Quote:
Originally Posted by zeek
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"The plan will require individual states to meet specific standards with respect to
reduction of carbon dioxide emissions"
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is simply a bandaid. The only genuine "solution" would be to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. As the report that was just released points out we are already in the effects of Climate change. What it doesn't point out is that the system is elastic, based on the levels of carbon dioxide we have in the atmosphere we expect much higher effects, it simply takes time to kick in since this change has happened in a "split second" in geologic time.
All the plan intended was to reduce the rate at which the levels increase, not to actually reduce them. Also, Obama's plan only had force in the US, 5% of the world's population. So if successful he would reduce the rate at which 5% of the world is polluting. Again, a band aid.
Third, these plans are voluntary. What happens when all social order collapses like it has in Guatemala, or the Honduras, of Syria, Yemen, Puerto Rico, etc. As these areas are hammered they are not going to pay any attention, if they need to use extremely dirty generators after a catastrophe they will.
Have you considered how much carbon dioxide went into the air from the California fires. Is that factored in? Do they now say "Oh, sorry California, you have completely used up your quota in the fires", no? Then the whole plan is bogus, even if you did keep it the "exceptions to the rule" could easily outweigh any small reduction. It was a bandaid, not going to solve anything. Brace for impact.
Those who have been most active in the research and battle to do something no longer are focused on reducing emissions, rather they are looking at ways to adapt to the new reality. Floating cities, things like that. Maybe in the 70s we had a chance to make some meaningful changes that could have postponed judgement day, but as Arnold Schwarnegger said "judgement day is inevitable, you only postponed it".