, and there's not even enough specialists out there to manage them properly and the costs are high as well. Loads of busy areas throughout the country like cycling lanes between cities and popular walking routes in and near forrests are best avoided currently. Worst part is that there's a similar caterpillar for pine trees that might make its way over as well.
 
Red_toad said:
Leaving them a load of pollution, oceans full of plastic, a weather system that will be extremely hostile to them and wars over resources and habitable land.
Somehow this is expected to be solved by technology we don’t have and investment from the pixies.
I’d say a lot of us will still be around as pretty frail older people who will get shafted over for allowing it to happen. Shame the likes of Trump will be long gone by the time it turns to shite.
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I am a naturally positive person and some days I am slightly optimistic about the human race coming together to tackle the root causes of man made climate change. It is certainly not beyond human ingenuity to do that.

But, increasingly I am becoming more pessimistic.
This is primarily down to two basic reasons.
1. Lack of leadership.
Ok. The UK has passed a law making it legally binding on our country to be carbon neutral by 2050. But globally, it is almost impossible to get the necessary leadership with nearly 200 countries all with different agendas. And the USA leader behaving as if CC is just a conspiracy.
Only a global solution with solve a global problem.
2. Human Behaviour.
If I look around even at my local area, nothing has changed and people continue doing the same thing.
Driving their cars in the same way. In particular parking with the engine running so as to keep warm or keep cool.
Flying off not just for business but for a stag night or a short break.
Taking up their lawn and cutting down trees and bushes to have artificial grass laid.
Artificial grass. And boasting how they don't have to mow the lawns. How rediculously stupid is that.
How can we blame Brazil for cutting down their rain forest when we allow people to pave over their front garden and have artificial grass instead of a natural lawn.
 
Henrik Larsson said:
Interestingly enough we've been having massive problems with oaks in the Netherlands over the last couple of years, purely due to the higher temperatures or climate change.

The 'oak processionary' has been wreaking havoc on both humans and also very much dogs, thanks to the warmer climate they've come over from Southern European countries where they've traditionally been kept in place by natural enemies that aren't prevalent in the northwest. The caterpillars each have like 50k of toxic bristles that give severe irritation and can do damage to eyes and lungs, when released by the caterpillar they can stay active around the area for years and are only destroyed at temperatures above 600 celcius.

So far it's not been possible to properly eradicate them because no one knows exactly how, and there's not even enough specialists out there to manage them properly and the costs are high as well. Loads of busy areas throughout the country like cycling lanes between cities and popular walking routes in and near forrests are best avoided currently. Worst part is that there's a similar caterpillar for pine trees that might make its way over as well.
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Interesting. Not heard of this at all. I’m sure it will make it’s way here eventually as most things do. The latest one here in the U.K. is Ash die back which I’m sure you’ve heard about. I think it originally came from Denmark (could be wrong about that)
 
Buster15 said:
I am a naturally positive person and some days I am slightly optimistic about the human race coming together to tackle the root causes of man made climate change. It is certainly not beyond human ingenuity to do that.

But, increasingly I am becoming more pessimistic.
This is primarily down to two basic reasons.
1. Lack of leadership.
Ok. The UK has passed a law making it legally binding on our country to be carbon neutral by 2050. But globally, it is almost impossible to get the necessary leadership with nearly 200 countries all with different agendas. And the USA leader behaving as if CC is just a conspiracy.
Only a global solution with solve a global problem.
2. Human Behaviour.
If I look around even at my local area, nothing has changed and people continue doing the same thing.
Driving their cars in the same way. In particular parking with the engine running so as to keep warm or keep cool.
Flying off not just for business but for a stag night or a short break.
Taking up their lawn and cutting down trees and bushes to have artificial grass laid.
Artificial grass. And boasting how they don't have to mow the lawns. How rediculously stupid is that.
How can we blame Brazil for cutting down their rain forest when we allow people to pave over their front garden and have artificial grass instead of a natural lawn.
Click to expand...

The world should be paying brazil to maintain the rainforest tbh. Make it so outrageously financially valuable that the idea of cutting it down is just not in their interest regardless of circumstances or short term economic gain. I have similar fears to you. Tbh i like @Silva 's idea on the previous page. Its overdue imo
 
caid said:
The world should be paying brazil to maintain the rainforest tbh. Make it so outrageously financially valuable that the idea of cutting it down is just not in their interest regardless of circumstances or short term economic gain. I have similar fears to you. Tbh i like @Silva 's idea on the previous page. Its overdue imo
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Quite agree and it would easily be the most cost effective thing to do.
 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...trees-irelands-afforestation-meets-resistance

Seen this affect before. Ireland has, for a long time, been devoid of forests (save for a few areas) but planting these spruce trees almost exclusively isn’t the answer.
Deciduous forests do well in that climate too and support many forms of wildlife but these spruce forests seem bereft of life. I get it that they are quick growing but there needs to be a balance of spruce and deciduous.
 
utdalltheway said:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...trees-irelands-afforestation-meets-resistance

Seen this affect before. Ireland has, for a long time, been devoid of forests (save for a few areas) but planting these spruce trees almost exclusively isn’t the answer.
Deciduous forests do well in that climate too and support many forms of wildlife but these spruce forests seem bereft of life. I get it that they are quick growing but there needs to be a balance of spruce and deciduous.
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I suppose what were currently seeing are decisions made 30 years ago. Its hard to judge todays policies on that measure. Theres some encouraging marketing bullshit at the end of the article.
 
caid said:
I suppose what were currently seeing are decisions made 30 years ago. Its hard to judge todays policies on that measure. Theres some encouraging marketing bullshit at the end of the article.
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It’s been going on for ages and still going on. Profit before bio diversity.
 
Buster15 said:
How can we blame Brazil for cutting down their rain forest when we allow people to pave over their front garden and have artificial grass instead of a natural lawn.
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The usual trimmed lawn is not much better. We need much more natural gardens with wild growing plants.
 
Blackwidow said:
The usual trimmed lawn is not much better. We need much more natural gardens with wild growing plants.
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Yes. Exactly that. We have a wonderful garden which is on very sandy soil.
Correction. It is just sand and the very best thing we have done is to leave about half of it to wild. You would be surprised how quickly it has turned into a really beautiful area. Full of insects and birds and squirrels.
It is just stunning now.
 
A common joke around here is that people would prefer the fields in the farms to go fallow than lose their green lawn.

Uses up tremendous water resources at a time the western US is facing critical water shortages.
 
utdalltheway said:
It’s been going on for ages and still going on. Profit before bio diversity.
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Yeah, I don't see the purpose behind cutting them down. Depending on how its used it makes the environmental benefits redundant. We should be planting expressly for the Carbon offset, biodiversity and general environmental benefits. How quickly we can chop it down again and sell it just shouldn't be relevant. Planting a forest on top of or around someones home also seems misguided, unless there's a medium term plan to move people out of the area.
 
Green_Red said:
So I read the other day about that arctic fox that travelled from Norway to Canada on sea ice. Not sure how anyone else reacted but my first thought was "Norway to Canada... on sea ice... I thought the ice was all melting". The route included Greenland. Bizarre really. What are peoples thoughts on it?
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That it's a long journey.
 
I've just had an argument with a customer over electric cars. We were talking about Jay Leno and his classic cars when I mentioned Honda's new electric car, the guy starts getting heated and starts arguing about how it's a waste of Human resources and that electric cars will never take off. This guy is 40years old
 
Buster15 said:
I am a naturally positive person and some days I am slightly optimistic about the human race coming together to tackle the root causes of man made climate change. It is certainly not beyond human ingenuity to do that.

But, increasingly I am becoming more pessimistic.
This is primarily down to two basic reasons.
1. Lack of leadership.
Ok. The UK has passed a law making it legally binding on our country to be carbon neutral by 2050. But globally, it is almost impossible to get the necessary leadership with nearly 200 countries all with different agendas. And the USA leader behaving as if CC is just a conspiracy.
Only a global solution with solve a global problem.
2. Human Behaviour.
If I look around even at my local area, nothing has changed and people continue doing the same thing.
Driving their cars in the same way. In particular parking with the engine running so as to keep warm or keep cool.
Flying off not just for business but for a stag night or a short break.
Taking up their lawn and cutting down trees and bushes to have artificial grass laid.
Artificial grass. And boasting how they don't have to mow the lawns. How rediculously stupid is that.
How can we blame Brazil for cutting down their rain forest when we allow people to pave over their front garden and have artificial grass instead of a natural lawn.
Click to expand...

Noticed people parked up with their cars running last week in the heat, obviously with air con running to keep cool which uses even more fuel. I was out doing the gardening in 28 degrees no problem.

Continuing with gardens, a big problem is people putting up these concrete and wood panel fences. My house is quite old and has hawthorn hedges, not only do birds and insects love them they also let through many animals. Concrete fences don't allow for animals to go from garden to garden and they just get blocked and die out, then there's the cost of production of concrete panels and posts, the transporting of these heavy pieces on a diesel wagon, the all the power used to fit them in the garden.

It's funny how in the old days all the houses near me had some kind of hedge as a border or fence, they had it right. A natural fence that last for 400 hundred years yet in the 80s and to this day we're still going crazy fitting these eyesore concrete panel fences with the crappiest wood probably shipped from the other side of the world and people have to paint them with all sort of chemicals manufactured and put into millions of plastic paint tubs shipped to Homebase and B&Q where you get in your car to go out and buy them.
 
RedTiger said:
I've just had an argument with a customer over electric cars. We were talking about Jay Leno and his classic cars when I mentioned Honda's new electric car, the guy starts getting heated and starts arguing about how it's a waste of Human resources and that electric cars will never take off. This guy is 40years old
Click to expand...
Electric cars are definitely the future. Read something the other day where it says electric cars currently make up 1% of all cars out on the road. In 10 years that number is supposed to grow to 30%. I'm due for a new car soon, and it'll likely be the last gas car I'll ever own. In 5 years or so, figure all the kinks in electric cars will be ironed out.
 
Man of Leisure said:
Electric cars are definitely the future. Read something the other day where it says electric cars currently make up 1% of all cars out on the road. In 10 years that number is supposed to grow to 30%. I'm due for a new car soon, and it'll likely be the last gas car I'll ever own. In 5 years or so, figure all the kinks in electric cars will be ironed out.
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I would argue for Tesla they are pretty much ironed out right now except for pricing.
 
mav_9me said:
I would argue for Tesla they are pretty much ironed out right now except for pricing.
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Just the other day, my co-worker had to take her Tesla model 3 in due to some off-putting odor coming from the air vents. Turned out it was a known issue with the air filter or something. Not a big deal, but growing pains that a relatively new car manufacturer is going through. In the 6 months or so that she’s had it, she’s taken it to the dealership three times. I’ve heard similar stories from other Tesla owners. However, they all still claim to love their Teslas.
 
My one issue with electric cars being the future is the vast amount of comparatively rare material required to build and maintain the number of batteries that'll be demanded. What's the world's total extractable lithium and for how long would it last if we all converted to electric cars en masse?

As far as I can see by far the most important key to sustainable future transport is the development of a battery who's raw materials do not stem from limited stock. Far more dosh needs to be made available to the research being done in this area.
 
Ekkie Thump said:
My one issue with electric cars being the future is the vast amount of comparatively rare material required to build and maintain the number of batteries that'll be demanded. What's the world's total extractable lithium and for how long would it last if we all converted to electric cars en masse?

As far as I can see by far the most important key to sustainable future transport is the development of a battery who's raw materials do not stem from limited stock. Far more dosh needs to be made available to the research being done in this area.
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There's the minor matter of the source of the electricity used to power them as well.
 
Ekkie Thump said:
My one issue with electric cars being the future is the vast amount of comparatively rare material required to build and maintain the number of batteries that'll be demanded. What's the world's total extractable lithium and for how long would it last if we all converted to electric cars en masse?

As far as I can see by far the most important key to sustainable future transport is the development of a battery who's raw materials do not stem from limited stock. Far more dosh needs to be made available to the research being done in this area.
Click to expand...

hydrogen? - always seemed a better solution to me
Its tricky to transport but when petrol cars started people thought the same there and there is already a distribution network and filling stations which could probably be somewhat retrofitted and utilized
The electricity grids and power distribution models are not set up for a quick switch en-masse to Battery cars... changing the grid model is a lot of work - decades probably without rolling blackouts
 
sun_tzu said:
hydrogen? - always seemed a better solution to me
Its tricky to transport but when petrol cars started people thought the same there and there is already a distribution network and filling stations which could probably be somewhat retrofitted and utilized
The electricity grids and power distribution models are not set up for a quick switch en-masse to Battery cars... changing the grid model is a lot of work - decades probably without rolling blackouts
Click to expand...

I'm not sure - If i remember right (it's a couple of years since I read up on it) the fuel cells in hydrogen powered cars tended to use a fair amount of platinum and other exotic materials. Don't know if this is still the case but if that could be sorted out it might be the best solution. You've definitely got a point about petrol stations and problems converting the grid.
 
Organic Potatoes said:
There's the minor matter of the source of the electricity used to power them as well.
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That's true - but then again one of the main technical issues with switching to 100% renewables is the lack of an effective means of storage.
 
Organic Potatoes said:
There's the minor matter of the source of the electricity used to power them as well.
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Is that really that much of an issue though? Combustion engine cars are for sure emitting CO2, electric cars might emit CO2 depending on where you got your electricity from on any given day. What's actually the efficiency of an electric car these days? Combustion engines aren't that efficient so it might actually not matter per carbon atom anyway.
Ekkie Thump said:
I'm not sure - If i remember right (it's a couple of years since I read up on it) the fuel cells in hydrogen powered cars tended to use a fair amount of platinum and other exotic materials. Don't know if this is still the case but if that could be sorted out it might be the best solution. You've definitely got a point about petrol stations and problems converting the grid.
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Yeah platinum is still the most viable catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in a fuel cell. It's not perfect but better than anything else we've tried so far. It's not that you need large amounts of it per car, it's just that we'd need, as far as I remember, about 50 years worth of platinum to convert e.g. the entire American car fleet to fuel cell cars so it's not really viable on the large scale at present (which raises the question of whether everyone should expect to have a car). I'm sure there's a place for hydrogen as an energy carrier in the future, because frankly we need everything we can get.
Ekkie Thump said:
That's true - but then again one of the main technical issues with switching to 100% renewables is the lack of an effective means of storage.
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In some way more electric cars could be imagined to alleviate this as you'd just use them as storage to some degree in a smart grid.
But we probably can't get around developing good electrocatalysts though.
 
redshaw said:
Noticed people parked up with their cars running last week in the heat, obviously with air con running to keep cool which uses even more fuel. I was out doing the gardening in 28 degrees no problem.

Continuing with gardens, a big problem is people putting up these concrete and wood panel fences. My house is quite old and has hawthorn hedges, not only do birds and insects love them they also let through many animals. Concrete fences don't allow for animals to go from garden to garden and they just get blocked and die out, then there's the cost of production of concrete panels and posts, the transporting of these heavy pieces on a diesel wagon, the all the power used to fit them in the garden.

It's funny how in the old days all the houses near me had some kind of hedge as a border or fence, they had it right. A natural fence that last for 400 hundred years yet in the 80s and to this day we're still going crazy fitting these eyesore concrete panel fences with the crappiest wood probably shipped from the other side of the world and people have to paint them with all sort of chemicals manufactured and put into millions of plastic paint tubs shipped to Homebase and B&Q where you get in your car to go out and buy them.
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Man after my own heart I am delighted to say. We have no fences at all. Only hedges mainly pyracantha as the birds eat the berries in the autumn and winter.
Also box as it is evergreen and beech.
Yes they are a bit labour intensive to clip but hey. Our bodies evolved to exercise and use our muscles. Something people seem to forget about. Even a fence needs treating as you say with chemicals so still requires effort.
 
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