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Climate Change / Global Warming Discussion
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mspohr
Well-Known Member
Net zero possible in 2040s, says outgoing UK climate business expert
The world could reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the early 2040s, substantially ahead of the mid-century climate target, if governments set more stretching goals and make bold policy decisions, the UK’s outgoing climate business expert has said.
In the UK, the Climate Change Committee produced a plausible scenario by which the UK could reach net zero by 2042, he said. “Given that we’ve now got California and Germany saying 2045 is their target, I think you can argue quite strongly that the whole world could get to net zero in the early 2040s, and in many sectors in the late 2030s,” he said. The experience of the Covid-19 pandemic had shown what governments could do when they tried, he added. “The lesson [from the pandemic] that I still don’t think we’ve learnt enough is that we can do unbelievable things, governments can turn on a dime if they need do, and the government/private sector relationship can be transformed to deliver solutions way, way faster, if we really put ourselves on an emergency footing.” .
The world could reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the early 2040s, substantially ahead of the mid-century climate target, if governments set more stretching goals and make bold policy decisions, the UK’s outgoing climate business expert has said.
In the UK, the Climate Change Committee produced a plausible scenario by which the UK could reach net zero by 2042, he said. “Given that we’ve now got California and Germany saying 2045 is their target, I think you can argue quite strongly that the whole world could get to net zero in the early 2040s, and in many sectors in the late 2030s,” he said. The experience of the Covid-19 pandemic had shown what governments could do when they tried, he added. “The lesson [from the pandemic] that I still don’t think we’ve learnt enough is that we can do unbelievable things, governments can turn on a dime if they need do, and the government/private sector relationship can be transformed to deliver solutions way, way faster, if we really put ourselves on an emergency footing.” .
mspohr
Well-Known Member
Global pollinator losses causing 500,000 early deaths a year – study
A critical missing piece in the biodiversity discussion has been a lack of direct linkages to human health,” said Dr Samuel Myers, at Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health and senior author of the study. “This research establishes that loss of pollinators is already impacting health on a scale with other global health risk factors, such as prostate cancer or substance use disorders.”
The global loss of pollinators is already causing about 500,000 early deaths a year by reducing the supply of healthy foods, a study has estimated. Three-quarters of crops require pollination but the populations of many insects are in sharp decline. The inadequate pollination that results has caused a 3%-5% loss of fruit, vegetable and nut production, the research found. The lower consumption of these foods means about 1% of all deaths can now be attributed to pollinator loss, the scientists said.
A critical missing piece in the biodiversity discussion has been a lack of direct linkages to human health,” said Dr Samuel Myers, at Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health and senior author of the study. “This research establishes that loss of pollinators is already impacting health on a scale with other global health risk factors, such as prostate cancer or substance use disorders.”
The global loss of pollinators is already causing about 500,000 early deaths a year by reducing the supply of healthy foods, a study has estimated. Three-quarters of crops require pollination but the populations of many insects are in sharp decline. The inadequate pollination that results has caused a 3%-5% loss of fruit, vegetable and nut production, the research found. The lower consumption of these foods means about 1% of all deaths can now be attributed to pollinator loss, the scientists said.
We can use a 'gutter' system on mountainside to redirect rain water to a holding area, like maybe at the Death Valley and Salton Sea.
mspohr
Well-Known Member
The geography and distances make this impossible.
Rain and snow fall West of the Sierras. Death Valley and Salton Sea are hundreds of miles and several mountain ranges South of the Sierras.
ElectricIAC
Good-Natured Rascal
It doesn’t have to be and it shouldn’t be.
The issue is that one end of the spectrum often takes it too far which alienates those who wish to take a more measured approach (which may seem lackadaisical but in reality is much more humanitarian than the collectivist method)
No one truly has it right, and it’s arrogant to think anyone will so long as there’s no settled consensus.
jabloomf1230
Minister of Silly Walks
take the 
.Got to hand it to you, dude. No one says nothin’ like you.
Climate change is established science. Those who deny it do so for purely political reasons. Among those who accept the science there are legitimate questions about the best approach to dealing with it. But in the public sphere the actual debate is between those who want to take serious measures to curb CO2 production, and those who, for political reasons, try to block such measures, which they do by following the tobacco industry's guidebook of sowing doubt and uncertainty in the public mind about established scientific facts.
Among climate scientists there are disagreements about what precise amount of warming will bring what precise consequences. As an example, will the Thwaites antarctic ice shelf collapse in three years or five? The oil industry propagandists spin this as "scientists can't agree. Maybe AGW doesn't really exist. Let's be measured and do more studies before we take action."
Make no mistake: There is a concerted and well-funded and well-organized political campaign run by the fossil fuel industry to prevent significant governmental action on climate change. Opponents of action characterize the debate as "scientific," but it is purely political, motivated by concern over their profits.
You cannot take politics out of the discussion. Politics can become rancorous, but the fate of the human race is at stake. The fate of today's children and of future generations is at stake. Rather than banning discussions that touch on politics, we should try to avoid, or ban, personal attacks.
mspohr
Well-Known Member
Global pollinator losses causing 500,000 early deaths a year – study
A critical missing piece in the biodiversity discussion has been a lack of direct linkages to human health,” said Dr Samuel Myers, at Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health and senior author of the study. “This research establishes that loss of pollinators is already impacting health on a scale with other global health risk factors, such as prostate cancer or substance use disorders.”
The global loss of pollinators is already causing about 500,000 early deaths a year by reducing the supply of healthy foods, a study has estimated. Three-quarters of crops require pollination but the populations of many insects are in sharp decline. The inadequate pollination that results has caused a 3%-5% loss of fruit, vegetable and nut production, the research found. The lower consumption of these foods means about 1% of all deaths can now be attributed to pollinator loss, the scientists said.
A critical missing piece in the biodiversity discussion has been a lack of direct linkages to human health,” said Dr Samuel Myers, at Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health and senior author of the study. “This research establishes that loss of pollinators is already impacting health on a scale with other global health risk factors, such as prostate cancer or substance use disorders.”
The global loss of pollinators is already causing about 500,000 early deaths a year by reducing the supply of healthy foods, a study has estimated. Three-quarters of crops require pollination but the populations of many insects are in sharp decline. The inadequate pollination that results has caused a 3%-5% loss of fruit, vegetable and nut production, the research found. The lower consumption of these foods means about 1% of all deaths can now be attributed to pollinator loss, the scientists said.
mspohr
Well-Known Member
‘Last nail in the coffin’: Utah’s Great Salt Lake on verge of collapse
Emergency measures are required to avert a catastrophe in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, which has been drying up due to excessive water use, a new report warns. Within years, the lake’s ecosystems could collapse and millions will be exposed to toxic dust contained within the drying lakebed, unless drastic steps are taken to cut water use. A team of 32 scientists and conservationists caution that the lake could decline beyond recognition in just five years. Their warning is especially urgent amid a historic western megadrought fueled by global heating. To save the lake, the report suggests 30-50% reductions in water use may be required, to allow 2.5m acre-feet of water to flow from streams and rivers directly into the lake over the next two years.
A legacy of water overuse is the main threat to the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere, and huge water diversions to irrigate vast operations to grow alfalfa and hay are no longer sustainable in Utah, Abbott said, nor are lush lawns in cities and suburbs.
Emergency measures are required to avert a catastrophe in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, which has been drying up due to excessive water use, a new report warns. Within years, the lake’s ecosystems could collapse and millions will be exposed to toxic dust contained within the drying lakebed, unless drastic steps are taken to cut water use. A team of 32 scientists and conservationists caution that the lake could decline beyond recognition in just five years. Their warning is especially urgent amid a historic western megadrought fueled by global heating. To save the lake, the report suggests 30-50% reductions in water use may be required, to allow 2.5m acre-feet of water to flow from streams and rivers directly into the lake over the next two years.
A legacy of water overuse is the main threat to the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere, and huge water diversions to irrigate vast operations to grow alfalfa and hay are no longer sustainable in Utah, Abbott said, nor are lush lawns in cities and suburbs.
mspohr
Well-Known Member
Relentless rain, record heat: study finds climate crisis worsened extreme weather
Relentless drought in California, extreme rainfall in the UK, record heat in China – some of the most severe weather events that have occurred around the world in the past few years were made far more likely due to the climate crisis, new research has found. The analysis of extreme events in 2021 and 2022 found that many of these extremes were worsened by global heating, and in some cases would have been almost impossible in terms of their severity if humans had not altered the climate through the burning of fossil fuels.
Relentless drought in California, extreme rainfall in the UK, record heat in China – some of the most severe weather events that have occurred around the world in the past few years were made far more likely due to the climate crisis, new research has found. The analysis of extreme events in 2021 and 2022 found that many of these extremes were worsened by global heating, and in some cases would have been almost impossible in terms of their severity if humans had not altered the climate through the burning of fossil fuels.
mspohr
Well-Known Member
mspohr
Well-Known Member
Let it flood!
www.cnn.com
“We have to let our rivers flow differently, and let the rivers flood a little more and recharge our groundwater in wet seasons,” Peter Gleick, a climate scientist and co-founder of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, told CNN. “Instead of thinking we can control all floods, we have to learn to live with them.”
“We have to redesign insurance policies so that we are not rebuilding houses once they’ve been damaged in the same places where they are going to flood again, Gleick said. “We have to design flood insurance policies to encourage people to move away from flood plains, so we can open up those floodplains, so when we get those floods they will be less damaging.”
California's dilemma: How do you harness an epic amount of rain in a water-scarce state? Let it flood, scientists say | CNN
California's parade of ultra-wet storms has not reversed the deeply rooted, decades-long aridification of the state. But there may be a way to hang on to the water.
www.cnn.com
“We have to let our rivers flow differently, and let the rivers flood a little more and recharge our groundwater in wet seasons,” Peter Gleick, a climate scientist and co-founder of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, told CNN. “Instead of thinking we can control all floods, we have to learn to live with them.”
“We have to redesign insurance policies so that we are not rebuilding houses once they’ve been damaged in the same places where they are going to flood again, Gleick said. “We have to design flood insurance policies to encourage people to move away from flood plains, so we can open up those floodplains, so when we get those floods they will be less damaging.”
ROI comes down to cost of infrastructure vs the cost of damage from the status quo. Definitely easier than trying to transport flood water from the Mississippi.
In line with the concept of letting it flood, there's an existing big body of water west of Los Banos on the way to Gilroy. Looks like a good place to pump and dump excess water from nearby towns and cities. Same with plenty of small bodies of water up and down the coast.
Fortunately, for Las Vegas geography, we have local holding basins that ultimately drains into Lake Mead. Might be something to consider.
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mspohr
Well-Known Member
The Central Valley was a natural wetland which has been dried out with an extensive system of levees to make farmland and housing.
Also, the LA Aqueduct drains the Owens River on the West side of the Sierras and delivers the water to LA.
The California Aqueduct drains most of the Central Valley. There have been repeated attempts to draw water from the Northen Sacramento River Delta into the California Aqueduct through a peripheral canal and tunnel but these have proven politically difficult because they would drain the Delta.
Some people advocate for allowing water back into the marsh delta areas to recharge the aquifer, help wildlife, etc. during times of water surplus.
cpa
Active Member
Just fixing your typo: The Owens Valley is on the east side of the Sierra. Also LADWP snatched a lot of the water from the Mono Lake Basin after WWII by diverting runoff from four creeks into an impoundment of Rush Creek (Grant Lake) and drilling a 20-mile long tunnel east of 395 into the headwaters of the Owens River. They then created Crowley Lake and the Pleasant Valley Reservoir in the gorge just NW of Bishop.
That big body of water (San Luis Reservoir) west of Los Banos is part of the Central Valley Project. It is the storage unit for the water that makes its way into the California Aqueduct near Tracy.
Water law and ownership of the water that is funneled into the Sacramento River from Shasta, Whiskeytown, Trinity, Folsom, Oroville, and other dams is complicated. Suffice to say that it is a type of cooperative venture between the feds and the State of California. The California Aqueduct was Pat Brown's legacy to get water from the north to the south with provisions for agriculture that had senior water rights since the 19th and early 20th Century. Shasta and Whiskeytown are federally-funded and operated projects. Oroville and Folsom are state.
There is a lot of reading material out there that covers the history of moving, managing, and storing water in California.
CA drought fix, just drill a Boring tunnel to the underground water storage in AZ. LOL
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