Often in the past, I have thought, “wouldn’t it be great if someone would invent a machine that would just suck the CO2 out of the air and sequester it in solid form and replace it with more oxygen” — a device that would effectively empower us to reverse the climate damage we are causing.
Then I realized the earth goddess “Mother Nature” bequeathed to us just such a device: trees.
But instead of planting them, growing them, spreading them and installing them everywhere we are pumping massive tonnage of CO2 into the atmosphere, and we are cutting down the ones we already have — often clear-cutting thousands of acres of prime forest — or burning them to re-release the solid forms of carbon they had sequestered.
If the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is to be believed, humanity has just over a decade to get carbon emissions under control before catastrophic climate change impacts become unavoidable.
The Republican Party generally ignores or denies that problem. But the Democratic Party claims to accept and understand it.
It is odd, then, that Democrats do not have a plan to address climate change.
Interesting that there’s more talk now of a carbon tax-and-dividend plan. It’s market-based, it doesn’t require a bunch of new regulations, and it hits the biggest carbon consumers while rewarding those who are frugal in their carbon use.
Too bad it’s still just talk. The bill introduced at the last moment (by Flake and Coons) would have to be re-introduced in the next session, and it was pathetically weak, with a tax of only $15 a ton. How about $500 a ton?
The Republicans have always been jumping up and down on anything green because they want to sell the oil and gas that are degrading the climate with CO2.
The premise of the toon is wrong. There is no authority in the US that is seriously considering doing anything about climate change. Some at the state level, none at the national level. The organized crime syndicate currently in charge is actually going backwards as fast as they can.
The most important fact about renewable energy is that it is profitable, and therefore unstoppable. Consider India, the world’s biggest laggard: India Coal Power Is About To Crash: 65% Of Existing Coal Costs More Than New Wind And Solar https://www.forbes.com/sites/energyinnovation/2018/01/30/india-coal-power-is-about-to-crash-65-of-existing-coal-costs-more-than-new-wind-and-solar/#3b178b9e4c0f
FIRST of all, please don’t feed the trolls (like george harmon). Second of all, a thought experiment: Would today’s money-inheritors be so damn hell-bent on science denial if they were NOT money inheritors? Would the victims of their con artistry of science denial pay much attention to the mony inheritors if they were NOT money inheritors? Discuss amongst yourselves.
What concerns me most is that the general public has so many worries that any evidence related to AGW or science in general whooshes right past them. So many people just don’t give a damn, especially those in 2nd & 3rd world countries. Voluntary, or perhaps especially mandatory sacrifices that must be made for our survival are extremely unpopular, and subject to being voted down in democracies.
What Mother Earth needs is a simple but masterful advertising campaign like none that has come before.
DD Wiz Premium Member over 5 years ago
Often in the past, I have thought, “wouldn’t it be great if someone would invent a machine that would just suck the CO2 out of the air and sequester it in solid form and replace it with more oxygen” — a device that would effectively empower us to reverse the climate damage we are causing.
Then I realized the earth goddess “Mother Nature” bequeathed to us just such a device: trees.
But instead of planting them, growing them, spreading them and installing them everywhere we are pumping massive tonnage of CO2 into the atmosphere, and we are cutting down the ones we already have — often clear-cutting thousands of acres of prime forest — or burning them to re-release the solid forms of carbon they had sequestered.
“They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot.”
Daeder over 5 years ago
If only someone had said something sooner! /s
DarthRevan over 5 years ago
Wow, the Earth is still habitable enough to grow that beanstalk.
mr_sherman Premium Member over 5 years ago
Tiny’s looking back—-to the seventeenth century.
superposition over 5 years ago
" …
If the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is to be believed, humanity has just over a decade to get carbon emissions under control before catastrophic climate change impacts become unavoidable.
The Republican Party generally ignores or denies that problem. But the Democratic Party claims to accept and understand it.
It is odd, then, that Democrats do not have a plan to address climate change.
…"https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/12/21/18144138/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez
Carl Premium Member over 5 years ago
Recycling old slogans and names is innovative?
Masterskrain Premium Member over 5 years ago
Zinke’s gone, so that IS a start…
Cerabooge over 5 years ago
Interesting that there’s more talk now of a carbon tax-and-dividend plan. It’s market-based, it doesn’t require a bunch of new regulations, and it hits the biggest carbon consumers while rewarding those who are frugal in their carbon use.
Too bad it’s still just talk. The bill introduced at the last moment (by Flake and Coons) would have to be re-introduced in the next session, and it was pathetically weak, with a tax of only $15 a ton. How about $500 a ton?
Radish the wordsmith over 5 years ago
The Republicans have always been jumping up and down on anything green because they want to sell the oil and gas that are degrading the climate with CO2.
Radish the wordsmith over 5 years ago
Trump said he would close the border with Mexico unless he gets his wall.
If he can close the border, why does he need a wall?
WestNYC Premium Member over 5 years ago
While the New Deal was good for the 1930’s, it won’t work for the 2020’s.
meetinthemiddle over 5 years ago
The premise of the toon is wrong. There is no authority in the US that is seriously considering doing anything about climate change. Some at the state level, none at the national level. The organized crime syndicate currently in charge is actually going backwards as fast as they can.
Mokurai over 5 years ago
The most important fact about renewable energy is that it is profitable, and therefore unstoppable. Consider India, the world’s biggest laggard: India Coal Power Is About To Crash: 65% Of Existing Coal Costs More Than New Wind And Solar https://www.forbes.com/sites/energyinnovation/2018/01/30/india-coal-power-is-about-to-crash-65-of-existing-coal-costs-more-than-new-wind-and-solar/#3b178b9e4c0f
Godfreydaniel over 5 years ago
FIRST of all, please don’t feed the trolls (like george harmon). Second of all, a thought experiment: Would today’s money-inheritors be so damn hell-bent on science denial if they were NOT money inheritors? Would the victims of their con artistry of science denial pay much attention to the mony inheritors if they were NOT money inheritors? Discuss amongst yourselves.
Guy Fawkes over 5 years ago
@martens – Fascinating information. Thanks.
What concerns me most is that the general public has so many worries that any evidence related to AGW or science in general whooshes right past them. So many people just don’t give a damn, especially those in 2nd & 3rd world countries. Voluntary, or perhaps especially mandatory sacrifices that must be made for our survival are extremely unpopular, and subject to being voted down in democracies.
What Mother Earth needs is a simple but masterful advertising campaign like none that has come before.