[paulbaumgart]

To anyone feeling anxious about the future after reading this article:

We have the technology to pause the worst effects of climate change indefinitely for a few billion dollars a year: https://news.uchicago.edu/radical-solution-address-climate-c...

It’s far from a complete solution, but it works well enough that the future described in the article is much more a dark fantasy than a likely reality.

[n4ture]

The "solution" you're showcasing only addresses global warming, not climate change, nor any of the other facets of the environmental crisis (e.g. biodiversity collapse, ocean acidification, soil depletion, fresh water pollution, etc...). Techno-solutionism at its finest!

[paulbaumgart]

I don’t think anyone is arguing that it is a viable alternative to eventual decarbonization of the economy. Or if people are, they aren’t doing so in good faith.

But it does very effectively prevent anything even approaching a “collapse.” Relatively cheaply, even.

[n4ture]

I mean it depends on your perspective. Because you could also think that preventing only one of the multiple crisis we are facing won't be enough to perceptively delay the breaking point.

[orasiscore]

When we willing and trull obey all the laws of Maker of the universe, then we will be prepared for the future crises that is to come. In fact, it already here with us. Climate Change!!! Lets carefully look into the real motive of this phrase

[croes]

We had the technology to prevent climate change for a few billion dollar per year.

Didn't happen.

[paulbaumgart]

Do you have any evidence to support this claim?

The availability of economically competitive alternatives to fossil fuels (like cheap solar + batteries) is a very recent development.

[croes]

You are moving goal posts.

We are talking about technology as such not necessarily economically competitive.

I wouldn't consider the technology of solar engineering mentioned in your link economically competitive either.

Doable but not cheap.

The same is true for the technology to prevent climate change. It exists but it was expensive.

Interestingly, it's still expensive now because even though the basic technology is cheaper, the timeframe is much shorter, so we have to achieve more in less time than if we had started earlier.

[bdangubic]

as always, just follow the money… once effects of climate change become more expensive than solving the problem, the problem will be solved :)

[janice1999]

Once the effects of climate change become too expensive or inconvenient for the ruling class you mean, which might be never since they are really good at shielding themselves from consequences.

[bdangubic]

I wholeheartedly agree though am questioning whether shielding will actually work if effects of climate change become dire… not just for the ruling class personally but in the way that made them and keeps them a ruling class.

[croes]

Many are old enough to die before the severe effects could hit them.

[thefz]

Keep in mind that 70% of the pollution comes from 100 companies.

We discuss spending more money and taking extreme measures (shall we darken the clouds? bullshit) instead of taxing these fuckers out of existence and calling it a century.

[maxerickson]

It's not like they operate in a vacuum, generating profit by polluting in ways that others would not.

I sure don't attribute my tailpipe emissions to the oil company that supplied the oil that was refined into the gasoline that I consume.

[olsonjeffery]

Please expand on the tension between the competing passages of “We have the technology to pause the worst effects..” and “It’s far from a complete solution”.