“Predictions Are Hard To Make, Especially About the Future” — Yogi Berra
The meme here made me smile, as it illustrates the challenges we face with predicting the future 50 years hence, while calling to mind scientists’ beliefs as to how climate change is going to affect humankind over that same period of time.
I’ll be the first to admit that a great number of things may happen in the next half century that will eliminate, or at least greatly reduce the prospects of catastrophe brought on by global warming. In particular:
• Advanced nuclear: perhaps the fission of thorium, or aneutronic fusion; the development of both has been underway for decades.
• Capacity to scale renewable energy in a way not currently envisioned.
• Some sort of coming together of nations to make unprecedented investment in cleantech: clean energy, electric transportation, energy storage, efficiency solutions, sustainable ag, etc.
• New solutions for adaptation to climate change, e.g., reforestation, white streets, green roofs, seawalls, better flood maps, food and potable water security, and heat-tolerant plant varieties.
• New solutions for resilience: early warning systems for extreme weather events, creation of emergency electricity power sources, enhanced public transportation systems, comprehensive federal financial aid systems for communities afflicted by natural disaster, emergency drinking water supplies, stronger sanitation technology and standards, as well as more extensive and efficient networks of water delivery.
• Improved land use, particularly in raising cattle; reduced red meat consumption.
• Geoengineering, i.e., some sort of safe and effective way to cause the Earth to absorb less heat from the sun.
The future always looks like the past, until it looks like something else entirely.
Craig,
While I applaud your new found optimism (albeit tinged with a weird sort of political agenda), not all your suggestions would prove either necessary or beneficial.
The introduction of advanced nuclear, thorium, or even Department of Energy and Secretary Rick Perry’s favourite clean energy technology, ‘aneutronic fusion’, is, I believe, inevitable.
Reforestation is desirable regards of Climate Change.
However, stuff like “white streets, green roofs, seawalls” are either inconsequential or, as in the case of sea walls, highly undesirable in most locations.
New technologies are coming on stream every day. Lately you have become too obsessed with ranting against the US President and the utterances of pubescent school girls to notice all the fascinating developments in clean technology.
My team have now sold our 79th complete solar powered park/golf course lawn mowing/horticultural system. To you, these achievements may seem too small and humble environmental programs to be worthy of mention.
But, each system sold affects thousands of people. The concept proves to people who would otherwise never contemplate green tech, that entire little Eco-systems can function viably solely on green energy in a financially economic, non-disruptive, and reliable manner.
I hope this experience will make it easier for golf-country club patrons or those enjoying parks, gardens and other lawn type facilities to contemplate buying an EV or solar systems.
Not a huge project maybe, but less aggressive and disruptive than yelling abuse at those who don’t wish to share your Vegan/Vegetarian lifestyle.
Converting someone to using an electric lawn mower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower etc, is easier and far more environmentally beneficial than demanding people give up their household pets and change their diets to accord with your crank ideological/political agenda.
No wonder you applaud the simplistic and naive rantings of precocious school children. It’s so much easier to fool the naive and inexperienced who are more trusting and less likely to ask awkward questions.