this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2023
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Europe

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[–] [email protected] 93 points 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 55 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

The only chart where Italy clearly outperforms neighbouring countries! πŸ• A side note for any European who wants to feel superior: the Italian minister of infrastructures has declared recently, speaking about a deadly bus accident which had strongly shocked public opinion, that the vehicle being electric can not be ruled out as a cause for the event, implying that endothermic engines are still preferable (source).

[–] [email protected] 36 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

That's what you get when you vote dumb fascist politicians into power. I bet it's not the first time some erratic explanation was given from one of those right wing politicians.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Yes, agreeable (I would not have used those words though, the real danger is not in this minister nor in his party). But why do you think they were elected in the first place and why is their consensus soaring day after day? Are people just "dumb"? Misinformation? Distrust of more moderate parties who did nothing to prevent the current crisis? This is a place for discussion.

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

Well, since we see a surge of right-wing parties in all western countries, I would say they are doing something right. Populism seems to work on a large slice of the population. Offering apparently easy solutions, blaming scapegoats and fueling a culture war combined with media articles, that get written for the most clicks, are a winning recipe for the right.

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

Offering simple solutions to complex problems, especially if those "total solutions" can not be verified because their goal is unreachable has its point as an explanation. Scapegoating too, since it gives the illusion of freedom from responsibility (it's cheaper to blame immigrants/LGBT rather than assume one's own responsibilities e.g. for climate disaster). But to me there's more: in Italy we passed from a radical left populism (M5S) to radical right populism (Lega/FdI) with the pandemic in between. Shouldn't people realize that simple solutions do not work?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

"TraDItIONal PaRtIEs ARe FaIlINg!!!!111!1!1"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)
  1. Provocative: Offering simplistic solutions in an ever-complex world.

  2. Missed Opportunities: Failure to reform parliamentary and democratic institutions, as seen in Renzi's unsuccessful attempt.

  3. Post-2008 Fallout: Economic challenges exacerbated by Germany's austerity policies, evident during the Covid pandemic.

  4. Middle-Class Struggles: Ignored or worsened by neoliberal reforms, coupled with challenges of an aging society.

  5. Disinformation Game: Undemocratic players like Russia and China exploit Western disparities to destabilize opinions.

In summary, it's a confluence of economic, ecological, and political challenges ignored for years. Neoliberal and conservative leaders failed to prepare the public for these fast-approaching changes. The current era of transformation is overwhelming, with parties seeking change challenging the status quo.

Right-wing and fascist parties globally tap into the frustration, promoting a familiar narrative: "Return to simpler times by blaming refugees, migrants, trans, homosexuals, and others. We offer stability and structure." It's a playbook used a century ago and likely to resurface in the next crisis.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 years ago

Yes, only that this time there is no future ahead... not many will survive the crisis and the quality of life for those who will is going to be close of the "good ol' times" when we lived in caves.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago

The bus being electric, means the firefighting procedure is the same as with electric cars: wait for it to burn up... along with anyone still trapped inside.

Electric is the future, but don't forget that:

  • Gasoline ignites at -40C, needs oxygen
  • Diesel ignites at +50C, needs oxygen
  • Biodiesel ignites at +130C, needs oxygen
  • LiPo batteries can ignite at -200C if punctured, will burn underwater
[–] [email protected] 37 points 2 years ago

It's pretty alarming that most of these temperature records were actually broken in just the last few years.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 years ago (6 children)

In France, I understood the fight against climate change is probably already over when we had 40Β°C at midnight one day of the previous summer.

It's an eary feeling to feel ultra hot air in the middle of the night coming from an opened window.

Not saying I'm not trying to act against climate change on my level but I know we already lost.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Well it could be 45 at night. And it will be if wr dont tackle climate change quickly

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Are we tackling anything in the last decade ?

Do people look at the ever increasing graph of CO2 emissions worldwide ?

It increased last year. It will increase this year.

Let's do our best to delay it but it's happening people.

Our politics are all cowards no matter the country.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Are we tackling anything in the last decade ?

If you e.g. look at power generation, then yes, that is being tackled. Incrementally and against a lot of resistance, from conservatives, fossil industries, nimbys, etc. Build-out rates for solar and wind worldwide are getting better. The last decade was not completely lost, it helped make these technologies cheaper and more scalable.

Do people look at the ever increasing graph of CO2 emissions worldwide ?

It is true, they do. And at face value, those rising emissions wouldn't be necessary, if climate change was given appropriate priority.

But we also have realistic projections that emissions will start falling before 2030.

Let's do our best to delay it but it's happening people.

Climate change is not binary. Rather there's a spectrum of outcomes. Of course climate change is happening and of course, the 1.5Β°C goal is unrealistic now (because we're basically there already we just can't say for sure yet). But it does matter that we do not make climate change even worse than it needs to be.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago

No, there is no upper limit to suffering.

If one person has been killed in a fire, that's bad. If the fire killed two people, that's worse. If it killed 100 people, that's even worse.

There is no magical point where you say "Oh, there are 42 people that we could rescue, but we won't, because 600 people have been killed already and that somehow makes the rescue pointless".

If we can reduce suffering by just a bit, and delay the worst just a bit, then it's worth it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

It's definitely not late but it sure feels hopeless...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I don’t agree.

[–] Sir_Kevin 2 points 2 years ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Be careful with that statement because that's what Oil is pushing now:

  • They changed the "climate change ain't real" to the "climate change ain't bad" and later into the "it's too late, let's enjoy it while it lasts" message.

The goal is ensuring people do not require action from their political representatives, be it by ignorance or by resigning.

The other prong of attack is blaming consumers/individuals. This is useful for them as it keeps those that want action busy (recycling, planting trees, using bikes, buying EVs or using trains, avoiding plastic, etc.) and shifts blame on to the rest.
Not that any of those actions are bad, but aren't at the core of the problem, like blaming someone for wasting water for taking a shower while you have an olympic pool.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220504-why-the-wrong-people-are-blamed-for-climate-change
https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2022/01/31/climate-change-fossil-fuel-industry-individual-responsibility
Climate Town - The Troll Army of Big Oil

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Don’t worry about it. Everyone dies eventually, and most of US will be dead before it gets unlivable. Just enjoy the fall of humanity! It’s gonna be a wild ride.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 years ago

The most important part is that we made a few people really rich in the process

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

Wonder how many of these were in the last 2-3 years...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Not as many as I expected: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weather_records Freak weather situations do happen, but I'm quite sure averaged highs would nearly all be in the last 2-3 years.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Neat link!

There's another set of graphs on that page that do show we are setting more high temperature records and fewer low temperature records over time, which while not really what I was saying, is still relevant and interesting (and scary)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Glad you going it useful. Was looking for a picture or direct link to a list of the great record dates, but Wikipedia was what seemed the most current & reliable. There's no doubt earth is warming up; what I'm alarmed by is how tepid - if not outright kneecapped or pro more pollution - a lot of mankind's response to it has been...

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Please remember that France has islands near the Equator

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Well, highest temp is from metropolitan France. In fact, highest temperature in oversea France there is at 40Β°C. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extreme_temperatures_in_France

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

Sure, a few measurements from a small number of tiny, unimportant islands are going to prove that climate change isn't real, or whatever.

Anyway, why do you think they're talking about political Europe, not geographical Europe?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 years ago

Sure, a few measurements from a small number of tiny, unimportant islands are going to prove that climate change isn't real, or whatever.

What?!?

Anyway, why do you think they're talking about political Europe, not geographical Europe?

Because there are borders and borders aren't geographical but political...

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

How is Ireland 7C lower than the UK.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago

stable west winds from the open sea i'd guess.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

Because of how Ireland is situated in relation to the Atlantic polar fronts. UK is basically blocked by Ireland with regards to those, so it doesn't benefit from them in the same way.

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

Don't worry, it's just a sun thing, it will be back to normal in about three years /s

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Well, you’re right that these temperatures will be normal in three years.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Im sure there was more than 39.5 in Poland

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

Well off to Ireland then. Good thing I’m into redheads no matter how Irish they look.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Good thing Ireland is so good at building new mass housing. Super cheap to live there, I hear.