Wow the vitriol! Maybe we could lighten up a bit with the criticism of those who don't think the same way we do?
I've already posted on this thread with a version of what will follow but after reading the more recent comments I feel compelled to repost. Please forgive me if you've read the earlier version.
Everyone reading this knows there is controversy associated with any discussion of climate change, especially the reasons for it, if anything can be done to reverse it, and if so at what cost. While each of us is entitled to our own opinion on this subject I am convinced that no one is likely to change the mind of another simply by preaching their gospel or by beating that person over the head with their opinion. So below is where I stand on all this.
A few years ago I decided to buy an electric vehicle (EV - in my case a Tesla) for the greater performance, reliability, lower long term operating costs, home fueling convenience (aided by my solar panels) and yes, for the potential of a smaller environmental impact. Maybe my little part to impact things less?
Of course as many have pointed out if I truly was committed to an even lower environmental impact I could walk, bike, or take public transportation more often than I do. I bought the car however because it is a great vehicle, extremely fun to drive, and over it's life time hopefully it might have a lower carbon footprint.
Now with a plethora of EV's being available for sale over the next couple of years I am convinced that more internal combustion engine (ICE ) owners will, like me, buy these EV's for many of the same reasons that I bought mine. If along the way it turns out that EV owners end up having less negative net impact on the environment, so be it.
So this brings us to where you might stand on this subject. IMHO I think that regardless of one's position on the climate controversy it is worthwhile for everyone to examine how climate change (no matter what the cause, manmade or otherwise) is and will be impacting our lives. These changes include the effects ice melting at the poles and how that is changing sea levels, shifts in coastal landscape, more frequent and violent storms due to warming of the oceans, extended periods of drought and extensive flooding, among many other impacts.
As others have said, education is the key to understanding all this and any reading on the subject, even fiction (some would claim climate change is fiction), can lower the temperature and make for easier discussion of what is factual and what is just conjecture. Of course there are many articles and books on the environmental impact of climate change, both science and science fiction based, so we should all read. If reading fiction is your escape then may I suggest "Seeds of Our Future" on Amazon and other books like it.
Hopefully through education and meaningful discussion we can all at least address the effects of climate change if not agree on the causes or solutions to stem or reverse it.
Happy motoring - electric motoring that is!
