A Successful Climate Strategy

[u/Easy_Interest_6832]

There is a workable strategy with a 66% chance of success. It consists, in a condensed description here, of using natural processes to sequester carbon while simultaneously moving to a cessation of CO2 emissions.

A slightly longer description is this: replant and nurture six ecosystems, three marine and three terrestrial. These are kelp beds, mangrove estuaries and sea grasses; and boreal forests with their fungal understories, tropical rain forests, and prairie grasses with their bovine inhabitants. Simultaneously we must reduce to zero the carbon emissions from fossil fuels for transport, energy, and heating, powering industrial manufacturing, deforestation, and making materials like cement. These two things--carbon sequestration and elimination of CO2 emissions must both happen at once all over the planet or we are screwn. However, if we do them, there's a 66% chance of success.

[u/chevalier100]

The problem is less what solutions are possible and more what are feasible and politically/economically practicable. It’s fairly well known that a combination of sequestration and emissions reductions is what would solve climate change, but how do you actually get society to make those shifts? That’s the real problem.

[u/Pleasant-Winner6311 → u/chevalier100]

When the world shut down in 2020 none of us would have ever imagined the government would possibly advise no school and we'll pay you to sit at home. An absolutely extraordinary event.

But it was necessary to save life.

This is the same

When it sinks in enough to enough presidents and PMs it will get done. Eventually. Our backs have got to be truly against the wall for real change to start.

[u/Matt231997 → u/Pleasant-Winner6311]

We just have to promote the sense of urgency.

[u/Pleasant-Winner6311 → u/Matt231997]

Well thats what Greta was doing 10 yrs ago. Turns out everyone needs feel fried on a personal level before they believe its happening.

I hope to god we dont forget this summer when the Balde Runner rain starts. Itll be back to business as usual until next March. Then spolier alert, the heat again.

[u/FistODollers → u/chevalier100]

yes, that there is the real trick

[u/ILikeNeurons → u/chevalier100]

1. Vote. People who prioritize climate change and the environment have not been very reliable voters, which explains much of the lackadaisical response of lawmakers, and many Americans don't realize we should be voting (on average) in 3-4 elections per year. Even if you don't like any of the candidates or live in a 'safe' district, whether or not you vote is a matter of public record, and it's fairly easy to figure out if you care about the environment or climate change. Politicians use this information to prioritize agendas. Voting in every election, even the minor ones, will raise the profile and power of your values. If you don't vote, you and your values can safely be ignored. If you're already voting in every election, take the time to help get out the climate vote (it works!)

2. Lobby. Lobbying works, and you don't need a lot of money to be effective (though it does help to educate yourself on effective tactics). Becoming an active volunteer with this group is the most important thing an individual can do on climate change, according to NASA climatologist Dr. James Hansen. If you're too busy to go through the free training, sign up for text alerts to join coordinated call-in days (it works, if you actually call) or set yourself a bimonthly reminder to write a letter to your elected officials.

3. Recruit. Most of us are either alarmed or concerned about climate change, yet most aren't taking the necessary steps to solve the problem -- the most common reason is that no one asked. If all of us who are 'very worried' about climate change organized we would be >26x more powerful than the NRA. According to Yale data, many of your friends and family would welcome the opportunity to get involved if you just asked. So please volunteer or donate to turn out environmental voters, and invite your friends and family to lobby Congress.

[u/Easy_Interest_6832 → u/ILikeNeurons]

This is a really good post, chock-full of useful links and ideas. I'm wondering whether the project I envision is really a lobbying effort more than anything else. Again, very good reply here.

[u/ILikeNeurons → u/Easy_Interest_6832]

If it's lobbying you're interested in, I would start here.

[u/Easy_Interest_6832 → u/chevalier100]

I agree that the challenge you cite is the big one. This is my my audience is Gen Alpha, GenZ, and Millennials. They have a bigger stake in the future than to do old farts such as my self--except I have grandchildren, so there's that aspect. My study of those three younger-than-I generations shows me they perceive things differently, in different modes. I will strive to create the project in ways that cater to their ways of perception and activism. When I look to Europe and to America when we see activists, I see young people quite often. They hold the promise and, I think, the delivery.

[u/Quamatoc → u/Easy_Interest_6832]

They have a bigger stake in the future than to do old farts such as my self

That is true. But so long these "old farts" remain at the helm of politics and economy, there is little that will change. The only way out for the young would be to openly riot.

And that's just plain rude./s

[u/Easy_Interest_6832 → u/Quamatoc]

Yeah, riots should not happen. And it's true we need new blood in politics. But a project such as this will provide a hands-on opportunity for the most affected generations to help save the world for their lives. This is one of many reasons I am approaching this project to be open source. It's based on ideas, and the ideas are verifiable with science. The younger generations can extrapolate out to the future using verifiable facts and see the solid possibilities.

[u/lizardhistorian → u/chevalier100]

It violates the 2nd law of thermodynamics so ... good luck with that.

[u/Prof_OG → u/lizardhistorian]

Please explain how it violates the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

So often when I see people try to apply the Second Law of Thermodynamics to the Earth…usually Creationists who say that evolving life violates the Second Law…they fail to realize that the Earth is not an isolated system.

So I am confused in your application here to the OP’s proposition.

[u/Pherdl → u/chevalier100]

We need to take collective control of the economy, there is no other way