this post was submitted on 01 May 2024
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Climate - truthful information about climate, related activism and politics.

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Discussion of climate, how it is changing, activism around that, the politics, and the energy systems change we need in order to stabilize things.

As a starting point, the burning of fossil fuels, and to a lesser extent deforestation and release of methane are responsible for the warming in recent decades: Graph of temperature as observed with significant warming, and simulated without added greenhouse gases and other anthropogentic changes, which shows no significant warming

How much each change to the atmosphere has warmed the world: IPCC AR6 Figure 2 - Thee bar charts: first chart: how much each gas has warmed the world.  About 1C of total warming.  Second chart:  about 1.5C of total warming from well-mixed greenhouse gases, offset by 0.4C of cooling from aerosols and negligible influence from changes to solar output, volcanoes, and internal variability.  Third chart: about 1.25C of warming from CO2, 0.5C from methane, and a bunch more in small quantities from other gases.  About 0.5C of cooling with large error bars from SO2.

Recommended actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the near future:

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

NOT penalizing drivers of fuel efficient vehicles would also go a long way.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Right? I have to pay an extra $150/year on a hybrid ($250 if I went EV) in registration fees. I'm "not using enough gas to pay my fair share" of highway taxes.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's completely ridiculous. Congress will eventually have to address the problem. Or we'll have to acknowledge that we're ok with killing the planet.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I can understand the need to fund road repairs and that a big chunk, if not majority, of those funds currently come from fuel taxes, but at least my state won't even entertain the idea of changing that. Nope, tax the woke hippies - problem solved. (My state is dark red and owned by the coal and oil/gas industries in case it wasn't apparent).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

So you’re also in Kentucky? ;)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

LOL! Knew it had to be around here somewhere.

[–] IdiosyncraticIdiot 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Care to explain? As far as I'm aware there are only benefits for hybrid/electric vehicles (in the US at least)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

My state has now joined others in implementing a ~~fine~~ “owner’s fee” for drivers of hybrid and EVs. It’s a naked money grab meant to deter sales of efficient vehicles.

[–] captain_aggravated 3 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Road construction and maintenance is typically paid for by taxes on gasoline. A large part of the price of a gallon of gas are those taxes.

Owners of hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles do not buy as much or any gasoline, and thus don't pay for road upkeep.

Although, passenger vehicles contribute very little to road wear, it's mostly heavy trucks wearing out the roads.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

don’t pay for road upkeep.

As much for upkeep. I guarantee that the money isn't anywhere near enough to make a difference.

I also notice that it isn't measured in fuel efficiency, but in vehicle type. Why aren't registration fees based on how fuel efficient the vehicle is instead of what kind of vehicle it is if it's just about gas taxes?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Then the better solution would be to increase gasoline taxes on all users or to target those who actually cause wear to roads.

[–] captain_aggravated 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Better solution: Seize 2 or 3 billionaire's assets and pay for all of society for decades.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago