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ApocalypseSpokesman t1_j9dtcqi wrote

The problem is that you don't only need to convince people of the reality of climate change. You have to persuade them then to act against their own immediate interest and change the way they live. You have to convince the majority of humans to willingly decrease their quality of life, and not for a short period, but forever.

It is, in other words impossible.

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Certain-Lingonberry8 t1_j9emu8q wrote

I've been an environmental science teacher for 20 years. Just mentioning limiting meat consumption or any other mild reduction of modern convenience, the students(now adults) would become visibly angered/incredulous. Shout "No way!".

I worked in US and Asia. Very few can imagine doing with less. I know corporations pollute far more than individuals. That's mentioned often, but those corporations are made up of people.

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CriticalSpirit t1_j9erpc3 wrote

I dont think it's impossible, but you should start by taking away from those who have plenty to give. Ban private jets before increasing flight taxes. Take away excessive profits from oil companies before demanding citizens invest in electric cars.

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ApocalypseSpokesman t1_j9fh5i5 wrote

That's not a solution--that's a shell game. You just move the consumption from column A to column B.

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maraca101 t1_j9ebpp8 wrote

Or we could just kill poor people so we don’t inconvenience ourselves. /s

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ApocalypseSpokesman t1_j9fhs9y wrote

What was the point of that smug, moralizing drivel?

That simple-minded comment isn't a representation of what is really happening, and it wouldn't solve the issue, either.

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CaregiverNo421 t1_j9ef12u wrote

No governments can do that with good messaging. Remember COVID lockdowns? Realistically the sacrifices would be no where near the level of locldowns

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ApocalypseSpokesman t1_j9fhcq0 wrote

What are you talking about?

The sacrifices would be an order of magnitude greater than that, and the success of "good messaging" was spotty at best,

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CaregiverNo421 t1_j9flh7b wrote

Ehh, what do you mean by an order of magnitude greater than 'Don't leave your house except to exercise once per day? With hospitality etc completely shut down. Like an order of magnitude greater than that is what, returning to the pre industrial societies?

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ApocalypseSpokesman t1_j9fmxaf wrote

Something like that, yes. It's a mathematical impossibility to keep billions of people alive without adding to the CO2 problem, so this is the kind of thing it would take to achieve negative emissions:

"Food is your own concern, but we're going to impound and destroy every automobile and gas-powered device so you don't get any ideas. Also, say goodbye to electricity, and water may be spotty. Don't complain or we will execute you. If we catch anyone burning wood, the whole household's going in the ground."

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Shock_n_Oranges t1_j9fpvib wrote

More realistically populations and governments will turn to war with neighbors over the resources.

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