Delta4Embassy
Gold Member
Awesome series and news program. Last night's episode (probably aired some other time) was all about climate change. First part focusing on the denier side then wrapped up with trips to Western Antarctica and Bangledesh. Sufficed to say, we're screwed. Consensus of the scientists actually in Antarctica is the western portion is gonna melt and slip off the bedrock and into the sea and at this point even cutting carbon emissions to zero wouldn't prevent it. Expecting a 1 meter sea level rise by the end of this century, and 3-5 meters in all eventually. They said a 1 meter rise would be "apocalyptic." The news guy said something like, "so this a holy shit moment?" To which one of the scientists replied, "no, it's much worse that that." Sigh. Report from Bangledesh showed how despite perhaps just inches of rise in recent decades, what might be inches on avg, is 7-8 feet in Bangledesh. Coastal villages are continually having to withdraw from the sea as the coastline keep moving further inland. One place they featured said 300 yards further inland since just 2009.
The deniers' side of things as they explained has to do with either honestly not understanding the difference between "sea ice" and "land ice" or deliberately confusing the two. The sea ice it seems is indeed increasing but the land ice, which is what actually rises sea level is kilometers thick. And that's what's melting at unprecedented rates. And of course not surprisingly, all the deniers are sponsored by Big Oil.
If the scientists are right, and there's nothing to be done, then I gotta say I'm kinda with Big Oil. Transitioning to a non-oil economy and infrastructure would cost trillions, and take time. But if there's nothing to be gained doing so, why do it? Use it up the oil, then transition when there's no other choice and be rid of the oil problem once and for all. Over however many centuries then, the change in fuel should be more eco-friendly, and our descendents will reap the benefits. But since it's too late for us then the best thing we can do is use up what's causing the problem.
The deniers' side of things as they explained has to do with either honestly not understanding the difference between "sea ice" and "land ice" or deliberately confusing the two. The sea ice it seems is indeed increasing but the land ice, which is what actually rises sea level is kilometers thick. And that's what's melting at unprecedented rates. And of course not surprisingly, all the deniers are sponsored by Big Oil.
If the scientists are right, and there's nothing to be done, then I gotta say I'm kinda with Big Oil. Transitioning to a non-oil economy and infrastructure would cost trillions, and take time. But if there's nothing to be gained doing so, why do it? Use it up the oil, then transition when there's no other choice and be rid of the oil problem once and for all. Over however many centuries then, the change in fuel should be more eco-friendly, and our descendents will reap the benefits. But since it's too late for us then the best thing we can do is use up what's causing the problem.
