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Many Nations Pin Climate Hopes On China, India As Hopes For Trump Fade (reuters.com)

Twelve readers share a Reuters report: Many countries are pinning their hopes on China and India to lead efforts to slow climate change amid a growing sense of resignation that U.S. President Donald Trump will either withdraw from a global pact or stay and play a minimal role. Delegates at the May 8-18 negotiations in Bonn on a detailed "rule book" for the 2015 Paris Agreement, the first U.N. talks since Trump took office, say there is less foreboding than when Washington last broke with global climate efforts in 2001. Trump doubts global warming has a human cause and says he will decide on a campaign threat to "cancel" the Paris Agreement, the first to bind all nations to set goals to curb emissions, after a group of Seven summit in Italy on May 26-27. "The time when one big player could affect the whole game is past," said Ronald Jumeau, climate ambassador for the Seychelles. "There would be a void without the U.S., but China and India seem to be increasing their effort." Big emitters led by China, the European Union and India have reaffirmed their commitment to Paris, which seeks to phase out greenhouse gas emissions this century by shifting to clean energies. By contrast, Trump wants to favor U.S. coal.

335 comments

  1. Trump version of... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Leading from behind.

    1. Re:Trump version of... by PoopJuggler · · Score: 0

      Except destroying the habitat we live in and need for survival is jumping off a cliff, and everyone else is smart enough to see it and take appropriate measures.

    2. Re:Trump version of... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      When everyone else is jumping off a cliff, last is the best spot to be in.

      I suspect Trump will be jumping off the cliff once he runs out of staff members to throw off the cliff.

    3. Re:Trump version of... by mspohr · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I agree. The world is indeed going off a cliff with climate change. Most people realize that we need to stop burning fossil fuels and that the economy will be stronger based on renewable solar and wind energy. It's a shame that the US is led by an ignorant, racist moron whose only interest is his personal wealth and ego. This means we are first off the cliff. Congratulations to India and China (and many other countries) who are trying to keep from jumping off the cliff.

      --
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    4. Re:Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      fool

    5. Re:Trump version of... by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Yeah...I'll believe it when I SEE as far as China and India going full in to get rid of fossil fuels and start being the "clean" countries in the world.

      I suppose if we see them actually do anything meaningful, then we in the US can look in on it again.

      In the US, we've already made great strides in cleaner air...time to sit back and let the rest of the world and the worst polluters make some serious changes, and only then we start risking our economy on overregulation of energy industries that power our economy in so many ways.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    6. Re: Trump version of... by guruevi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The problem is that although solar and wind are decent peak generators, people have been eschewing clean base load generation for decades. Natural gas, nuclear and hydro power, even wind power has been under attack from all forms of "nature freaks" the only thing that doesn't piss anyone off today is solar and coal because we already have coal and they don't understand the environmental impact of silicon production.

      People that support Greenpeace and similar alt-environment organizations need to understand that people aren't willing or capable to go back to nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles.

      --
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    7. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let's be followers, not leaders. USA, we are number 32! We are number 32!

    8. Re:Trump version of... by bjdevil66 · · Score: 1, Troll

      based on renewable solar and wind energy

      I agree on the climate change issue and that we should stick to pushing forward with moving away from PRIMARILY using fossil fuels, but a U.S. economy based on wind + solar is impossible - a pipe dream. Don't act like a climate change denier; Look at the numbers. Wind and solar can't cover a fraction of what the U.S. consumes, and until a major energy breakthrough happens and is implemented, we're going to have to burn SOME coal.

      How do you expect educated people to take the pro-climate-change POV seriously when you're making claims like that?

      And the whole vitriol for Trump thing is wearing super thin. Remember how the Dems felt about the Kenyan birth certificate "issue", and how retarded and pointless it all sounded? Well, guess what the Dems look like when they're complaining about the whole Trump/Russia connection. They are no better than Trump himself and any other retard who challenged Obama over that birth certificate.

    9. Re: Trump version of... by sycodon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I suspect that the "nature freaks" see all this not as a goal to be achieved, but a tool to push their agenda.

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    10. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Come on comrade, where the hell are you getting your info from? Greenpeace hates coal. Most US environmental groups support wind. Just because people might say some renewable sources need refinement doesn't mean they oppose them. It's just the Alt-Right facts don't give anyone a chance to listen to the legitimate concerns of people. They are too busy pushing Führer Bannon's White nationalist agenda. This is what happens when the loons get online.

    11. Re:Trump version of... by MightyMartian · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The impacts of climate change are going to be very severe on these two countries. Considering how far behind they're coming from, the fact that they aren't just sticking their heads in the sand and declaring "AGW is a lie!" says something, even if they have long ways to go.

      The fact of the matter is that oil isn't going to die the death everyone thought it would even ten years ago, when it was assumed peak oil would hit at some point and oil would leap to several hundreds or even thousands of dollars of barrel. It's dying a death of oversupply, and with the likelihood that electric and other energy sources will overtake it over the next few decades (certainly not 10 years, that's way overoptimistic), it's just going to fade away.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    12. Re:Trump version of... by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      When China and India have enacted the same level of air and water pollution controls as the US does now, call us, and we'll discuss what, if anything is needed globally going forward. Until then, spare us the faux outrage over the EEEeeevil Polluter USA.

    13. Re: Trump version of... by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Let's be followers, not leaders. USA, we are number 32! We are number 32!

      When it comes to risking our economy with overregulation, then yes, I say we follow and let someone else "lead" for awhile.

      I think it IS time to let the other countries of the world show for real that they are willing to take the economic risks to do this and not us.

      The US has already cleaned up its act FAR more than the leading polluters in the world have done, so why not hang back and bit and let's see if China really means what it says on this commitment.

      If China actually *does* cut their pollution down and take the drastic steps required to do this in any reasonable period of time, then the US should take another look at joining in.

      But no reason for us to be almost the only one that self imposes these regulations on ourselves and putting our economy at risk vs the other countries in the world that only pay lip service to these agreements.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    14. Re: Trump version of... by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      Natural gas isn't clean, it's merely cleaner than coal. Nuclear is extraordinarily expensive and leaves behind some pretty nasty waste. Hydro works, but requires ready water supply and the right geography.

      In the end, we're just going to have to develop better batteries or other energy storage techniques.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    15. Re: Trump version of... by mspohr · · Score: 2

      Several solid studies have shown that the world's energy need can be met by renewables

      --
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    16. Re: Trump version of... by mspohr · · Score: 1

      Batteries

      --
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    17. Re:Trump version of... by GLMDesigns · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Except a treaty that puts you in a disadvantage while it lets China and India pollute away is a STUPID treaty.

      Unless your goal is to pretend to do something for the environment while your real goal is income redistribution from the evil industrialized countries to the virtuous developing countries.

      --
      If you're scared of your govt then you need to further restrict its powers
      Vote 3rd Party in 2016 and beyond
    18. Re: Trump version of... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Natural gas, nuclear and hydro power, even wind power has been under attack from all forms of "nature freaks"

      Bollocks.

      Nuclear was going to be big in China, but after Fukushima they cancelled anything not already started as the risk and cost became clearer.

      Hydro... Well, as you love to keep pointing out, they had a pretty bad experience with it. You know that, you keep posting about it when trying to make pro-nuclear points, but suddenly now it's a great option because it supports your flawed argument.

      China does use some gas, but doesn't have that much of it and doesn't want to be reliant on imports. They have plenty of wind and solar and are building up energy storage fast too. Coal use has been declining for a few years too. It's working.

      Oh, and the idea that "nature freaks" have the kind of influence over the Chinese government needed to cause massive changes in energy policy, changes that you seem sure are for the worse, is laughable.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
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    19. Re:Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When everyone else is jumping off a cliff, last is the best spot to be in.

      That all depends on why they are jumping. Obligatory xkcd.

    20. Re:Trump version of... by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Saying hopes for Trump on climate issues "fade" is implying they were ever there to begin with. Was anyone ever that uninformed to think that Trump was going to be some environmental crusader?

      If you want Trump to do anything about climate change, get behind nuclear to replace coal for base load power generation, which I'd imagine he'd support. A large number of environmentalists have, for many decades now, been hurting their own cause by blocking nuclear at every opportunity, allowing perfect to be the enemy of good.

      Of course, it won't happen, as some environmentalist would apparently rather see the apocalypse occur than build more nuke plants. Many of those people have even been going after *hydro* in recent years, which is about as clean as large-scale power generation is going to get. It weakens environmental arguments when practical solutions seem to be rejected out of hand.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    21. Re: Trump version of... by GLMDesigns · · Score: 1

      Let's not forget the reasonable people who comprise Antifa and BLM.

      --
      If you're scared of your govt then you need to further restrict its powers
      Vote 3rd Party in 2016 and beyond
    22. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're right about nuclear and hydro, but ass-backwards on coal and natural gas. Natural Gas has been the base load source of choice for at least a decade now. Coal plants aren't being built in significant numbers in the US any more - and those that are built are outnumbered by the number of plants shut down and replaced with gas. Even China is getting in on this, with huge numbers of coal plant projects being cancelled. This is happening because because coal plants are heavily polluting, more expensive to build, and can't be fired up or shut down quickly. They have exactly zero advantages over gas, either economically or otherwise, and the energy sector has responded accordingly.

    23. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It seems money is your primary motivating factor. That doesn't speak well of your intelligence. Your desires to deregulate would negatively impact large numbers of people, would increase sickness and death, and would increase pollution.

      Go fuck yourself.

    24. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Indeed, a DOE analysis found that the midwest US has enough wind to produce 10x the electricity the whole country uses.

      For a tech site, Slashdot seems to have a lot of people who think that the way things are today is the way they will always be, when that has never been the case.

    25. Re: Trump version of... by guruevi · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Batteries are far from clean as well, the cheapest ones we have are full of lead and the best ones we have are full of lithium and all have a lifespan of 3-5 years.

      Natural gas is great as auxiliary power and burns pretty close to optimal.

      Nuclear can be clean if we wouldn't worry so much about the rogue employee running of with a nearly useless yet personally lethal portion of weapons grade uranium. We're throwing away significant amounts of fuel because of some Cold War fears and wasting more on litigation than it would cost in the first place.

      Any amount of energy we generate is going to have some impact. Everybody knows coal and oil is not the way to go but the point is that everyone equally opposes any alternative.

      --
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    26. Re:Trump version of... by budgenator · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Except destroying the habitat we live in and need for survival is jumping off a cliff, and everyone else is smart enough to see it and take appropriate measures.

      I don't get who this We everybody keeps talking about is. It certainly can't be the United States, our GHG emissions are trending down, our transportation fleet has had significant emissions controls for the last 50 years and our country has more trees than it did in the 1850's. Our world is getting greener, not just the US and it's due primarily to CO2 fertilization.

      We show a persistent and widespread increase of growing season integrated LAI (greening) over 25% to 50% of the global vegetated area, whereas less than 4% of the globe shows decreasing LAI (browning). Factorial simulations with multiple global ecosystem models show that CO2 fertilization effects explain 70% of the observed greening trend Zhu, Z., et al., 2016. Greening of the Earth and its drivers

      Most of the habitat destruction is done by poor brown people trying to law their way out of energy poverty; environmentalism is a middle-class luxury.

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
    27. Re: Trump version of... by jimbo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It is sad to hear this sort of conversation. Climate change is not about "us vs. them" or whose turn it is, it's about climate change, a global issue and how the impacts are already devastating today in many parts of the world and will be more so for our children.

      What if China didn't do anything (they are waking up to it, fortunately)? Should we just let everything go to hell then?

      Everybody needs work hard on this issue, right now. We don't have time for petty bickering. Stragglers will have to be influenced to catch up.

      And no, US is not "almost the only one" self-imposing regulations. Furthermore, in the long run climate change would be far far more costly than preventative measures.

    28. Re: Trump version of... by cayenne8 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It is sad to hear this sort of conversation. Climate change is not about "us vs. them" or whose turn it is, it's about climate change, a global issue

      Well, it isn't JUST climate change, there are economic factors.

      I'm not willing for my life and lifestyle to go to hell tomorrow in order to "maybe" make a change in decades to a century from now. There has to be reasonable compromise, we just can turn the lights off all and once. And the US can't do it while the rest of the world (and our competitors) do not.

      I mean, to use an extreme example, the US could turn off all electricity generation, transportation, etc..that is fossil fuel based tomorrow.

      We'd suffer a LOT...and yet, if the rest of the world, especially China and the like kept at normal levels, the change to the global climate would not be major, nothing that much would slow down or change...certainly not in our lifetime.

      Till now those countries haven't done jack shit on this climate thing. The US, we have...we've burdened our businesses with regulations that hamper their ability to compete with China and other places for manufacturing.

      Until those countries not only pledge, but VERIFIABLY do the same things, then yes, we as the US should hold up and wait for them to catch up.

      You said it yourself, it takes everyone doing this...and till now, the US has taken its share but most of the world has not. Time to quit putting ourselves at a self induced disadvantage till the others come on board and PROVE they are doing it.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    29. Re: Trump version of... by budgenator · · Score: 0

      If China actually *does* cut their pollution down and take the drastic steps required to do this in any reasonable period of time, then the US should take another look at joining in.

      China has already committed to canceling the construction of 100 coal fired power plant, 100/2100 is a 4% reduction! Yeah that'll make a difference! \sarc

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
    30. Re:Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the whole vitriol for Trump thing is wearing super thin.

      Look, I can sympathize with this. Really I can - I was sick of this shit long before the election. The problem is that all of Trump's political success, such at it is, stems from generating outrage. He's like a political shock-jock, and like a shock-jock he thrives on the attention, but that attention requires constantly one-upping himself.

      So this vitriol that you and I and probably everyone else is tired of - it isn't the same vitriol that it was last week. Every fucking few days there's some new outrage coming out of the White House and as tired as we all may be, this is how it's going to go for the next four years. Barring impeachment. Which sounds completely plausible at this point.

      Also, what's this "impossible" business when it comes to renewable energy? I am looking at the numbers and I see exponential growth in renewable power capacity and a rather jaw-dropping drop in cost-per-megawatt for photovoltaics - 96% over the last ten years. And it's still going down. Here. Solar is cheaper than everything save wind, natural gas, and geothermal.

    31. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Many claims, no links.

      Many expectations that without the US, remediating global warming would fail yet also claiming that other country's efforts matter while ignoring the largest polluters.

      It's a prisoner's dilemma where we already know the other side defected. What are we going to do? Lose and let the selfish prosper, lose and not let the selfish prosper, or wait and hope for a better outcome?

    32. Re: Trump version of... by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 1

      If China doesn't do anything then our own actions mean nothing.

        United States could reduce pollution to zero and it would not change the outcome if nobody else cuts.

    33. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Do us all a favour and go bathe downstream of one of your Utopian unregulated chemical plants.

    34. Re: Trump version of... by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 1

      Of course they could... but at what price? Are you willing to pay 50 cents per KWh? I'm not...

    35. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Several solid studies have shown that the world's energy need can be met by renewables

      Yet you could not cite a single one, or use a period at the end of your sentence. There is not practical possibility to operate all our energy needs on renewable resources. So many people forget that batteries and solar panels are not renewable.

    36. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It doesn't take everyone doing it to make it work. Every contribution helps. Not to mention that it puts extra pressure on the holdouts.

      It's a sad reflection on the present-day US mindset that says that we think we have to wallow in our own filth to be competitive. Not at all like the "US ingenuity can make it better" view post-WWII that you can see in old videos of Walt Disney.

    37. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If your idea of 'over-regulation' is having clean air to breathe, clean water coming out of the tap, clean soil to plant food crops in, clean soil underneath the playgrounds your kids are playing in, coastal cities that aren't disappearing under rising ocean levels, honeybees that pollinate our crops not going extinct because of widespread use of highly toxic herbicides and pesticides, humans not having severe chronic health problems because of highly toxic herbicide and pesticide residues in their food, and in general a world that isn't so increasingly toxic to all forms of life that everything gets sick and dies? Then I'll take the so-called 'over-regulation', until such a time as greedy fucktards are removed from the equation, and therefore we stop being poisoned and destroyed all in the name of short-term profit.

    38. Re:Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd say I'd like to shove him off a cliff myself, but I know damned well that the line for that is long and getting longer every single day.
      I want Tom Kirkman for POTUS, and Elizabeth McCord for Secretary of State.
      By the way you know things are bad when someone wants characters from TV as their political leaders. We've reached that point so far as I'm concerned.

    39. Re: Trump version of... by sexconker · · Score: 2

      Cancelling 100/2100 new plants is not a reduction. It's just less growth.

    40. Re:Trump version of... by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      He leads from behind so that it's easier for him to grab some ass.

    41. Re: Trump version of... by grumpyman · · Score: 1

      It's easy to say US "cleaned up its act FAR more" given US is a developed country vs China/India where their citizen leads a life that is not comparable with US.

    42. Re: Trump version of... by Rakarra · · Score: 2

      It seems money is your primary motivating factor

      Of course it is. Money is the primary way in which people in civilizations exchange value.

    43. Re: Trump version of... by budgenator · · Score: 1

      Worse than that, at least the cancellations will undoubtedly be replacement for old, inefficient highly polluting coal plant by cleaner, more efficient plants.

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
    44. Re:Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bad analogy. This is more like pissing into the reservoir you drink from, but you don't care right now because only the plebs drink the water off the top. When there's so much piss that even you start tasting it, you'll wish you'd smartened up long ago.

    45. Re: Trump version of... by MightyMartian · · Score: 1

      There are other kinds of energy storage systems than batteries, and the point of a large scale electric grid, like the ones in Europe and North America, is that you can have multiple energy production sources feeding into the grid. This isn't an either-or situation. Nuclear is part of the solution, but I do not see it ever being the most significant factor, and natural gas, like other fossil fuels, is a finite resource. In the long term, unless we discover cheap fusion processes, it is renewables.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    46. Re: Trump version of... by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      What if China didn't do anything (they are waking up to it, fortunately)? Should we just let everything go to hell then?

      Possibly. Because it HAS to be "fair." There has never been a civilization so uniformly altruistic that they'll just sacrifice their well being to benefit those not in their civilization. That's not how we evolved as people, and don't look for humanity to outgrow tribalism any time soon. Efforts to push against something so deeply ingrained in us on a societal level have always ended in failure.

      So if you ever want something like this to actually WORK, it has to be fair, with sacrifice shared at all. Don't look to one to take the hit if others won't follow.

    47. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      The US has already cleaned up its act FAR more than the leading polluters in the world have done, so why not hang back and bit and let's see if China really means what it says on this commitment.

      The US is 2nd overall in CO2 output (7th per capita). If you've done a lot to clean up your act, it's because your act was pretty fucking bad to begin with. Wielding that as an excuse is akin to banks paying a few million in fines after bilking billions out the populace.

    48. Re: Trump version of... by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      If your idea of 'over-regulation' is having clean air to breathe, clean water coming out of the tap, clean soil to plant food crops in, clean soil underneath the playgrounds your kids are playing in, [ etcetc ]

      And who pays for that? Those things cost money. Who pays? If you say "Well, X is going to pay for this so X, Y, and Z can benefit while Y and Z do squat," then expect that X will not be terribly thrilled with that deal.

    49. Re: Trump version of... by Rakarra · · Score: 2

      Come on comrade, where the hell are you getting your info from? Greenpeace hates coal

      Greenpeace hates coal, but they also hate nuclear. They also detest the creation of man-made lakes to power hydro. They don't like anything that's reliable, and they love the idea of returning to a more simple, in-tune-with-nature time, IE, not using energy in the first place.

    50. Re:Trump version of... by Rakarra · · Score: 1

      If you want Trump to do anything about climate change, get behind nuclear to replace coal for base load power generation, which I'd imagine he'd support.

      Maybe. Nuclear competes most directly with coal, and "bringing back coal" was one of his big campaign planks. More nuclear means less coal, something I'm 100% in favor of, but it goes against Trump's campaign.

    51. Re: Trump version of... by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      It's easy to say US "cleaned up its act FAR more" given US is a developed country vs China/India where their citizen leads a life that is not comparable with US.

      So...by that logic, you're saying the the US should keep making tough choices and limiting our lifestyle, and it won't all "be good" till we have the same level lifestyle as those countries, and THEN...we have given enough to the cause of global warming (or whatever they're calling it this week)?

      Sorry, I kinda like my lifestyle and level of comfort and convenience in my life.

      I'm not THAT willing to give it up for perceived/hypothetical predictions of better life in a future long after I'm dead and gone and not there to enjoy it...?

      I apologize, I"m just not that altruistic.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    52. Re: Trump version of... by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

      The thing w/ environmental regulation is that it almost universally requires a decrease in productivity/standard of living (across just about any metric, pick one). Which is politically, and realistically a non-starter. At least for those who are directly effected by loss of income or a decrease in living standards.

      If the air gets marginally cleaner at the cost of X number of jobs, was it worth it? At what value of 'X' does the break-even point occur?

      And what do you mean by 'influenced to catch up'? Because cutesy freshman-level idealism aside, how do you propose doing that exactly?

      For example, do you think the guy hacking away at the amazon to make grazing land for cattle so he can feed his family cares about deforestation? At least in relation to his livelihood and the well being of his children? Sure we're all worse off as a result of his actions, but how do you tell him his kids are going to starve?

      Is your viewpoint more valid than his?

    53. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If that were true, your wife should be out whoring now to maximize her income. You know so little yet open your mouth so much.

    54. Re: Trump version of... by TopherC · · Score: 1

      ... Time to quit putting ourselves at a self induced disadvantage till the others come on board and PROVE they are doing it.

      The world needs to shift away from fossil fuels toward CO2-neutral energy production technologies. Not overnight of course, but over a small number of decades. To accomplish this, we need to maintain a strong economy. If we wait too long, the Earth will cripple world economy by itself and at that point I think recovery would take millennia.

      We also need to develop feasible methods of carbon sequestration. "Green" energy production by itself is no longer sufficient.

      In order to remain a technology leader, the U.S. needs to be on the frontier of these new energy technologies. We put ourselves at a self-induced disadvantage by halting research and subsidies/incentives for alternative energy.

    55. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes. Because you are a penniless hippy, you don't understand. End of conversation.

    56. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When it comes to risking our economy with overregulation, then yes, I say we follow and let someone else "lead" for awhile.

      All fine and dandy until we no longer have a voice in global policy and it turns out that America can't export widgets or whatnots because our products are certified as minimal carbon.

      Of course we could have implemented the (hypothetical) minimal carbon regulations, but there were onerous to some American businesses because we didn't have a seat at the table when they were being drafted, so we weren't able to add the exceptions we wanted.

      Whoopsie.

      If the US doesn't want to be a global player, then it shouldn't expect to be a global trader.

    57. Re: Trump version of... by mspohr · · Score: 1

      That is Myth 1.
              Citigroup: The age of renewable energy is beginning. Increasingly cost competitive with coal, gas and nuclear in the US. Source

              HSBC: Wind energy is now cost competitive with new-build coal capacity in India. Solar to reach parity around 2016-18. Source

              Deutsche Bank: solar now competitive without subsidies in at least 19 markets globally. In 2014 prices to decline further. Source

              Unsubsidised renewable energy is now cheaper than electricity from new coal and gas fired power plants in Australia. Source

      Here are the other myths that hopefully you will read before you post again.
      http://www.greenpeace.org/inte...

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    58. Re: Trump version of... by TopherC · · Score: 1

      I forgot to add...

      So far it looks like the best means of carbon sequestration are in agricultural practices. Climate change threatens to impact agriculture foremost, and agriculture is also is a significant part of our economic base. This adds urgency - we cannot wait for an economic collapse.

    59. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Modern energy mixes don't really distinguish between base load and midrange load anymore.
      On a 'bad day' Germany has so much renewable energy that the base load plants have to be powered down.
      Same for France btw ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    60. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Batteries get recycled and your idea of lifespan is off by a factor of 3 - 5.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    61. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Never met such a green oeeacer, I'm happy those lunarics see to live only in your country ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    62. Re:Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      time to sit back and let the rest of the world and the worst polluters make some serious changes
      If we are talking about CO2 if you mean that with 'pollution' then the USA are still leading the world per capita and are on place two or three as a nation ... so you really think it is time to sit back?

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    63. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Oh, I seem to be stupid then.
      I thought it was love, gratitude and sex.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    64. Re: Trump version of... by nojayuk · · Score: 2

      Nuclear was going to be big in China, but after Fukushima they cancelled anything not already started as the risk and cost became clearer.

      Actually what happened was China had a moratorium on new nuclear plant projects for a couple of years after Fukushima to study what had happened, and then they restarted commissioning new reactor projects after that. Since it takes about five or six years for them to complete a 1GW reactor from scratch they're only bringing five reactors online this year, six years after the 2011 earthquake off the coast of Japan caused a dip in the number of starts. They're beginning construction on eight new reactors this year though and they expect to keep that tempo up for the next decade and more.

      Their planned nuclear buildout of about 300GW capacity by 2050 is still a drop in the bucket though and going forward they expect to be still deriving about 50% of their increased electricity demand from coal, albeit by burning it in less polluting and more efficient new plants.

    65. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps his wife has a different strategy for maximizing income versus your mom? Most women prefer to not to service 5 guys at once...but your mom is a trooper.

    66. Re: Trump version of... by unimacs · · Score: 2

      In what meaningful ways has the clean air act of 1970 or 1990 (for example) reduced our standard of living? Consider that estimates have them saving hundreds of thousands of lives: http://thenationshealth.aphapu...

      What would not having those regulations mean for health care costs? I'm sorry, a polluted environment does have a negative effect on ones standard of living.

      Back in the 60's there were rivers so polluted that they'd literally catch on fire. People in Beijing walk around wearing air masks. That's what it would be like in many of our cities without the regulations. That does not sound like a great standard of living to me.

    67. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      What kind of lifestyle chande you fear from switching from coal plants to renewables or by switching from ICE car to an EV?

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    68. Re: Trump version of... by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Do you have a credible source for that?

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    69. Re: Trump version of... by mspohr · · Score: 1

      Ahh! The secret illuminati nature freak agenda!
      Wait... what is that agenda again?
      (All I can think of is a bunch of stoners sitting around a tree wearing tie dyed t-shirts but you might have something more sinister in mind.)

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    70. Re:Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe. Nuclear competes most directly with coal, and "bringing back coal" was one of his big campaign planks.

      Is it sad that I read that as pranks?

    71. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Batteries are far from clean as well, the cheapest ones we have are full of lead and the best ones we have are full of lithium and all have a lifespan of 3-5 years.

      This is a problem with a solution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_battery

      Basically, they picked materials based on how easy they are to obtain. Common materials are cheap and, in this case, non-toxic (after all, if common things were toxic we would all die, see oxygen). They are bulky, but so what, we aren't transporting them after installation.

    72. Re: Trump version of... by mspohr · · Score: 1

      ? other than Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, HBSC, Bloomberg?

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    73. Re: Trump version of... by Chas · · Score: 1

      Hey, if you want to go shiver in a cave someplace, feel free to volunteer.

      Until then, avoid trying to act like you know better than others.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    74. Re: Trump version of... by Chas · · Score: 1

      Actually yes it DOES.

      It doesn't help much if we ramp down emissions and the rest of the world ramps them UP in response.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    75. Re: Trump version of... by clonehappy · · Score: 1

      Wow, an obvious troll with "Go fuck yourself" in bold is modded +2. Speaks volumes about this place's agenda.

    76. Re: Trump version of... by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

      Watermelons...green on the outside, red to the core.

      You hear them jump right into 'destroy capitalism', whatever they might be bitching about today. Best ignored and marginalized until they grow up.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    77. Re: Trump version of... by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Baseload plants have bad operational characteristics. Minimum downtime/uptime is a bitch, no matter how they choose to do their accounting.

      Many baseload plants power down seasonally and have for a long time, particularly in winter peaking areas like northern Europe. Winter peaks are a bitch for solar, much more so than summer, as the peaks happen at night during periods of low solar irradiance and short days.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    78. Re:Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What, you mean like China cancelling over 100 planned coal-power plants, closing over 100 plants that were already operational, closing coal mines, and stopping coal imports? Yeah, they've done all that in the past 3 years.

      Or India declaring a moratorium on new coal construction, despite millions of people still living in homes that are completely un-electrified? Yeah, they've done that.

      What do you want from them exactly?

    79. Re: Trump version of... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      That's incorrect. The plans are not back on, they are only finishing sites that had progressed before the accident. The original 300GW target has been completely abandoned.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    80. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      What do you mean with peaks at night?
      At night we are running on baseload alone, hence the name. The minimum power you have to feed constantly into the grid: base of load.
      Base load in Germany is about 40% of peak in summer and roughly 45% of peak in summer.
      With up to 40% of peak wind production, especially in autumn and early winter, the base load plants are shutting down.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    81. Re: Trump version of... by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

      Well, if you wound up losing your job (or you know; entire industries shutting down in the rust belt) your standard of living has probably gone down in a meaningful way.

      To be perfectly clear though; it's a trade-off. Having clean air and water is a great thing. But if regulations are too onerous -- the cost to manufacture goods increases to a point that companies move production elsewhere, and you're left with modern day Detroit. (which was once the richest city in the United States mind you.)

      Again, to reiterate. It's a trade-off. Some pollution is warranted if it helps maintain a middle class (Yes, conflating manufacturing jobs with a middle class is entirely intentional)

    82. Re: Trump version of... by dywolf · · Score: 2

      again with the bullshit thesis that we risk the economy.
      news flash: we've had environmental regs since 1899.
      the economy has done fine in relation to them.

      go peddle your bullshit somewhere else shill.

      --
      The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
    83. Re: Trump version of... by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Every time there is a large wind farm project there are protestors saying it will kill birds, their views and even change weather/wind patterns.

      Coal is the status quo, not that anyone likes it but there are no protests when the coal plants keep producing. Nuclear is the next best thing for base load generation of energy.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    84. Re: Trump version of... by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Where have you seen real-life batteries that are deep cycled every 12h have lifespans of 15-25 years? I've been involved in many datacenter designs with both flywheel and battery bank designs, both have significant replacement cost much sooner than most operators expect.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    85. Re: Trump version of... by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Depends on what part of Germany you're talking about. Many/most German homes don't even have AC. I have a hard time believing those are summer peaking areas. Even with the prevalence of wood/gas heat.

      Winter peaking areas _all_ have peak power at night, on their coldest days.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    86. Re: Trump version of... by guruevi · · Score: 1

      And on a 'good day' Germany's power cost surge past $3/kWh.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    87. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're pretty dumb aren't you? It's exactly with the lack of regulation that has led China to it's status as a leading polluter. Because in general, unless there are no consequences, people don't give a damn. There are entire lakes in many parts of China that is 20% pure sludge and that's after a decades worth of effort to reduce it from 25% sludge and slap on heavy regulations to prevent people from polluting.

      I invite you to go take a swim in one of those lakes.

    88. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Not for households, facepalm.
      So why would anyone care?

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    89. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, it isn't JUST X, there are economic factors.

      Exactly, why penalize tobacco and alcohol companies by not letting them sell cigarettes and whisky to kids?
      The impact is years or even decades down the line, so it's obviously wrong that it should affect the lifestyle of current shareholders.

      And crack, we need to sell crack to kids before the chinese swamp that market too!

    90. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, sorry, you're stupid. Like it or not, even the things you mention pretty much require wealth, of some type. Money most accurately represents wealth. Also, you can't eat happiness.

    91. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      There are no winter peaking areas in Germany. And franky doubt: there any on the rest of the world.
      60% of the power is consumed by industry. At night 90% of the industry is shut down. Hence power demand drops below 50% of peak (which is early morning and late evening, the mid day usually is a plateau or more precisely the whole load curve looks like a hat, that is btw. easy to google, facepalm)

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    92. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody serious is talking about halting everything. They are discussing how much more they are willing to commit to doing.

    93. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      The recomendation is not to deep cycle batteries, at least not lead ones.
      If you work them out of specs it is no wonder they die on you after 5 years, or did you say 3?

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    94. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only the people posting here were less hypocritical. Look at all the energy being wasted to create, host, and share their comments? Look at all the resources it required to create their devices for this. They consume loads of resources while producing nothing of value. They're not even saying anything that hasn't already been said, rehashed, hosted, disseminated, and understood.

      They takeaway is that they don't care about the sacrifices, so long as it doesn't impact them. They are quite happy to waste resources, just for something as trivial as this.

    95. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You really don't understand how much the US spends on their military, do you?

    96. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, that's when you know the person who posted the comment is insane.

    97. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      To be fair, they do change local wind patterns. They also raise the surface temperature, which is fairly localized but unknown if it will have a larger effect or how large the effects may be. It'd take a whole lot of nearly impossible work, but you could bring average wind speed down to nearly zero, with enough turbines. It'd take billions of them, and cover the surface of the planet, but it could be done. On a localized scale, there are demonstrable changes to the wind, after turbines have been erected.

      Aside from that, they do kill birds but not really that many. For the most part, we have plenty of birds.

    98. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Coal use has not been declining. It has been increasing at a lower rate than it was. This is not declination.

    99. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nothing is renewable, really. It's called entropy. Even Mr. Sun is going to die, someday.

    100. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I dislike Trump. I did not vote for Trump.

      The outrage isn't coming from Trump. The outrage is coming from the people who decide everything he dies it an outrage, even if it isn't merited. Trump tweeted! Oh no! I am outraged.

      You ARE the problem, more so than Trump. Yes, really. Let that sink in. You're worse than Trump... Ouch!

    101. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bullshit.

      How do I know?

      Because then we don't need anti-carbon regulation.

      If renewables are economically advantageous to fossil fuels, and the big banks know that, then we don't have to worry about global warming at all, because the age of fossil fuels is over.

      Evil capitalist energy companies will build the cheapest cost per kwh power plant that they can.

    102. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Spoken like a true American who has never spent a weekend anywhere but the local shopping mall.

    103. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seems to be working for the Germans and the Dutch. Imagine if the US stuck to steam power while the world moved to petroleum, out of some misguided notion of "protecting the economy". Because that's what's happening now. The world is moving to superior technology, and the US is sticking to an obsolete technological ecosystem which will eventually leave it straggling.

      Not that I'm complaining. As a non American I am watching the idiotic self-destructive policies in the US with a large helping of shadenfreud. I don't buy into the whole "the world needs a strong America" BS.

    104. Re: Trump version of... by Sir+Holo · · Score: 1

      The problem is that although solar and wind are decent peak generators, people have been eschewing clean base load generation for decades. Natural gas, nuclear and hydro power, even wind power has been under attack from all forms of "nature freaks" the only thing that doesn't piss anyone off today is solar and coal because we already have coal and they don't understand the environmental impact of silicon production.

      RE base load. The answer is batteries (or flywheels, or molten metal). You can go off-grid with solar and wind if you have a massive battery-pack to load-level when neither is generating.

      Batteries! (energy storage)

    105. Re: Trump version of... by Sir+Holo · · Score: 1

      Batteries are far from clean as well, the cheapest ones we have are full of lead and the best ones we have are full of lithium and all have a lifespan of 3-5 years.

      You forgot to mention NiMH batteries. Properly cycled, they can last for decades.

      NiMH batteries are what keep several multi-decade satellites going. The original Toyota Prius used essentially the exact same type of battery technology as do multi-decade satellites.

      My friend (a guru of a satellite engineer) would go on and on about it every chance he got if you rode in his Prius. This was a dude with numerous Program-secret clearances and access to SCI (he was way above Top Secret), so he knew what was what.

      Li-ion batteries are the rage, but NiMH is already proven. Many other battery technologies exist, or are yet to be invented.

    106. Re: Trump version of... by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      All of non coastal Canada. The upper American midwest, north of Chicago. Great lakes area. I'd be amazed if all of Scandinavia isn't winter peaking and frankly suspect the baltic coast is as well.

      You have to heat office buildings at night when it's fucking cold, (office is included in your 60% number). Much energy intensive industry is already running at night (for the rates). I highly doubt that 90% of industry shuts down at night, in Germany or anywhere. Far too many processes have to run continuously.

      Like a hat? No. A really fucked up high fashion lady's hat perhaps. Summer peaker load curve is dominated by AC. One peak at hottest hour, another when people get home. Hottest hour only somewhat moderated on Sat/Sun as office buildings still cool, but at higher thermostat settings with less waste heat from equipment and staff.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    107. Re:Trump version of... by pipingguy · · Score: 1

      Too bad you won't convince the True Believers; it's a religion and they stake their whole identity on it.

    108. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dumbass, if everyone sees it, you don't need a government to change

    109. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so much dogma

    110. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you will pay, for polluting and destroying value

    111. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      go to australia and see how it worked out for them

    112. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What if China didn't do anything (they are waking up to it, fortunately)? Should we just let everything go to hell then?

      What alternative would we have?

    113. Re: Trump version of... by Chas · · Score: 1

      Seems to be working for the Germans and the Dutch.

      Okay, for the benefit of the illiterate.

      That's great for the Germans and the Dutch on a local level.
      They can be proud of that.

      But, on a global level it means EXACTLY jack shit.

      If country A decreases overall emissions by X kilotons a year, and countries B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I COLLECTIVELY increase their overall emissions by X kilotons a year, the entire thing is a wash and we're still screwed in the long run.

      If country A decreases overall emissions by X kilotons a year, and countries B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I COLLECTIVELY increase their overall emissions by X+1 kilotons a year, we are now (marginally) worse off.

      Unless we have a more or less unilateral, global effort to move off dirty power, there is little to no point in virtue signaling.

      Because you're like the 1 guy in a 200 mile radius who drives a Tesla and a bunch of neighbors driving Tahoes and Camaros. Sure, you've decreased your personal emissions load, but overall you're a fractional drop in a very BIG bucket.

      Now, if all your neighbors within that 200 mile radius began driving Teslas...

      See where I'm going with this?

      And, being the US, energy is a BIG deal here. It's what allows for our generally high standard of living.
      So decreasing power consumption by imposing austerity measures simply ISN'T going to fly here.

      Now, if you can come up with a way to intelligently decrease consumption while maintaining that standard, you're on to something here.
      We need to come up with ways to decrease our NEED to consume. And the less user interaction required in the process, the better.

      Better building design (insulation, building envelope, and design principles) is one way to shave a chunk off.
      Better electrical design (think whole-home LED and motion sensors on timers) in the same building can shave even more off.
      Follow that up with intelligent use of home solar/home wind where it makes sense.
      Not to mention the fact that buildings can easily be retrofit to be more energy-saving.

      Those right there could enable a significant decrease (or at worst, a stabilization) in demand.

      --


      Chas - The one, the only.
      THANK GOD!!!
    114. Re: Trump version of... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Where have you seen real-life batteries that are deep cycled every 12h

      Let's start with this part of the sentence before you go attaching additional conditions to it.

      The vast majority of EVs don't deep cycle batteries. The ones used as taxis may, but that's about it. The EVs themselves also don't let you "deep cycle" batteries and unlike consumer products their performance is limited to extend life.

    115. Re: Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Brilliant retort. "Go fuck yourself" yes that is very condusive to and intelligent conversation. Along with the other eco nut-job comments regarding women's earning potential in these other comments. The lefty globalists in this comment section are really showing their true colors.

      China is building MORE coal plants you idiots, they are responsible for 4 times the carbon footprint than the United States, not that CO2 even matters. They are making promises with their fingers crossed behind their backs. You see they aren't subjected to the liberal slanted media onslaught that we have to suffer, so they understand that the climate change issue is an utter waste of time and resources. The world will be much cooler by 2030 at the Grand solar minimum. You should prepare yourselves for that instead of wasting everyone's time on the biggest fucking scam in human history.

    116. Re:Trump version of... by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      Leading from Manufacturing! Face it, if India and China both commit to reducing energy consumption in the products they make, that will be huge for climate change- because everything we use is made there.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    117. Re: Trump version of... by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      If China did nothing, there's not much the rest of the world CAN do, other than adapt. In fact, I remain unconvinced that there is anything we can do to stop climate change from happening now.

      In Oregon when I was growing up we never saw 90F before the end of July. Now we're seeing it in May. I'm thinking about looking into frost tolerant avocados, lemons, and banana...

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    118. Re: Trump version of... by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 1

      What makes you think "US ingenuity can make it better" wasn't "wallow in our own filth"? Sure looked like that to me.

      --
      SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
    119. Re:Trump version of... by golden_hands · · Score: 1

      Yeah...I'll believe it when I SEE as far as China and India going full in to get rid of fossil fuels and start being the "clean" countries in the world.

      I suppose if we see them actually do anything meaningful, then we in the US can look in on it again.

      In the US, we've already made great strides in cleaner air...time to sit back and let the rest of the world and the worst polluters make some serious changes, and only then we start risking our economy on overregulation of energy industries that power our economy in so many ways.

      US are the leaders only if they compare themselves to the worst in the world. Except for air quality rules in some very limited areas of the country, US have been laggards as compared to the rest of the 'West'.

    120. Re:Trump version of... by lsatenstein · · Score: 1

      Yeah...I'll believe it when I SEE as far as China and India going full in to get rid of fossil fuels and start being the "clean" countries in the world.

      I suppose if we see them actually do anything meaningful, then we in the US can look in on it again.

      In the US, we've already made great strides in cleaner air...time to sit back and let the rest of the world and the worst polluters make some serious changes, and only then we start risking our economy on overregulation of energy industries that power our economy in so many ways.

      China and India each have more wind and solar generation of electricity than does the USA. Coal is dead, replaced by natural gas. And natural gas will be dead, replaced by solar and wind.

      Too bad the USA under Trump wants to shit where he eats.

      --
      Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
    121. Re: Trump version of... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      For most countries you can google load curves.

      In germany peak power is in summer during early morning and late evening.

      Heating is done with gas nearly all over Europe. So no, there is no real special winter peak. The total power used at winter at night is higher than the total power at summer at night. But the peaks are not at night. At night we have "base load" ... hence the name.

      Summer peaker load curve is dominated by AC
      In your country. Not in mine, and not in most parts of europe. Peak times are when people get out of bed and everyone starts electric appliances, some are already in the first shift working, industry and craftman shops are powering up, and then again when most of the work force comes home, around 6:00PM till 9:00PM. Depending on time of the year Germany has a small peak around 12:00.

      Here is an example, different colours for different "types of day", blue = working day, red = saturday, green = sunday. But I'm not sure what kind of "profile" that is. https://blog.stromhaltig.de/20...

      The form does not look like "whole germany load curve".

      This looks more like a "normal" load curve but is either artistic and/or averaged over the whole year, so makes not to much sense either: https://commons.wikimedia.org/...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    122. Re: Trump version of... by unimacs · · Score: 1

      The problem is that these are individual job losses that you are linking to the clean air act. It certainly matters to those individuals, but to suggest that the standard of living of society as a whole suffered would be hard to demonstrate, and in fact the opposite is true.

      Further I'd argue that there are very few job losses that can be tied to these regulations anyway since industries shutting down in the rust belt probably had a lot more to do with companies wanting to cut labor costs than it had to do with regulations. There is no doubt companies that love to complain about regulations and I'll agree that there are some that are more onerous than they are worth. But massive layoffs have far more to do with reducing labor costs that it does with pollution controls.

    123. Re:Trump version of... by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Trump is dishonest and unpredictable, and his previous politics haven't been hard-right Republican. There was some hope he might have a reasonable amount of decent policies.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    124. Re: Trump version of... by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Any change is going to hurt some people. Having no change is going to hurt some people. If we avoid doing things because individuals will suffer, we'll be paralyzed - and that paralysis will cause suffering.

      Environmental regulation can, and often has, improved lives in general and raised standards of living. There are cases where environmental regulation has resulted in economic gain, because it pushed industries into doing something different. (IIRC, when Kodak couldn't just spew silver out the chimneys, they found that the silver recovered more than paid for the silver reclamation system.)

      It seems best to generally have regulations that specify what is to be accomplished rather than what is to be done. A carbon tax, for example, would build in a tradeoff between economics and global warming, and would allow industries to deal with it efficiently.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    125. Re: Trump version of... by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      I believe we're still #1 in per capita carbon dioxide production, so we certainly can do better. China and India put out so much CO2 partly because they have much larger populations. A 10% decrease in CO2 production will mean different things for someone in the US and someone in China.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    126. Re:Trump version of... by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Our GHG emissions may be trending down, but it's from an awfully high start. We need to keep pushing to keep the trend going.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    127. Re: Trump version of... by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 1

      Green peace is not a source, it is propaganda...

      If solar was cheap, it wouldn't require all this attention, it would just happen.

    128. Re: Trump version of... by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 1

      If solar made economic sense, I'd invest in it tomorrow, I could afford to build a $500,000 commercial solar power grid for my neighborhood and sell power locally for less and make money.

      Except I can't, because solar isn't cheaper. The panels are cheap, installing them and supporting them are not.

    129. Re: Trump version of... by mspohr · · Score: 1

      Greenpeace just collected the sources together. They are reputable: Citigroup, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, etc.
      Try reading it slowly.

      Solar is happening and it is getting a lot of attention. Solar (unsubsidized) is cheaper than coal power in some places.

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    130. Re: Trump version of... by fatwilbur · · Score: 1

      "It seems money is your primary motivating factor. That doesn't speak well of your intelligence." Only someone who's never had to go to bed hungry because they can't afford food would say that.

    131. Re: Trump version of... by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 1

      Try using your brain, slowly... those aren't any more reputable...

      Solar makes very little sense outside of limited applications where it counts... or it would rapidly replace coal, which it isn't...

      But one day you'll grow up and maybe have a chance to understand such things... but probably not, because most people don't want to learn...

    132. Re: Trump version of... by mspohr · · Score: 1

      So... You say you are smarter than Citigroup, HSBC, Deutsch Bank?
      More like delusional.

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    133. Re:Trump version of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      War is a much larger threat than man-made global warming. But, neither Al Gore nor Greenpeace profit from spending LOTS of money to protect us from WAR. My computer models (calibrated in human lives) predicts many hundreds of millions of lives to be lost from WAR in the next 100 years. My "computer model" predicts future lives lost by continuing the trend by generating a plot of # of war-related deaths versus # of years elapsed since the year 1000. So, unless we change our ways, we are certainly leaving our descendants a miserable inheritance marked by unthinkable catastrophic number of gruesome deaths (gruesome enough to welcome drowning in a sea of melting Greenland and polar ice or being eaten alive by displaced polar bears as preferable options). According to my computer model, supporting Donald Trump is the only way we can avoid this horrible future (i.e.,make America great again).

      And, super-eruption of Yellowstone is also statistically far, far greater threat than global warming. Yellowstone's next eruption is long overdue. My computer model predicts 80 percent probability of another eruption in the next 100,000 years. My model calculates the predicted numbers of lives to be lost in Yellowstone eruption, then divides that huge number by 100,000, then multiplies by 0.8 to arrive at statistical average of lives to be lost for each year, BEGINNING THIS YEAR. Clearly, a catastrophic number of lives to be lost. If we continue our profligate ways, what a horrible future we are leaving out descendants. When our descendants are seeing their children die of starvation, will they curse us for not relieving the pressure on Yellowstone's magma chamber while we had the chance? Or will they say, "Well, thanks to out ancestors' foresight in spending all it took to control global warming, we get to die by global freezing instead).

      And, then, there is comet impact to worry about, i.e. funding to prevent. My computer model predicts more statistical deaths from comet impact than from global warming.

      And, then we must worry about (and fund to prevent) .etc., etc. etc.

      The rational use of our non-limitless funds is to computer-model the statistical number of deaths per year from each threat and then distribute our funds in a balanced way so as to best manage our risks of worldwide catastrophe (with suitable management to allocate the funds -- legally arranged in such as a way as to skim some money off the top for me -- uh, the management). I know, I know -- you are accusing me of being an hysterical alarmist, but that is only because you are a global war denier and a super-volcano denier and a cometary impact denier, as well as an etcetera etcetera etcetera denier.

      Can you poke a hole in my arguments? If so,let's hear it.

    134. Re:Trump version of... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      A pandemic seems more likely than all the catastrophic events that may yet come, especially with first world countries having an older population throughout the rest of this century.

      https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/19/antibiotics-medicine-dark-ages-overprescribing

    135. Re:Trump version of... by syntotic · · Score: 0

      Weather change is shady. In my experience weather forecast reports dropped quality recently. If we now know of weather change, why forecasts fell in accuracy? The real problem is anti-technologism, and they are talking two of the most backward possible countries (that may matter), vs the most advance society ever, recognizably, to modify the advanced society behaviour! Supposedly the market can solve the problem, it was no decree that electrical is more convenient than coal so it is becoming widely used. But it is not so clear that population itself is not affecting the variables of weather control, so exactly what is being controlled? Now that we are aware budgets should be assigned to research in climatology and Science left to settle, which requires time. Then maybe forecasts will be accurate again. So it is not raining today, again? And I just walked so MANY blocks to be out of rain harms in the four hours it was supposed to last according to twelve hours ago forecasts....

  2. Generational Divide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The Millennials are going to pay the price in so many ways...
    Health Care
    Social Security
    Climate Change...

    Thanks to the unrivaled greed and short sightedness of the Baby Boomers.

    1. Re:Generational Divide by mspohr · · Score: 1

      The Millennials are going to pay the price in so many ways...
      Health Care
      Social Security
      Climate Change...

      Thanks to the unrivaled greed and short sightedness of the Baby Boomers.

      I think the Republican party is out to destroy health care, social security and the climate, some of them are baby boomers but most of them are just ignorant fools.

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
  3. Attack of the by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Triggereds

    *** TRIGGERED ***

  4. Trump and Resignation in the same sentence? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Trump and Resignation in the same sentence? Don't tease us like that!

    1. Re:Trump and Resignation in the same sentence? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      That would imply that Trump has the intellectual capability of taking responsibility for his own actions. Based on his past actions, it's very unlikely that he will. Try Trump and Impeachment instead.

    2. Re:Trump and Resignation in the same sentence? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      25th Amendment to the Constitution should take care of this...
      Wait!
      The Republicans are spineless and without a shred of integrity.
      Nevermind.

    3. Re:Trump and Resignation in the same sentence? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      More to the point, the 25th requires Cabinet officials, who are Trump appointees, and many of which wouldn't be in office long after a competent President took office, to go against him.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  5. Re:It's about time by Barsteward · · Score: 1

    probably from all the rubbish sent there from the US and EU for disposal

    --
    "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
  6. One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You know you have screwed things up when you have to look at China and India, two countries that have long been considered backwards when it comes to using renewable sources of energy, for a brighter tomorrow. Kudos to China and India to realize the problem and starting to get their act together. I mean, c'mon, look at India and the problems it has and it is still doing something about it. So much about us being the superior.

    1. Re:One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The bit about India actually starts a little earlier: https://youtu.be/bW_eGAwnfeI?t...

    2. Re:One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      China especially is where the focus should be anyway. They're by far the worst offenders.

    3. Re:One word: sadness by OzPeter · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You know you have screwed things up when you have to look at China and India, two countries that have long been considered backwards when it comes to using renewable sources of energy, for a brighter tomorrow.

      Given that the combined population of China and India is over 35% of the world's population it makes perfect sense to look to them for long term solutions. Making changes in those countries will have the greatest impact overall.

      --
      I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    4. Re:One word: sadness by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      China is doing pretty well compared to how the west did during its industrial revolution. Hindsight helps.

      Renewables are big business and the future of energy, and as the US turns away from them China sees an opportunity. Fortunately some parts of Europe are pushing ahead too, and of course Japan.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    5. Re: One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That's well known. But it's not the point of this thread. The point of this thread is leadership. Leadership is when you are in front and going forward, and inspiring people to follow. Looking longingly back at how great life was in the 50s is not leadership.

    6. Re:One word: sadness by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

      Don't look at it as population numbers alone, but as energy used and pollution produced per person. The U.S.A. is a problem.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    7. Re:One word: sadness by Nidi62 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Don't look at it as population numbers alone, but as energy used and pollution produced per person. The U.S.A. is a problem.

      But given the fact that China and India are still developing, when taken into account with the population they have China and India are the best places to start. It's much easier to focus on clean energy and pollution reduction while industries and economies are growing. Once the economy is established then there is considerable incentive for key players within the economy to maintain the status quo. For the ROI, both in terms of political capital/effort and straight up monetary terms, you will get more results from reforms in China and India than you will in the US. Especially given the current corporatist influence in American politics.

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    8. Re:One word: sadness by OzPeter · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Don't look at it as population numbers alone, but as energy used and pollution produced per person. The U.S.A. is a problem.

      I agree that the US is an energy pig, but there are two counter points:

      1. The US is only 5% of the worlds population, so people in China and India only have to use 1/7 per capita energy of the US and already you are equally the total energy usage of the US.

      2. At some point the populations of China and India will start demanding a lifestyle equivalent to that enjoyed by people in the US. When that happens you start to get in deep shit.

      I have been saying for literally decades that the US has 5% of the worlds population but consumes 20% of the worlds energy and that when the other 95% of the world start demanding their 20% of energy, the the shit will really hit the fan.

      --
      I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    9. Re:One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      China is "doing well" only if you ignore their terminally sick state-owned industries that need constant propping up by the CCP. If China's state-owned steel industries existed in the United States they would have declared bankruptcy and have been liquidated 25 years ago. But instead the CCP props them up and does the whole pay-no-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-curtain song and dance.

      And also you need to ignore their massive, predatory, and completely unaccountable shadow banking system giving out bad loans to anyone with a pulse so mom and pop farmers one generation off the farm can go speculate in the Shenzen bourse using shadow bank funny money.

    10. Re:One word: sadness by aicrules · · Score: 1

      How do you compare to come up with "doing pretty well"? They have complete shit for air. And they have 1.3 billion people contributing to it. U.S. had a population of 5 - 10 million at the height of the industrial revolution. If China and India got down to United States levels of pollution the world would be exponentially better than any small dent changes to the United States pollution level could make. United States isn't turning away from renewable energy or cleaning up environmental impact, the "turning away" is merely not forcing aggressive changes through laws and treaties that put undue burden on our relatively clean industry.

    11. Re: One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i love how you have no qualms whatsoever describing countries of POCs as backwards. So enlightened!

      This is the upside to America being considered as the global villains and unwanted world police. After being abused for so long, Americans no longer care what the rest of the world thinks. After all, no matter what we do, it's wrong. So we can just relax and cackle while stroking a white Persian cat and all the pressure is off. The "heel realization" hurt a lot, but now that's past us, we can just concentrate on being ourselves. The world can leave us alone and go on to abusing India and China instead. After all, no matter what we ever did, it wasn't good enough and the goalposts were promptly moved anytime we did anything the world demanded.

    12. Re: One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The world has been demanding an end to American bullying for decades. Now that it's finally happening that's wrong too. From now on it's up to the leader of the free world Angela Merkel to show the world the way. No more racist Americans to fuck things up. Good news all around.

    13. Re:One word: sadness by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Well compared to the west. Europe and the US had terrible air too, and for longer, and produced a lot more pollution and CO2 per person.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    14. Re: One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But - you're missing the point. No matter what America does, it's automatically wrong. Huge swathes of the globe have founded themselves on anti-Americanism and don't intend to change. So it doesn't matter what America decides, it's already bad. In a lot of ways, it's a load off our backs. Let the globalist harpies criticize India and China for a while. They'll greatly benefit from the advice. America has significant internal problems and will turn inward to fix them for a generation or two.

    15. Re: One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      America has significant internal problems and will turn inward to fix them for a generation or two.

      That would be a HUGE mistake, and by making that statement you position yourself as completely clueless.
      For the US to disengage from its role in the world would create a vacuum quickly filled by the Chinese, etc, which wouldn't be good for the US or the planet.

    16. Re:One word: sadness by NicknameUnavailable · · Score: 0

      You know you have screwed things up when you have to look at China and India, two countries that have long been considered backwards when it comes to using renewable sources of energy, for a brighter tomorrow.

      Ignoring all that weighted dribble, what you actually mean is "two countries that have long been behind the curve" - the first world is wising up to the Global Warming scam, now the globalists only have the backward countries to scam with it.

    17. Re:One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's such a BS argument that always comes up when negotiating climate accords. China should NOT ever be compared to the Industrialization of the West. They have access to the latest technologies and all the data on the detrimental effects of our revolution. They should be held to a MUCH higher standard. "Pretty well" == "Utter shit"

    18. Re: One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So...your argument is that America should stop bullying the world...by returning to its role as world bullies? Huh?

      People all over the world go on ad nauseum about how America thinks it can police the world and butt its nose in every country's business. America has been hated for this especially since the Vietnam war. Well, we are doing less of that and they're whining that we are deserting everyone and becoming isolationists. Can't effing win.

      Well, you're getting what you asked for, an America that's going to stop playing world police. I hope you're happy, but I seriously doubt it. I am starting to understand just what anti-Americanism really means. It doesn't mean pro-social justice or pro-equality or any of those things. It just means find out what the Americans are doing and take the opposite view. If the Americans want to dominate the world, then that's bad and we need to criticize it. If the Americans want to go home and disband NATO, then we need to criticize that, too. It's such a hateful ideology, but I guess we Americans deserve it. We're bad people. We need to stop oppressing the world, and under Trump that's exactly what we're going to do.

    19. Re:One word: sadness by argStyopa · · Score: 1

      Only Liberals would be so willfully blind as to look at a shithole like most of India and China and say "I WISH WE COULD BE MORE LIKE THEM"...simply because of politics.

      --
      -Styopa
    20. Re:One word: sadness by rhazz · · Score: 5, Informative

      Making changes in those countries will have the greatest impact overall.

      CO2 emissions per capita (2015):
      US: 16.1t
      China: 7.7t
      India: 1.9t

      The US has 4% of the population but produces 14% of the CO2. Seems to me that the US could make a pretty big impact if they stopped trying to find excuses not to.

    21. Re: One word: sadness by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm an American and say it's time we close the fucking borders hard, take our toys home and cut off all foreign aid No More Fucking Handouts World! and bring all of our troops home.

        The monty saved could be used to fix our roads that are falling apart, get FTTP to everyplace in the god damn country along with getting a basic level of medical coverage as those in Europe have for that money.

      Once we've gotten our house straightened out, there's no reason we couldn't come back unless you god damn bitching people don't want us to. Then I guess we can simply kill you all and let god sort you out can't we?

    22. Re:One word: sadness by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Somehow funny that Arnold Schwarzenegger is coproducer.
      Then again his heimat had no decent winters and decent snow since decades ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    23. Re:One word: sadness by Magius_AR · · Score: 2

      Don't look at it as population numbers alone, but as energy used and pollution produced per person. The U.S.A. is a problem.

      I agree that the US is an energy pig, but there are two counter points:

      There's a hell of alot more counter points than that. Only 7% of our energy usage is residential: https://upload.wikimedia.org/w...

      So per capita isn't even a great measure. We have a huge GDP with alot of industry, which equates to a great deal of energy usage. If you take GDP into account, the US ranks somewhere around Canada in terms of efficiency (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_ratio_of_GDP_to_carbon_dioxide_emissions). Both India and China have tremendously poor efficiency ratings at the bottom of the list.

      So the US isn't a beacon of efficiency being mid-pack, but not nearly as bad as the usual "5% of the population causing 15% of emissions". It's more like 25% of the world's total industry is causing 15% of emissions: https://www.google.com/search?...

      Considering the fact the vast majority of the world's industry is in the US, EU, and China, it is no surprise they're the top 3 carbon emitters: https://wri.org/blog/2014/11/6...

    24. Re:One word: sadness by Sir+Holo · · Score: 1

      You know you have screwed things up when you have to look at China and India, two countries that have long been considered backwards when it comes to using renewable sources of energy, for a brighter tomorrow.

      Given that the combined population of China and India is over 35% of the world's population it makes perfect sense to look to them for long term solutions. Making changes in those countries will have the greatest impact overall.

      No. Getting the biggest polluters (by total output, not per capita) to do something about it is what makes perfect sense.

    25. Re:One word: sadness by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      when taken into account with the population they have China and India are the best places to start.

      Except they have already started with Chinese emissions dropping several years in a row while their energy demands keep increasing. They also have dedicated enormous amounts of money to the problem.

      So let's move to second place. Developed countries: USA you're the worst of us, what's your plan?

  7. The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The Holocene temperature conundrum

    Significance

    Marine and terrestrial proxy records suggest global cooling during the Late Holocene, following the peak warming of the Holocene Thermal Maximum (10 to 6 ka) until the rapid warming induced by increasing anthropogenic greenhouses gases. However, the physical mechanism responsible for this global cooling has remained elusive. Here, we show that climate models simulate a robust global annual mean warming in the Holocene, mainly in response to rising CO2 and the retreat of ice sheets. This model-data inconsistency demands a critical reexamination of both proxy data and models.

    So, from about 8,000 years ago, as CO2 and methane rose in the Earth's atmosphere and ice sheets retreated, temperatures FELL.

    But climate models say that they should have RISEN.

    THE MODELS DON'T FUCKING WORK.

    Yep, that is a peer-reviewed paper published by actual climatologists.

    So much for that "consensus", eh?

  8. America First? by PoopJuggler · · Score: 1

    America Last.

    1. Re: America First? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Actually it is a noble act of kindness to force other countries to face their own problems. It's the sort of thing which won't bear benefits for decades, nonetheless history will thank those who started it. Tough love.

  9. It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm glad to see it. Trump is a regressive relic of an era of disinformation and anti-science, anti-problem-solving "I can do no wrong" ethos. That has to die.

    We live in a connected world. Protectionism is no protection in the long or short term. We have to address these issues as a global community, and that means making the economics of any solution apply universally as much as possible. Or it won't work.

    The US can pay carbon taxes all day long but unless China and India get a serious investment in non-burning energy sources, it's a wasted effort.

    So, India, China, other nations.... LEAD ON. Innovate, invest, and show the world that greedy old-coal financial interests aren't more important than the planet itself.

    1. Re:It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      The US can pay carbon taxes all day long...

      Pay what carbon tax...?!?!

      We're not paying any type of tax, carbon or otherwise to any regulating body in the world....

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    2. Re:It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahhhh... The 'Libertarian' nationalist, always with the best drive-by troll posts..

    3. Re:It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

      Actually, comrade, you are paying carbon taxes. Every time you buy an imported good or service, or sell a good or service overseas, you are paying a carbon tax there.

      If you live in a state or province with a carbon tax, the tax remains here, but if you have no carbon tax in your state or province, you pay the carbon tax overseas.

      Paying a carbon tax locally puts money in your local economy. Not paying a carbon tax locally puts money in their local economy, not yours.

      Don't like it? Tough.

      --
      -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    4. Re:It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      When I retire with about 70 in about 20 years I will visit the Moon, probably Mars, too.
      I won't care if I fly with Elon Musk, a Chineese space craft or an Indian Vimana.
      Chances are it will be one of the later two.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    5. Re:It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      If you live in a state or province with a carbon tax, the tax remains here, but if you have no carbon tax in your state or province, you pay the carbon tax overseas.

      I have never lived anywhere that collects or deals with any sort of 'carbon tax'.

      Where is it that you live that does carbon tax? And..who exactly is the governmental force that collects and uses said carbon tax?

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    6. Re:It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

      Wrong. Every time you buy or sell anything to the EU, or the UK, or China, or South Korea, or Australia, or Canada, you are paying a carbon tax.

      You just don't see it on your US price.

      No way around it. It's baked in. Doesn't matter what you do, if you don't have a carbon tax in your state or province, you are paying one at the other end of the transaction.

      No amount of jawboning will change that basic fact.

      --
      -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
    7. Re:It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by Sir+Holo · · Score: 1

      I'm glad to see it. Trump is a regressive relic of an era of disinformation and anti-science, anti-problem-solving "I can do no wrong" ethos. That has to die.

      The pendulum always swings back-and-forth.

      Let's hope that Trump's fuck-ups are massive enough to give that pendulum of public consensus a good strong kick in the right direction.

    8. Re:It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lead by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      Wrong. Every time you buy or sell anything to the EU, or the UK, or China, or South Korea, or Australia, or Canada, you are paying a carbon tax.

      While I am still a bit dubious on your claims (I've never heard of this before ever)....even if true, it doesn't make sense, why would you pay carbon tax on imports AND exports? Seems the tax would be on the end that is "offending" the most only?

      Also, if we are paying for this tax on imports, it goes to show yet another reason the US really needs to bring more manufacturing back to our shores.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  10. We do what we want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And other countries have zero say in the matter.

  11. What a shit post... by zoid.com · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The amount of pollution is negligible compared to China. Have you been to China? They are in no way trying to fix this. The air is thick and metallic tasting. The only time they fix it is when they shut the factories down for the celebration of one of their communist holidays.

    1. Re:What a shit post... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      The amount of pollution is negligible compared to China. Have you been to China? They are in no way trying to fix this. The air is thick and metallic tasting. The only time they fix it is when they shut the factories down for the celebration of one of their communist holidays.

      Trump, is that you?

    2. Re:What a shit post... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They had to shut everything down when they hosted the Olympics. But no.. facts don't matter apparently.

    3. Re:What a shit post... by grumpyman · · Score: 1

      Also when people in western world stop buying Chinese craps. Please run through your household items and toss them away.

    4. Re:What a shit post... by IWantMoreSpamPlease · · Score: 1

      I would dearly love to, but that would include nearly all computers, which, come to think of it, isn't such a bad idea....

      --
      So rise up, all ye lost ones, as one, we'll claw the clouds.
    5. Re:What a shit post... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But throwing all that stuff away would just make the problem worse! I'd need to buy new stuff to replace it!

    6. Re:What a shit post... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also when people in western world stop buying Chinese craps. Please run through your household items and toss them away.

      And after you toss them out, re-buy american... Oh wait, then the pollution is here...
      Face it, crap from china is a sunk cost. It's the same mindset that people apply with weight loss and crash diets.
      We have to change our consumer mindset to fix this, not binge and purge...

    7. Re:What a shit post... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      The amount of pollution is negligible compared to China.

      Per person it's not. What are you trying to convince us of, that the USA is full of over entitled twats who think it's their god given right to pollute more than someone in China simply because there's less of you?

      Trends also show Chinese emissions dropping faster than the USA.
      Trends also show they are investing more per person than the USA in solving their comparatively small problem.

      So since developing countries are already getting their shit sorted, let's focus on the developed, starting with the worst: USA what are you guys doing to contribute?

    8. Re:What a shit post... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also when people in western world stop buying Chinese craps. Please run through your household items and toss them away.

      But, but... my phone, my game console, my cheap clothes, my ...

    9. Re:What a shit post... by bluegutang · · Score: 1

      You need to differentiate between "pollution" and "climate change".

      "Pollution" means nasty chemicals and heavy metals which make breathing difficult or give you cancer. China has lots of this, the US has cleaned most of it up in the last 50 years (even Los Angeles does not have the perpetual layer of thick smog it had 20 years ago).

      "Climate change" refers to emissions of carbon dioxide (and a few other substances like methane). These molecules are perfectly healthy to be around, but in in large mounts they trap heat and cause the earth to warm (and the oceans to acidify). Both China and the US are huge contributors here.

  12. Who cares?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where's the important news?

    Lucky Charms has made a limited run of ALL MARSHMALLOW boxes that people can win!

    1. Re:Who cares?! by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1
      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  13. Trumplestiltskin strikes again by bill.pev · · Score: 1, Insightful

    As the world economy shifts energy focus from Fossil/Carbon fuel to renewables, the US will be left in the dust while the rest of the world community moves into the global middle class. Although the environmental concerns are the most worrisome, the administration should look at the economic impact of holding onto carbon like babies hold onto their binkies. The rest of the world will solve this crisis as best they can, and the US will be.. what?

    The line that "we don't have problems, we have opportunities" has always seemed like garbage to me, but it applies here. There are huge opportunities. And this time, we would, in fact, be ending hunger and curing cancer at the same time.

    1. Re:Trumplestiltskin strikes again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      the US will be left in the dust

      Okay, I'll bite. How's that a bad thing, exactly? The world has long been shouting that America should take its boot off their necks, and now that it's happening, it's somehow wrong? Can anyone explain this? I really don't get it.

      Everyone worldwide has been hoping and praying for the Americans to be knocked off their high horse and be brought low. Now America is in a very real danger of being left behind by the world, and suddenly that's bad? Huh?

      Americans are the least educated and knowledgeable of foreign affairs, languages, and disparate cultures, societies, and social norms amongst all Westernized countries and the least exposed universally. The US is much more racist and backward than we ever thought. The world will only rejoice as nations full of vibrant multiculturalism take the lead and leave bigoted AmeriKKKa in the dust.

    2. Re: Trumplestiltskin strikes again by guruevi · · Score: 1

      If everybody else uses renewables and doesn't want oil, oil will be cheap. These things will trickle over IF they are ever done. People and corporations are already planning solar installations, if they're the panacea to cheap energy everybody will have them regardless of what the state says we should do. The problem, on large scales it doesn't work. Germany produces 100% renewable energy one day, paying customers to use energy and charges $3/kWh another day, all the while importing French nuclear reactors' energy not really the realm of stability.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    3. Re:Trumplestiltskin strikes again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if you think the world isn't racist compared to the US, you haven't seen much of the world. Ever see the Chinese version of the Force Awakens movie poster?

  14. Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by Hartree · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "China and India to lead efforts to slow climate change "

    We've sure seen the results of China's forward looking environmental policies. Especially in scenic untouched places like Baotou, and in the pristine air of Beijing.

    So, good luck with that.

    1. Re:Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Johns of the world are now crying that the pimp treated his hoes badly. Cry me a river.

      Everyone wanted cheap shit, that's how they got it. The blame isn't entirely on China. And as they de facto democratize, maybe their people will be smarter and clean up. It's already going along, slowly. Just like the US in the late 1800s to 1970s, from the effects of their own industrialization.

    2. Re:Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by djinn6 · · Score: 2

      We've sure seen the results of China's forward looking environmental policies. Especially in scenic untouched places like Baotou, and in the pristine air of Beijing.

      On the other hand, because they've screwed up so badly, and because poor air quality affects everyone, including the highest members of the government, they're actually doing something about it. China is the biggest investor in renewable power and has a dozen nuclear power plants under construction. They're not in a good place right now, but at least they're moving in the right direction. The same cannot be said of the US.

    3. Re:Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by Hartree · · Score: 2

      We already did clean up our act on many things. I remember the air in Gary Indiana in the early 70s. It was orange. And there was the lovely LA smog in 1974 or so when I visited there. I also remember the larger amount of litter on our highways in the 60s/early 70s.

      The problems were highly visible and you could smell them. We dealt with those to a large extent. Now, it's CO2, methane, etc. Invisible, don't smell, don't undergo photochemical reactions to make a haze. It's a much less visible problem. Are you terribly surprised it's harder to get people moving on it?

    4. Re:Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by Luthair · · Score: 1

      Its hard to see the point you're trying to make - the USA didn't bother doing anything until LA suffered serious smog problems and actively fights against it to this day. China at least has some excuses around cost, Americans (and other western countries like mine) have none. What should worry you is that countries like India are significantly hotter than the USA, what happens if the entire population gets air conditioning?

    5. Re:Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by Hartree · · Score: 1

      "Its hard to see the point you're trying to make"

      That applies to your response, too. Are you saying you're more concerned about assigning blame someplace you'd prefer it? Great. Blame me. That evil Hartree is the source of all our problems. Now, we've solved that issue. ;)

      Yes, widespread air conditioning would increase energy usage in in India. And? I'm hardly going to worry that some of the Indians might be more comfortable.
      Do you propose that we tell them that they somehow don't "deserve" air conditioning? Well, good luck with that. I think they'll quite reasonably tell you to go fly a kite.

    6. Re:Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by hey! · · Score: 3, Informative

      You know, I remember the 60s and early 70s in the US, before the Clean Air Act was amended to empower the federal government to regulate emissions.

      If you are under 50, you would not believe how bad things got. Look at pictures of Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago. Hell, even Salt Lake City was barely recognizable. It wasn't just big cities, either; small cities like Birmingham looked like this.

      When you look at an old movie or TV show from the late 60s early 70s and everything in the distance looks hazy, that's not the film. That's what cities actually looked like on a good day.

      I bring this up because the decision to to do something about air pollution was a sign of how healthy our democracy used to be. There was a problem that was costly and complex to tackle, but we did it. And as today there were people who profited by the status quo, that allowed them to externalize their waste management costs. The difference is that their hold on politicians was a lot less, and there was more independent media. Had we not done something about air pollution in 1970, we'd be where Beijing is now, and we'd be just as powerless to do anything about it today.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    7. Re:Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by grumpyman · · Score: 1

      Every henhouse has a fox these days.

    8. Re:Foxes. Henhouses. You know the rest. by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      They likely wont get/want air conditioning.
      It is much more easy to build a house in a way that it does not need one (which they do since centuries).

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  15. China is the worst polluter by mi · · Score: 1

    The stuff the US emits is harmless plant food compared to the toxic shit these derelicts dump into the air and water on a day to day basis.

    probably from all the rubbish sent there from the US and EU for disposal

    That awkward moment, when you wanted to contradict, but ended up agreeing with the person you replied to...

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  16. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by sdinfoserv · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Climate change caused by man is accepted by 90% of scientists. The fact that a few claim otherwise is unimportant. Look at the morons who perjured themselves before congress claiming "cigarette smoking does not cause cancer". You can watch them on YouTube, and it happened in the '90's.
    There's till flat Earthers too, but thinking creatures dismiss them; just like we dismiss you. Sorry.

  17. Wait 6 months by sdinfoserv · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Trump won't last through the end of the year. Giving classified information to the Russians (aka treason), refusing to divest of conflict of interest business ventures, interfering with a Federal Investigation (also a felony)... and we're only 4 months in... The GOP loyalists are jumping faster than teabaggers. The drums of impeachment are thundering louder by the day. People are finally seeing the "Conservative GOP agenda", no health care for anyone but the rich, zero environmental protections, coal companies being able to dump untreated waste into rivers and streams, turn back the clock 75 years on civil rights - no, this will likely cost the GOP the House and Senate at midterms, so there's quite a good chance the tide will turn.

    1. Re:Wait 6 months by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, keep holding your breath, skippy. We've seen this kind of banter about every administration for my lifetime and it never really goes anywhere. The difference is that your soapbox is a little bigger but that doesn't make what you say any truer.

    2. Re:Wait 6 months by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good luck with that.

    3. Re:Wait 6 months by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Say the line, shill! Say it! https://imgur.com/hNJA5iG

    4. Re: Wait 6 months by guruevi · · Score: 2

      Are you still waiting on Obamas birth certificate or his mother to be fired from the White House payrolls or were you not alive for the last presidential inauguration?

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    5. Re:Wait 6 months by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Realistically, until January 2019 the Republicans will control both houses of Congress, and the Republican rank and file are solidly behind Trump. Unless and until that changes, impeachment and conviction would splinter the Republicans and possibly eliminate them as a major party. Trump is likely to cost the Republicans dearly in the 2018 elections, but at best that isn't going to give the Democrats more than a bare superiority in the Senate, however the House goes. I don't think he's going to run in 2020, and will almost certainly not win, so what changes in Congress for those elections isn't going to matter in reference to replacing Trump.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  18. Re:man made climate change is a hoax by Ogive17 · · Score: 1

    So what happens when we chop down all the trees?

    C02 ppm is going up, that's a fact. C02 has an atmospheric effect that helps trap in heat, also a fact.

    You can argue how much of an total impact increased C02 emissions have on global climate, you can't argue that more C02 in the air is something we should continue doing.

    --
    "Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
  19. Re:It's about time by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You forgot all the rubbish that was manufactured there in the first place, then wasted fuel to be sent to us, used for less than a year and then wasted fuel to send it back over there for "disposal" (i.e. trash heap, no recycling).

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  20. Re:man made climate change is a hoax by SirSlud · · Score: 2

    Oh boy, scientists totally forgot about the sun! You've cracked the case!

    --
    "Old man yells at systemd"
  21. Re:man made climate change is a hoax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you are a fucking fool

  22. This bothers me by jediborg · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Didn't we obtain, after only ten years, the largest hybrid electric car fleet in the world (okay, second to japan according to wikipedia) without any government interference? Isn't solar panel technology taking off in this country, especially as people have them installed on their roofs. Aren't the local state governments still offering subsidies so as to encourage the adoption of solar panel roofs? Aren't there hundreds more americans trying to 'do their part' by recycling more, eating local foods (which can reduce CO2 emissions since the produce doesn't have to be transported thousands of miles) and don't I see more wind farms popping up every single year?

    Who ever said we can only fix environmental problems by electing the 'right' president? We don't need the federal government to make a difference, we can (and I would argue are) collectively working to solve this problem through the free market mechanisms available to us!

    Now excuse me while i get in my honda with ridiculously good gas mileage, and drive to the local farmers market to buy organic local produce, while i drink my Soylent meal that took 90% less CO2 to produce than any conventional meal, and then go home to my apartment that is cooled by a sun roof and electricity supplied by wind power

    1. Re:This bothers me by xession · · Score: 2

      It's not necessarily about electing the "right" president. It's about Trump paying favors to lobbyists who have a strong interest in creating larger barriers to people obtaining renewable energy and other "green" technologies.

      These assholes absolutely know fossil fuels have a guaranteed end of life where prices are going to inflate massively at some point when they start to become much more scarce. This results in massive profits to these people and their shareholders as they hold the fossil fuel dependent countries hostage.

      Make no mistake, the "free market" hasn't existed for much more than a century and never will again. Its all about the big companies stamping out innovation that threatens their bottom line. Unless their business is specifically to "help the world", their bottom line will never be parallel to what is best for society.

    2. Re:This bothers me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree with you with everything except the organic part. That is a very ecologically and unsustainable PR stunt by food companies to take advantage of good intentioned people like you.

      Organic is not green. It is just the opposite. If you want to save the environment DON"T BUY ORGANIC.

    3. Re:This bothers me by kamapuaa · · Score: 2

      I live in the US and have a car with ridiculously good gas mileage, where I drive 60 miles every day. When I lived in another country, NOBODY did that (and personally, I walked about 10 minutes to work). In the US, that sort of commute is very common. Having a car that is 25% more efficient in a country with long-ass commutes and an addiction to freeways is a false economy.

      Solar power is cool for the future. So far, it isn't a significant factor. Not running your AC is more environmentally friendly than having energy efficient electricity, and yes maybe the US shouldn't be building so many homes in the desert in the first place.

      Organic local produce is bad for the environment. Transportation is so cheap and efficient, the amount of fuel to ship food on a ship or train is trivial. Environmentally, it makes more sense to grow in places which can grow efficiently and then ship the food, than to grow tomatoes in Minnesota.

      --
      Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
    4. Re:This bothers me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We don't need the federal government to make a difference, we can (and I would argue are) collectively working to solve this problem through the free market mechanisms available to us!

      Yeah, and nevermind the loans, subsidies, and tax credits the government handed out in order to encourage the development of the technology and incentivize the initial sales.

      The DoD has been pumping money into renewable tech too, albeit for different reasons.

      Acting like the free market delivered hybrids in 10 years by itself---that's laughable.

    5. Re:This bothers me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not too sure if you realise how elitist you sound: Most of the items you're mentioning, are unaffordable for the average American...

      I agree that a lot of problems can be partially solved by doing your own part, but to say that federal government aren't necessary to make a REAL difference, isn't based in reality.

    6. Re:This bothers me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey, at least the statists aren't going to war over climate change yet. I for one am counting my blessings.

    7. Re:This bothers me by Picodon · · Score: 1

      The U.S. “hybrid-electric car fleet” was not obtained without any government interference. There were tax credits and other incentives. For example, California encouraged buyers by granting access to carpool lanes to hybrid as well as electric vehicles. Gasoline taxation (by federal and state governments) also plays a significant role in fostering consumer desire for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Higher fuel economy standards, mandated by governments, have also played a role by preventing vehicle manufacturers from flooding the market with cheap gas guzzlers against which comparatively more expensive hybrid vehicles could not easily compete. If there had been no government involvement, if only the market had been speaking, we’d all be driving large yet inexpensive cars. And if foreign competition had been thwarted through protectionist policies, those cars would likely be sporting 1960’s technology (and fuel-efficiency) to boot, but that’s another story.

      In regard to greenhouse gas emissions reduction, that hybrid-electric fleet is unfortunately still a drop in the bucket, for several reasons.

      Transportation only contributes about 27% of airborne pollution contributing to climate change. The remaining 73% come from electric power generation, industrial production, commercial and residential activities and agriculture. (source: EPA) This is for U.S. emissions, by the way; globally, transportation only contributes about 14% of emissions. (source: IPCC, cited by EPA). Even within the U.S., figures vary significantly between states.

      Further, light-duty vehicles contribute about 60% of transportation-related emissions. (source: EPA), therefore about 17% of total emissions (in the U.S.). The remainder of transportation-related emissions comes from medium- and heavy-duty road vehicles, as well as aircraft, trains, ships and boats, pipelines, etc. Those can be particularly noxious. For example, “aircraft not only emit 12 percent of CO2 emissions from U.S. transportation sources — they also emit nitrogen oxides other than nitrous oxide, causing warming when emitted at high elevation. And ships, besides releasing almost 3 percent of the world’s CO2 (about as much as all of Canada emits), are also a main source of nitrous oxide and black carbon (soot).” (source: Center for biological diversity).

      Finally, the pool of hybrid-electric cars has been growing but it is still much too small (around 2% of passenger cars) to make a significant difference. (Actually, lower gasoline prices in 2014-2015 led to decreased sales of hybrid-electric cars; source: DOT/BTS). Not to mention that, in the end, it only improves fuel efficiency, but it is still largely relying on an internal combustion engine.

      My point is this: with all the goodwill displayed by a small minority of pollution-conscious consumers, even if you discounted the governmental initiatives that actually convinced those consumers to adopt a hybrid-electric vehicle, the impact on greenhouse gas emissions is minimal. And it will remain so because the largest share of those emissions is caused by factors that are well outside the reach of consumers (commercial and industrial), factors that are controlled by cost considerations, and can only be durably and significantly modified by government regulations or incentives issued on a massive scale.

  23. Trump: by fredrated · · Score: 1

    Making America irrelevant again!

    1. Re:Trump: by aicrules · · Score: 0

      News flash, compared to China and India, the pollution of the United States is completely irrelevant. We could be a zero emission country and it wouldn't move the meter on global pollution levels because of just how much those two countries pollute. Why hurt our economy entering into treaties and legislating changes outside of normal market forces? Eventually we will reach many of the goals the various treaties and EPA guidelines have stated. But it's like telling your roommate to turn his headphone volume down when your neighbors on both sides are having blow out parties blasting music that is cracking the walls.

    2. Re:Trump: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not about pollution solely. It's about technical development that gives more energy for less use of natural resources.
      Using less natural resources means less costs. Less cost means lower production prices, because the energy is cheaper.
      So - at the end America will earn less money, because their production costs are higher and thus their products too expensive.
      That means America will loose markets to country's that produce cheaper energy and so have lower production cost.
      That last bit is even true if they increase the standard of living for their workers.

      But - yeah... The pollution in America is completely irrelevant.. Hope you are happy with it.

    3. Re:Trump: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Okay, I have to ask: how's this a bad thing? The world has been demanding - and not particularly politely or nicely - that America stop bullying them. Now that the new US President has come out and said America is going to stop bullying the world and turn inwards to address its VERY significant internal problems...that's bad somehow? I don't get it.

      Do we really have something to lose as Americans if we pull back our external activity? The Cold War is over, and it seems the more fingers we have in pies like NATO, the Middle Eastern countries, and so forth, the more problems we create.

      The best thing we can do is stop creating problems, and let the world catch up on solving the ones we already created. Tellyawhut, talk to us in 20 years and maybe we might come back to the world - if there's something in it for us Until then, take your problems to the leader of the free world, Angela Merkel, and see if she'll do anything for you. Bye!

    4. Re:Trump: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm following you so far...your point is America will lose power and become irrelevant...and?

      Isn't this what the world has demanded for quite some time? That America should stop bullying them? And especially, fuck the American working class - the deplorables that elected Trump. Let them all commit suicide or take meth or oxy until they all die and can be replaced by immigrants. I'm not seeing the downside here, maybe you can explain?

    5. Re:Trump: by fredrated · · Score: 1

      I am with you 100%. As you say, if we become irrelevant then we are less of a problem to the rest of the world. And about time.

  24. Re:man made climate change is a hoax by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    You're the first ever comment I've ever read with factual information that shows an alternative point of view against all this climate change debate.

    And when you think about it, if a single solar flare has the potential to be big enough to end all life on the planet, it sure as hell can modify the climate.

    So the question is, can we increase the strength of the planet's natural shield?

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  25. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by tbannist · · Score: 1

    THE MODELS DON'T FUCKING WORK.

    The models over-estimate warming over an 11,000 year span because they weren't designed to be run over an 11,000 year span. As the paper you linked to says:

    The biases in current models, if they exist, are more likely to be related to their sensitivity to the orbital forcing and additional feedbacks in climate models.

    Basically, that paper says that the studied models are not accurately reflecting the actual effects of the Milankovitch Cycle, which is a valuable insight, and something that should be improved upon. Of course, you are also overstating the size of the problem, since the model-proxy reconstruction divergence rate discovered in the paper is about 0.01 degrees per century.

    --
    Fanatically anti-fanatical
  26. Both [Re:It's about time] by XXongo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's about time we focused on emissions from "developing countries."

    The correct answer is "focus on both". You can't solve global problems by saying "let the other guy solve all the problems, we won't do anything." And you also can't solve global problems by saying "we'll work on our problems, but we'll ignore everybody else's contributions."

    That's the thing about "global": it's everybody's problem.

    The stuff the US emits is harmless plant food compared to the toxic shit these derelicts dump into the air and water on a day to day basis.

    Well, per capita, the US emits far far more than the rest of the world. But the U.S. is a small fraction of the world.

    1. Re: Both [Re:It's about time] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a good thing we're the global villains now and don't have to worry about that sort of thing. No matter what we do from now on, with Trump in charge we will get zero credit for anything and everything we do will be spun negatively. So it's nice to have the pressure off. Keep sending the hate! We're immune to it now. ;)

    2. Re:Both [Re:It's about time] by budgenator · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, per capita, the US emits far far more than the rest of the world. But the U.S. is a small fraction of the world.

      The US also feeds more of the world per capita, Protects more of the World's people from aggression per capita and provides more of the World's people with heavily subsidized medicine per capita, than any other country in the world.
      If some other country wants to take a turn being the lightning rod for the World's anger, then have at it.

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
    3. Re:Both [Re:It's about time] by XXongo · · Score: 2

      Well, per capita, the US emits far far more than the rest of the world. But the U.S. is a small fraction of the world.

      The US also feeds more of the world per capita, Protects more of the World's people from aggression per capita and provides more of the World's people with heavily subsidized medicine per capita, than any other country in the world. If some other country wants to take a turn being the lightning rod for the World's anger, then have at it.

      I'm not sure why you think that's relevant to the current discussion.

      I'm also not sure how it is we decided that we and we alone were supposed to be in charge of running the world. I, for one, would be fine if another nation would take a turn at being the lightning rod for the world's anger.

    4. Re:Both [Re:It's about time] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US is involved with more aggression and acts of terrorism to other countries than any other country. You seem to have confused this with "protecting people from aggression"... the world needs to be protected from the US!

      While you're at it, tell your new president to go fuck himself. I'm sure his tiny hands fit into his huge asshole quite easily.

    5. Re:Both [Re:It's about time] by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 2

      Uh?
      Idiot tatooed on your forehead?

      The little island in front of Florida, called Cuba, provides more medical aid to the world than all G8 nations together.

      That is per capita probably a factor of 5000 more than the USA does. To lazy to look up the numbers, could easily be a factor of 10,000.

      I guess the world will be peacefull and happy again when Gods own country of idiots is falling back into insignificance.

      Regarding 'developing aid' _per capita_ I doubt the USA makes it into the top 20, and if so it is only because they call 'military aid' developing aid.

      Per capita UK, German and Japan are leading ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    6. Re:Both [Re:It's about time] by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US also ... Protects more of the World's people from aggression per capita.

      The US directly kills more people than any other human organisation on the planet, per capita or otherwise. They do it openly and they rationalise it.

    7. Re:Both [Re:It's about time] by budgenator · · Score: 1

      The little island in front of Florida, called Cuba, provides more medical aid to the world than all G8 nations together.

      I suppose you think those drugs would even exist if it weren't for the the American market providing an incentive to fund the R and D expenses.

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
    8. Re:Both [Re:It's about time] by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Which drugs?

      Medical aid is not "drugs" it is hospitals, and doctors and nurses, and in the end medicals. I doubt Cuba is to dumb to produce its own medicals.

      And the american health system is notorious for being the most expensive of the world, so it is no wonder that some american companies develop/produce drugs for it. But those drugs don't end up in Cuba. Remember: USA has a trade embargo on Cuba.

      Plenty of countries have Corporations that develop and distribute medicals. Why you think most medicals in the world come from the US is beyond me.

      Ah, something like "america is great", in my eyes it is a third world nation that happens to have by accident a lot of carriers. Thats it ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  27. Makes sense for UNdeveloped contries to lead by XXongo · · Score: 1

    ...to commit economic suicide.

    Actually, not. The interesting thing about both China and India is that in large parts of the country, they don't have an electrical power grid. So they can install solar-based power solutions without jettisoning the sunk-costs of the existing infrastructure. Building a nation-spanning electrical grid is actually expensive. If you don't have one to start with, going with decentralized generation makes a lot of sense. Contrawise, when you already do have one, much of the advantage of decentralized generation is lost.

    so, it seems slightly paradoxical, but actually, it makes sense for the un-developed countries to lead in this respect.

  28. This page is still pushing this climate garbage, by TimJensun · · Score: 0

    LOL. This page is still pushing this climate garbage, the same as you have been doing since the 1990s, and the world still isn't on fire. Whats wrong? Is the next generation not buying Slashdot's bullshit this decade either?

  29. "as hopes for Trump fade" by John.Banister · · Score: 1

    What hopes? Who was stupid enough to hope that Trump would be good for climate change?

  30. Trump administration will be jailed soon anyway by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    At the rate investigations are going, the entire Trump administration will be in Leavenworth before the year is out. The next person to sit in the big chair will likely be more intelligent when it comes to global climate change and then we can get things back on track.

  31. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by MightyMartian · · Score: 2, Insightful

    He either got this from a pseudo-skeptic blog or just googled it. The deniers don't actually read the papers, they just look for certain key phrases and then declare "All the scientists are wrong!!!!"

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  32. Pin Hopes on Yourselves by rey2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's already out of hand when one country's government believes the only way to solve its problems is to depend on another country's government; it's totally bonkers to think China and India will be environmental leaders, have you ever been to either China? There wasn't a single place that we went where the locals drank tap water and the air is terrible, except in rain forest areas (the people and food were great, I'd go back to visit). The Paris accord has no teeth anyway so why should a country hamstring themselves- maybe, just maybe, each country can follow environmental policies that balance their own climate concerns and economic well being instead of blindly following activist theology.

  33. They can start worrying less by damn_registrars · · Score: 1

    Trump's administration is on a fast track down the drain. We'll likely see a new POTUS before year's end at this rate. For those who fear that Pence could end up as the POTUS to finish off the term, it is hard to see Trump passing on the chance to be so vindictive on his way out as to take him down as well.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  34. Trump Bashing by grasshoppa · · Score: 2

    Look, I get it; Trump is horrible. He's a horrible person and an even worse president.

    However.

    Why SHOULD the US shoulder the responsibility, when we aren't even the worst polluter? In our rush to criticize Trump, we're giving the two worst polluters on the planet a free pass. If Trump pulling back on the accord prompts China and India to step up their game...isn't that a net benefit to the climate?

    Unhinged criticism is precisely how Trump got elected, and is likely to be why he gets re-elected.

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
    1. Re:Trump Bashing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Look, I get it; Trump is horrible. He's a horrible person and an even worse president.

      However.

      Why SHOULD the US shoulder the responsibility, when we aren't even the worst polluter? In our rush to criticize Trump, we're giving the two worst polluters on the planet a free pass. If Trump pulling back on the accord prompts China and India to step up their game...isn't that a net benefit to the climate?

      Unhinged criticism is precisely how Trump got elected, and is likely to be why he gets re-elected.

      We should shoulder the responsibility because it's the right thing to do.
      We have the ability to impact the problem so the greater question is, "Why shouldn't we?".

    2. Re:Trump Bashing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you greatly overestimate what the racist, bigoted USA is capable of. Americans are the least educated and knowledgeable of foreign affairs, languages, and disparate cultures, societies, and social norms amongst all Westernized countries and the least exposed universally.

      Policing the world was about America. It always was. It was about America's foreign interests. If America really was "policing the world", why did the Rwandan genocide happen? Why did the horrific Liberian civil war happen? Why did the Cambodian genocide happen? Why did the Bosnian genocide happen? America said "never again" after the holocaust, and then conveniently forgot around 1975, when they saw more lucrative wars were to be waged elsewhere. I'm tired of this whine from Americans about "oh, we support the world, the world would be lost without us". America only supports those countries where they can turn a profit. Do you count CIA sponsored coups and death squads in South America as "policing the world"? If you were "policing the world", you wouldn't be allied with Saudi Arabia. I'm not trying to be a dick to you, I just don't think what you're saying is very sound. The US government doesn't give a fuck about "policing the world". It's imperialism, disguised as policing. That's all it is. When the policing charade fails, the US has no qualms with financially backing foreign terrorists to overthrow democratically elected foreign governments.

    3. Re:Trump Bashing by nojayuk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Why SHOULD the US shoulder the responsibility, when we aren't even the worst polluter?

      America burns about 3 tonnes of coal per capita each year (900 million tonnes last year for 320 million people). China burns a little over two tonnes of coal per capita each year (2.9 billion tonnes last year for 1.4 billion people). India burns about the same amount of coal as America does to supply 1.3 billion people, about half a tonne per capita.

      America IS the worst polluter of the three, and that doesn't even begin to take the oil and gas the US also burns into consideration. Americans use over twice as much energy per capita as the rest of the world and much of that energy is derived from fossil fuel.

    4. Re:Trump Bashing by swillden · · Score: 1

      Why SHOULD the US shoulder the responsibility, when we aren't even the worst polluter?

      We are the worst polluter. Well, technically we're the 11th worst (of over 200), in terms of CO2 emitted per capita, but the 10 who are above us are all tiny countries. Among major nations of the world, USA is #1 in per capita greenhouse gas emissions.

      We're #1! We're #1! We're #1... and we shouldn't be.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    5. Re:Trump Bashing by Areyoukiddingme · · Score: 1

      America IS the worst polluter of the three...

      Bullshit. You fail second grade arithmetic. 2.9 billion > 0.9 billion. Full stop. Per capita numbers are completely irrelevant when talking about global climate. Only the absolute numbers affect the climate. 2.9 billion tons of burned coal does not magically emit 30% less CO2 because more people benefit from it. It still emits just as much CO2 ton for ton as coal burned anywhere else. China is by FAR the worst polluter in the world. Chinese activity releases more fine particulates, more oxides of nitrogen, more mercury, more of every other nasty substance you can put into the air than any other country on the planet. And they also release far more CO2 than anyone else. Your own numbers said so. And then you suffered a brain fart induced by propaganda and forgot that bigger numbers are bigger than smaller numbers, and this means something.

      The only time the per capita number is relevant is when theorizing that Americans could reduce their power consumption per person more easily than other countries without suffering a significant reduction in their standard of living. There is zero support for this theory, and vast amounts of data that contradicts it. Every country that uses less power per person has a lower standard of living.

      Personally I am convinced that no country will ever significantly reduce their per capita power consumption voluntarily. Consuming larger amounts of power is directly responsible for higher living standards. It is not merely correlation. It is a causal, provable relationship. This has been true since ancient times, when citizens of Rome enjoyed the highest standard of living in the world. It was built on the output of muscle power, from animals and from slaves. Today, we frown on slavery, and animals are unreliable, so we use other, much denser sources of power, and we in the developed world enjoy the highest standard of living in history. More to the point, our use of power is what distinguishes us from the undeveloped world. Every time someone like you starts yammering about per capita consumption, you're going to get ignored, challenged, or even attacked because the world as it is today and as it has been for all of history proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the higher the power consumption, the better off everyone is. Get used to it.

    6. Re:Trump Bashing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Per capita is the only way you can paint this picture to make China/India the good guys. Where total pollution of China and India dwarf the US.

    7. Re:Trump Bashing by nojayuk · · Score: 1

      They're not good guys but per capita is the only way to look at it since pollution and increased CO2 levels in the plantary atmosphere do not respect national boundaries. If all the CO2 the US, China, India etc. emitted stayed within their borders then fine but it doesn't and when it comes to burning coal Americans punch way above their weight individually.

      If China was a dozen smaller countries, each burning 250 million tonnes of coal a year then maybe you'd have a point, but it isn't. China is still struggling to bring the benefits of modern electricity supplies to a lot of its citizens and that means, like America, burning cheap fossil fuel and like America that cheap fossil fuel tends to be coal. It's just that Americans use more electricity and other fossil fuel primary energy per capita than Chinese people do -- not so many internal air flights, fewer giant pickup trucks making long daily commutes on freeways, fewer airconditioning units etc.

    8. Re:Trump Bashing by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      yeah, the per capita measurement is just plain BS, esp. since CHina's REAL emissions, are MUCH HIGHER.
      As such, we need to have a decent standard of measurement that is employed across ALL NATIONS equally, and can show us what is really going on.
      Then we need to normalize based on CO2 / $ GDP. Why? Because the vast majority of CO2 does NOT come from individual choices, but from businesses and govs. As such, it makes NO SENSE to use per capita and total sense to use $GDP. ANd it has to be REAL GDP, not PPP, which would allow nations to cheat their way out of making real impact.
      And America is not even in the top 10 worst polluters in terms of per capita. OTOH, nations like CHina, india, and even most of Europe-28, along with SOuth Korea, are horrible polluters in terms of emissions per $ GDP.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    9. Re:Trump Bashing by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      oddly, America is the ONLY nation with the ability to get ALL NATIONS to drop their emissions.
      Trump really is blowing a golden opportunity.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    10. Re:Trump Bashing by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      actually, no. India is still below America in yearly output.
      But, when done as emissions per $ GDP, they are in the bottom 10.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    11. Re:Trump Bashing by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Bullshit. You fail second grade arithmetic. 2.9 billion > 0.9 billion. Full stop. Per capita numbers are completely irrelevant when talking about global climate.

      Let me help define a few things for you:

      Per Capita: Statistics broken down per person.
      Global: A collection of everyone irrelevant which country they are in.

      It doesn't not make any sense at all to measure emissions in total output. YOU the average American are a far worse contributor to the climate than the average Chinese person.

      YOU are also a dirty self-entitled scum patting yourself on the back for the fact that some arbitrary line puts you in a different irrelevant bucket of total national emissions.

      From behalf of the rest of the world who are doing something about this global problem: Fuck specifically YOU.

  35. The models don't fail: Holocene Temperature Max by XXongo · · Score: 1

    Looking at the graphs, the models seem to reproduce the overall features pretty well. Heres the comparison graph from the paper you cite: http://www.pnas.org/content/11...

    There are still some variances in the details, but overall, it's the way science works-- you start with getting the overall shape right, and then progressively refine details.

    I should point out that it's hard to match the details of the Holocene thermal max because the details aren't really known. It's not even really clear if it was a global effect, or local-- looks like the arctic and northern Europe had a thermal max, but southern Europe cooling, and it looks like the warming was in summer, but not winter. Check out, for example: http://www.sciencedirect.com/s... http://www.nature.com/ngeo/jou... http://www.medeltid.su.se/Nedl...

    Yep, that is a peer-reviewed paper published by actual climatologists. So much for that "consensus", eh?

    It's very tempting to say "here's one paper by one group that shows a discrepancy, and thus that overturns everything we thought we knew!" -- but that's only the way science works in the movies. In the real world, science really is a cooperative endeavor. Don't focus on any one paper-- that part about scientific consensus is actually important. You have many eyes looking at every paper, and many papers looking at different aspects of the problem.

    But, in this case, the paper you're looking at merely says "here are some places where we need more details" (in the measurements, not just the models-- keep in mind that we know a lot more about contemporary climate than we do about the climate 10,000 years ago-- we directly measure the solar irradiance, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the global cloud cover, and the downwelling infrared, for example; all things that have to be inferred from proxies for the climate 10,000 years ago.

  36. Tesla roadster 2008 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Less than 10 years, Teslas roaster was only 2008.

    Literally it took one Obama.

    Here's Fox blaming Obama's tax breaks:
    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/09/electric-car-subsidies-transferring-wealth-from-poor-to-rich.html

    Can Trump undo that? Well he'll certainly try to block the tax subsidy since it was an Obama introduced subsidy. That's a no-brainer.

    Trump really struggles to find a big dividing issue to split America on. Each attempt so far has been more uniting America in hatred for him, than anything else. e.g. Undo Obama care, but stupidly piles all the costs onto the elderly with pre-conditions (i.e. Republican voters).

    Killing polar bears from helicopters, designed to get the nature lovers angry, but shock horror, not many Republicans go on safari to poach elephants and leopard skins like Trump junior did. Another miss.

    How to divide the population so they fight among themselves so you can turn tiny power into leverage between factions? Well banning electric and self driving cars or loading on taxes onto them? Don't think that will do it either.

  37. Had to have their support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There is no way we could succeed with this without China and India. They need to be leaders.

  38. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by Train0987 · · Score: 0, Troll

    How many other things turned out to be wrong after being accepted as fact by 90% of scientists throughout history? Damned near everything in science. We understand very little about climate today. Yes, we understand more than we did 10 years ago but it's still very little. Show me a climate model that can be back-tested and then we can talk about taking civilization-altering steps.

  39. this is a false view by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    While change in China, the largest emitter, and India, soon to become the largest emitter, are both critical, the fact is that both the US and Canada are also changing. People look at the US as if population and GDP and emissions were evenly distributed.

    They're not.

    The vast overwhelming majority of industry, commerce, and people are in areas that are reducing emissions and becoming more efficient.

    One of the reasons why the flyover states are dying is their lack of efficiency and investment in more efficient processes. We're literally outcompeting them, using fewer resources to do a better job, and creating fewer emissions, while increasing the percentage of green energy that feeds that.

    You can't save coal. You can't even save fossil fuels. They're doomed. The markets care nothing for your failed religion of fossil fuels. And the US and Canada will be leaders no matter what insanity happens in the White House and Congress, because we are investing in cleaner more efficient technology today. Here. And we're outcompeting you.

    Adapt.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  40. U.S. Is already done by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Why sadness?

    The U.S. long ago already met the coyote protocols. There are very little gains to be had at this point from the U.S. trashing the economy any further; ay real CO2 reduction gains can ONLY be had by looking at China and India.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  41. They're responsible for pollution. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This whole idea of getting the US to do something is idiotic when the big polluters are third world countries. We've been exporting pollution to China for year (they've made it worse by stripping off scrubbers from smoke stacks for scrap metal).

    I congratulate environmentalists for finally holding the polluters responsible.

  42. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, we can all levitate now because 90% of scientists were wrong about gravity! And our computers work by gremlins with tiny coloured cards running about, because 90% of scientists thought that electrons existed and their movement caused electricity, but were wrong!

  43. Thank you Autocorrect - Koyoto not "coyote" by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Though frankly "coyote" is a better term for a system designed to scavenge from developed countries.

    Or if you like a kinder interpretation would be, that it is a protocol designed for countries to run leaner on...

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  44. Citation? by bjdevil66 · · Score: 1

    I'd love to read about this if I'm wrong.

    1. Re:Citation? by parkinglot777 · · Score: 1

      Here is a list of articles/studies/etc divided into both yes (pros) and no (cons). However, keep in mind, they both involve other factors (especially economic & politic) into the account of what could and could not...

    2. Re:Citation? by bjdevil66 · · Score: 1

      * Ecowatch.com: Short, short version - "We all need to change big time. All electric everything. No gas (natural or liquid) powered anything. Regulate everything bad out of existence to force the lifestyle equally on everyone. Give up cars for walking/biking/public transportation. Give up suburban home for high density cities. Minimize trucking in favor of more rail. Forget plastic and other petroleum-based products you can't reuse. Global trade must shrink. Eat local. It'll be hard, but it'll be worth it." -- Uh... nope. That hippie utopia isn't gonna fly in its entirety.

      * Stanford article summary: To get it, we must 1) turn 1% of all landmass on Earth into solar and wind production, 2) end all internal combustion technology, 3) cut energy consumption by 30% across the board, 4) create a ENORMOUS (and potentially fragile) grid to move power well enough to get power everywhere while hoping that hydroelectric can fill in the gaps to cover everywhere at all times, and 5) recycle better to get enough rare earth metals to build everything. We currently have less than 1% of all solar and wind turbines in place. That's a HUGE transformation necessary for the entire world that would involve a lot of sacrifice and political will by all. No NIMBY attitudes, no corporate meddling or profiteering/corruption. Trillions spent to upgrade... Not gonna happen 100% of the way in today's selfish political environment.

      * National Geographic article: Doesn't anywhere in its own text promise 100% clean energy. Only references other hopeful, articles like the pie-in-the-sky Stanford article above. It does say that various sources suggest that 1) we can cut consumption by 44% by 2050. 2) we can double productivity by 2030, and 3) "produce 80 to 90 percent of America’s electricity from proven" renewables.

      * Scientific American article is behind a registration. Can't read.

      * Greenpeace article: Only country aiming to be 100% renewable energy by 2050? Denmark, surrounded by oceans (for tidal power) and has a tiny landmass to power. Every other point is based in the same logic as the Stanford article above. Huge smart grid, everyone accepting windmills + solar panels and any problems with them (no NIMBY), etc.

      I'm not trolling, IMO. I'm just looking at it from a pragmatic POV. And the referenced continued advancements in solar and wind give me hope for good change. If we can get to a majority of renewables while we ALSO research better Stage III+ nuclear fission reactors (and the ever-elusive nuclear fusion energy source), that's great.

      In the meantime, just don't expect the average world citizen to give up the comforts we have put together for ourselves without having reasonable alternatives. We can't all walk to work in MegaCity One, shop for everything at the farmer's market (miles away), have bamboo flooring and wear hemp clothes.

    3. Re: Citation? by mspohr · · Score: 1

      Thanks for taking the time to read and reply

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
  45. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by FlyHelicopters · · Score: 1

    That is not how science works

  46. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by Train0987 · · Score: 0

    You proved my point. The "consensus" was proven completely wrong when those discoveries were made.

  47. I'm fine with this by DaRyuujin · · Score: 1

    I'm not fully sold on the "climate change" things, too many conflicting arguments and honestly most people who argue on either side don't really have a clue. Too many politics injected into the climate change debate, it's moved too far from science. Past that though I'm fine with Trump taking a step back, it's kinda old for everybody to expect the US to spear head every damn thing, even when it hurts us economically. It's time to let the rest of the world step up and take some weight out of the US's backpack. Maybe once the rest of the world starts making sacrifices then the US can jump back into the fray but damnit no more of the US doing most of the leg work on everything. As it's been mentioned above, why should the US hurt it's self economically with regulations and such when A) Climate change isn't a proven thing, still just an argued theory. B) nothing the US can do will reduce pollution levels if other countries (such a schina) don't also make some effort. I'm not saying trash our environment I'm just saying if this is such an important issue to the world maybe it's time the world showed it, because apparently if the US isn't spearheading something it's a lost cause or some shit?

    1. Re:I'm fine with this by hackel · · Score: 1

      Well I see that the corporate efforts to confuse the issue have certainly been successful on you!

    2. Re:I'm fine with this by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Trump: Making America Mediocre Again!

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  48. Climate ambassador for the Seychelles? by hackel · · Score: 1

    Seriously? The Seychelles have less than 100,000 people. They should absolutely not have an "ambassador" on the international stage. That would be like some idiot from one of the bum-fuck suburbs around any city in the States randomly showing up and pretending that they mattered. This really irritates me. Not that I disagree with him, of course, but he and his islands are just not important enough to be quotable. Of course everyone deserves a voice, but it must be proportional.

    1. Re:Climate ambassador for the Seychelles? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So when the entirety of the Seychelles vanishes into the rising Indian Ocean, those 100,000 people can come live in your backyard, can they?

    2. Re:Climate ambassador for the Seychelles? by djinn6 · · Score: 1

      If the statement has merit, does it matter from whose mouth it came from?

  49. What you're advocating is a race to the bottom by rsilvergun · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think it's called "The Tragedy of the Commons" but either way it's the same reason traffic jams happen. If everybody did the right thing then we'd all be better off, but for individuals doing the wrong things is beneficial. At least, until everyone follows suit. When you tailgate and drive aggressively it gets you to work sooner right up until everyone does it. Then it causes a jam and you're an hour late.

    The US needs to lead here because we're why China is polluting. They're doing it to meet our demand for cheap consumer goods that can be sold at a high profit margin. Not that Europe isn't to blame too, but any time we want we could put our foot down, pay a few hundred dollars more for our electronics & consumer goods and stop the pollution. We don't because we don't want to.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  50. what a joke by WindBourne · · Score: 0

    Looking at China and India while EACH are increasing their emissions faster than the entire west can drop theirs, is a joke.
    As it is, America's emission in another 4 years will be well below where it is today. And that is in spite of Trump. But, CHina and India's emissions will continue to grow.
    In fact, I am going to guess that America's emissions will likely be down another 10% from where it is today. This will be due to EVs, esp Tesla, taking off, but also coal-based electricity will drop to around 22-23% from its current 28-29%. Now that is not as much of a drop as what happened in the 8 years of obama, but there is a HUGE difference. MOST of the coal in America was being replaced by nat gas plants. For the last couple of years, the coal plants have really been replaced with wind. IOW, 8 years ago, coal was replaced by nat gas which is about 50% of the CO2, while wind will replace it fully. So, this 8% drop, will be equal to a 16% drop under O's term.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  51. Gary, and Newark, and Pittsburgh by XXongo · · Score: 1
    Ya got a point. I remember Newark, New Jersey, back in the day. Good God, you could smell it when you drove past. Bleetch!

    And Pittsburgh used to be a grimy stinkpot. I was there last month, though, and I was amazed-- really beautiful city, now that they've stopped the smog and peeled the accumulated grime away.

    1. Re:Gary, and Newark, and Pittsburgh by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Call me when the do something about Decatur Illinois. For now, at least we know where they will stick the tube if America needs an enema.

      Of course the smell in Decatur is from processing soy, smells like a Tofu eater puked in the corner of every room. Locals are blind to it.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    2. Re:Gary, and Newark, and Pittsburgh by Hartree · · Score: 1

      Decatur calls itself the commodore city. Given the smell, you can drop the "or".

  52. No, we didn't by rsilvergun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    the government heavily interfered in the form of massive tax breaks for hybrids and for developing hybrids. Like most things that truly matter and are really difficult (like space travel, communication, and Basic Research) nothing happens until the government steps in because it's not profitable enough otherwise.

    And you can't fix the environment with a president who is openly hostile to the EPA. Poor people still can't drink the water in Flint, MI you know? And your Honda's good millage & clean emissions is dwarfed by the number of Trucks calling themselves SUVs on the road.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:No, we didn't by jediborg · · Score: 1

      Flint, MI has terrible drinking water because of the incompetence and corruption of the local politicians who failed to do their duty, it has nothing to do with the EPA.

      Also, last year private buisnesses contributed 2.2 BILLION dollars to basic scientific research, its completely false to say that private industry doesn't invest in basic science, technology, or RND.

      And according to this article: http://abcnews.go.com/Technolo... the government actually gave better tax breaks for SUV purchases than Hybrid vehicles. When your system of government requires 'the right person' to be in charge in order to work, you have a failed system of government. I would argue that the cost benefits of using less gas is what drove consumers to purchase hybrids, more than any tax breaks. Actually in California, i think the hybrid as a social status symbol (ooh look at me, i'm driving a hybrid because i care about the environment and YOU DONT) did more to drive sales of hybrids than any other vehicle.

    2. Re:No, we didn't by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      California started in the late 1980ths to pass laws for zero emission cars.
      Other states followed. Then some bollocks said: all fine, but not for trucks.
      Then the car industry decided it is easier to build 'family cars' that count as trucks than following the regulations for clean air and power consumtion of cars. The result is a SUV.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    3. Re:No, we didn't by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Flint has terrible drinking water because of the decisions of State officials, not local.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  53. China and India by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    China and India are the biggest offenders to the climate.

  54. climate change: not a hoax by XXongo · · Score: 1
    The problem is that for over a hundred and fifty years, ever since the sunspot cycle was discovered (by Schwabe, in 1843), people have been trying to find a relationship between sunspot activity and climate... and have never been able to convincingly find any.

    Yes, there's a lot of popular news stories saying that the "little ice age" was due to the Maunder minimum. The only prolem is that the little ice age was already well established well before the Maunder minimum. (The Norse settlement of Greenland was abandoned around 1410, for example).

    Current thinking on the little ice age is that it was precipitated by (well documented) volcanic eruptions. http://news.agu.org/press-rele...

  55. Alternate point of view by XXongo · · Score: 1

    You're the first ever comment I've ever read with factual information that shows an alternative point of view against all this climate change debate.

    Alternate point of view, yes. Factual information, no.

    People have been trying to document a connection between sunspots and climate for a hundred and fifty years. It's simply not there.

    And when you think about it, if a single solar flare has the potential to be big enough to end all life on the planet,

    Uh, I'd really like to see a citation for that.

    A big solar flare could take out the electric grid, yes. "End life on the planet"?? I don't think so.

    1. Re:Alternate point of view by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      A solar flare did take out electric grids in eastern Canada and U.S.A. a few decades ago.

      And if you look at this image you can clearly understand the scale of big flares. Sure, we're not that close to the Sun (far from it), but size-wise if it went directly toward the Earth and didn't dissipate enough by the time it got here, I don't think anything would be able to save us.

      Unless the flare happened at night, of course.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:Alternate point of view by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Wow, what a dumb post.
      On the other sid of the planet: there is no night,
      And no, a solar flare won't end all life on earth.
      The magnetic field of the earth protects us and the atmosphere filters out 99% of anything comming from the sun.
      Taking out the frid has nothing to do with 'radiation' hitting your skin ...

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  56. Didn't they mean "hate"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    as in unmotivated uninformed liberal passionate hate for a person based on his race and sex?

  57. One word: morons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >The US has 4% of the population but produces 14% of the CO2. Seems to me that the US could make a pretty big impact if they stopped trying to find excuses not to.

    "Big impact" out of 14%??? Srsly?
    Seems to *me* that US could off themselves *entirely* and still have a *negligible* effect on the global CO2. China and India will top those paltry 14% in an year or two.
    Now go and learn some arithmetics, please.

    CAPTCHA: illusion

  58. Re: FRISTO PISTO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Haha. Chine and India? Grasping at straws or just more obviously fake news?

    Both countries are choked by smog.

    Name anyplace in the USA like that. It doesn't exist. Why?

    How stupid do you think we are to believe this?

  59. CME Re:Alternate point of view by XXongo · · Score: 1

    Sorry, but while solar flares are indeed physically big, they won't "end life on the planet".

    They affect electric grids by compressing the Earth's magnetic field, creating an induced voltage. That can play havoc with long conductors, like electric transmission lines, but doesn't really affect the biosphere.

    Coronal mass ejections (the stuff ejected toward Earth by "solar flares") hit the Earth routinely-- when they do, they create pretty auroral displays. A CME has a density typically about 10 ions per cubic centimeter. A really big one might spike up to 40 ions per cubic centimeter. For comparison, there are about 10^20 nitrogen molecules in a cubic centimeter of sea-level air.

  60. It wasn't incompetence by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    it was Malice. The EPA used to prevent that kind of malice from manifesting. Now it doesn't.

    2.2 billion isn't even a drop in the bucket. That's one Saturn V (adjusted for inflation).

    You're talking about Cash For Clunkers. The tax breaks were the same no matter what you bought. If you bought a hybrid you did much better.

    Yes, our system of government sucks. It was designed from the get go to take care of wealthy land owners.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  61. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by TopherC · · Score: 1

    What do you mean about a model that can be back-tested? Is this a requirement?

    Only 90% is a hoax. At this point the evidence for man-made climate change is unshakable. Science operates on the frontier of knowledge, and the frontier today is in predictions of severity, how far away are points of no return, future impacts of ocean acidification, ocean currents, and such. We've moved well beyond the initial questions: Is climate change happening? Yes. Is it caused by us? Yes. Will natural systems adapt to the change and self-regulate? No, at least not on the timescales we require. These were unsettled questions in the 1980's but were worrying enough that Regan and Bush initiated climate change negotiations with China. But science has since moved on.

    There is still a manufactured debate going on about these basic facts of global warming, but it's entirely political. There are even a few (former) scientists making false statements, but they are all paid to do so by agencies with vested interests in manipulating public opinion. This has nothing to do with science.

  62. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So you are saying that a percentage of _people_ determine the results of scientific studies? And not the results of the studies themselves?

    All it takes is to go back through the last few thousand years of history to show that often times well more than 90% of "scientists" of any era believed in pure falsehoods. And called other "non-believers" heretics... Are you sure you understand how science works?

  63. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    It is accepted by 100% of scientists.
    Only idiots don't accept it. Scientists usually are not idiots.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  64. Re:man made climate change is a hoax by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    A solar flare could change the climate by causing decay if CH4 in the upoer atmosphere, cloud building etc.
    But it would not have a long time effect. And: it would need to be a monster of a solar flare.
    Your parent is just an idiot ...

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  65. China and non-fossil nuclear power by nojayuk · · Score: 2

    The plans are not back on, they are only finishing sites that had progressed before the accident.

    Do you really believe that? Weird...

    You can find a list of nuclear power reactors which started construction in China after Fukushima here, about halfway down the page.

    http://www.world-nuclear.org/i...

    The [Construction Start] listings in bold are real construction projects, concrete and metal and not just press releases and Powerpoint presentations. They have completion dates ranging from this year through 2021. I count a total of 15 reactors currently under construction which started after March 2011, the date of the Great Tohoku earthquake and the resulting explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. In addition there are six reactors which started construction before March 2011 which have still to be completed but they have not been abandoned. They did suffer from construction delays during the moratorium though.

    There's a bunch more reactors in the late planning stage where approval has been given, sites selected, contracts signed and financing arranged but they're not quite at the pouring concrete and bending metal stage so they're not counted. I expect most of those projects will actually go ahead in the future. Past that point there are even more reactor projects still in the early planning stages but it's very likely those plans will change significantly.

    1. Re:China and non-fossil nuclear power by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      You know that site is an industry propaganda outlet, right? It's not a reliable source.

      There is plenty of well sourced material here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik...

      300GW was the old plan, now even the most optimistic projections are only looking at a fraction of that by 2050.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:China and non-fossil nuclear power by nojayuk · · Score: 1

      You do realise that the years-out-of-date table of "Nuclear power plants under construction" in the Wikipedia article actually came from the World Nuclear Organisation's webpages?

      China builds very few single-site reactors and the Wikipedia table only lists the start date of the first reactor on a given site -- for example Fangchenggang is going to have six reactors but the first two reactors only started construction in 2010 (they're now finished and in operation). The next two started building in December 2015 and December 2016 respectively. The final two reactors might start construction this year but it's not certain.

      I took a look at Google Maps for the Fangchenggang reactor site -- the satellite view dated 2017 shows two completed reactors on the east coast of the peninsula with two more reactors under construction to the west of them (you can see the circular basemats quite clearly). Here's a picture of Fangchenggang 3 under construction:

      http://www.power-technology.co...

  66. Re: The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundru by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Phlogiston was pretty much universally accepted by scientists. Consensus is a fallacy, it is an appeal to majority and to authority. 90% of all scientists aren't climate scientists.

    Of course, the number of agreeing climate scientists is actually higher, but my point remains.

  67. Re: It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL We can, and just might, start taking what we want. There's really not a whole lot you're going to do about it. You probably could, but you're a coward among a nation of cowards, in a world full of cowards.

    Kinda sucks to be you, actually.

  68. Re: It makes a lot of sense for China/India to lea by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    Oh you sad sad person.

    You actually think you can avoid paying a foreign carbon tax by posturing.

    You have no idea how the world works, do you?

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  69. Economy would save us? by manu0601 · · Score: 1

    For one time, economy could save us, since solar is getting cheaper than coal.

  70. Re: FRISTO PISTO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually its true.

    https://www.c2es.org/international/key-country-policies/china

    Its strange that trump wants to move the usa to the back as the world changes but there are a huge amount of people who see the need and are looking for answers and leaders.

  71. Re: FRISTO PISTO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dumb enough to let a narcissist liar billionaire convince your country to elect him cause he cares for working class?

  72. Indian pushing nuclear power by palemantle · · Score: 1

    Interestingly enough, the cabinet cleared a proposal for 10 new nuclear plants just yesterday.

  73. "As Hopes For Trump Fade" by YoungManKlaus · · Score: 1

    Uhm, you are seriously telling me _anyone_ put any hopes into that buffoon, and especially climate experts? That is way ridiculous.

  74. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What percent of scientists believed that germs caused disease before Pasteur? Did the percentage affect the truth?

    Here's a hint, it was probably high 99% (give or take the "quack")

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zymotic_disease

    If you lived at the time before germ theory was introduced by Pasteur, you could probably claim 99% of scientists accept zymotic disease theory. In retrospect it's easy to say you wouldn't have done it, but there was likely little or any scientific proof until Pasteur came along to contradict.

    So, again, what does a percentage of scientists agreeing on something prove?

  75. Re:It's about time by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    It's about time we focused on emissions from "developing countries."

    I consider the USA a "developing country". They have far higher emissions per capita than those they accuse of polluting while at the same time have far less developed policies to combat and reduce future emissions.

    Time to start developing USA.

  76. ROFLCOPTER by MooseMiester · · Score: 1

    China - Who burns more coal in open stoves than we can imagine, and has cities choked with horrible smog... And India, who can't provide even the most basic necessities for the majority of it's population - helping with Climate Change?

    Please, please, please buy a plane ticket and go spend some time in these places and you'll realize how utterly bat-shit-crazy insane this thought is.

    --
    Murphy was an optimist
  77. Re:It's about time by Barsteward · · Score: 1

    thats our fault for buying it.

    --
    "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
  78. Re:man made climate change is a hoax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fortunately, I just read something relevant about this.
    Here.
    Now, the source I linked is extremely unreliable, but if the assertion in the summary is indeed valid, then we can boost the earth's defenses by adding some constantly transmitting high-power VLF radio transmitters. Since the danger of solar radiation tends to come from a single source [citation needed], a network of transmitters around the planet with only the half that would make the most direct protective bubble active at any time would probably be sufficient.

    To add an ironic twist to it, make the VLF radio shield stations solar powered (in part at least), so if a large enough flare comes roughly our way, the shield will be boosted proportionally to the increased light energy.

  79. Re: FRISTO PISTO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    China might be able to do something, moving to electric cars and cleaner factories as their economy grows. India is a shithole filled with shitskins shitting in the street, there is no hope there.

  80. Re:The models fail: Holocene Temperature Conundrum by sdinfoserv · · Score: 1

    The penalty for the 90% being wrong is polluters get taxed... money changes hands and life goes on.
    The penalty for deniers being wrong is the planet stops being able to support life as we know it. .... pick sides very carefully here.
    History may judge you quite harshly.