this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2023

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Is NZ too small to make a difference on climate change? (mas.to)

submitted 1 year ago by rimu to c/newzealand

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Now the climate crisis is self-evident, a common argument by those who STILL defend polluters is that “NZ is too small to make a difference, and so shouldn’t have to stop intensive dairy farming or driving Ford rangers to school in Auckland”

Rod Carr destroys it in this mic-drop moment.

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[–] BalpeenHammer -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I disagree. I don't think .1 degree matters and I don't think there is anything we can do to cool the earth by .1 degree or even prevent another .1 degree rise.

It's truly too late. Even we got to carbon zero tomorrow the carbon in the atmosphere right now is going to have devastating impact for years to come.

Our only hope is that we somehow missed a feedback mechanism and it kicks in.

[+] SamC 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

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[–] BalpeenHammer 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The IPCC has been drastically underestimating the rates and magnitude of climate change in all of their forecasts. It’s clear they are putting politics and PR above science in order not to panic the population.

I just don’t trust them to represent the actual science in the matter.

[+] SamC 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

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[–] BalpeenHammer -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This has nothing to do with trust. They put out forecasts and we know with 100% certainty that all of their forecasts underestimated how much warming there was going to be and how fast.

Why would you give them your blind trust after such a performance?

Do you really believe they were wrong in all of their previous forecasts but now they are right?

And to counter your disgusting accusation that I am anti science:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations. It's not "the climate scientists". It's a political body and it's obvious that it's white washing what their scientists are telling them and bowing to political pressure.

So fuck off with your insult and calling me a science denier.

[+] SamC 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

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[–] BalpeenHammer 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Where is the scientific evidence that says it’s too late and there’s nothing we can do?

The collection of studies which show that all the predictions of the IPCC so far have underestimated both the magnitude and the velocity of climate change.

[+] SamC 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

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[–] BalpeenHammer 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But it’s a huge jump from “things are worse than we thought” to “things are hopeless, there’s nothing we can do”.

It's not a huge jump.

Have you seen this?

https://www.axios.com/2023/05/01/ocean-temperature-spike-climate

If we bring emissions down to near zero by around 2050, things will be way better than they could be.

What makes you think that's even possible. There has not been one year in the entire history of mankind where global carbon emissions were less than the previous year. How do you think we will get to zero.

[+] SamC 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

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[–] BalpeenHammer 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

First, that parts not true. Emissions in 2020 dropped around 7%. It was largely due to COVID lockdowns, but still shows it’s possible.

Did the global emissions drop or did the rate of increase drop?

And what makes you think that because something has never been done before it can’t be done now?

Because the mechanisms that caused the problem are still in place and you aren't going to upend capitalism anytime soon.

he people with the money (e.g. fossil fuel giants) would absolutely love for us to do nothing, because they’ll be able to keep raking it in.

No they want you to do stuff and take responsibility so they don't have to. There is a reason you think the burden is on you and me instead of the corporations and the governments.