AIBU to think that when temperatures hit 45C within the Arctic circle...

[KizzyWayfarer]

...climate breakdown should be front page news?
Yesterday it was reported that a Siberian town had experienced 38C, completely unprecedented. Now I’ve just seen that 45C has been recorded in Siberia. AIBU to think that it’s long past time to stop treating the irreversible and accelerating changes we are making to our planet as a niche issue, and start putting it front and centre?
We have known for decades that this was coming.

[PicsInRed]

Is it unprecedented?

For example, what do 30,000 year old ice samples suggest? What was the temperature in the warm period? Is it actually unprecedented?

[KizzyWayfarer]

We’ve already got the highest CO2 levels in 3 million years and heating the permafrost will release more CO2 still. Scientists have spelled out pretty clearly all the not good things that will happen if we carry on burning fossil fuels and heating up the planet. Do you seriously think there isn’t a problem?

[KizzyWayfarer]

Oh, for clarity, the 45C was land surface temperature, 38C is air temperature.

[Whathappenedtothelego]

I don't think we need to be nit picking about the word "unprecedented".

If scientists said there was a huge mile long asteroid on a collision course with Earth, about to slam into the Gulf of Mexico, would everyone be shrugging their shoulders and saying "Actually this isn't unprecedented?"

No, because that has no relevance to our lives now.

Climate change affects the life of everyone on the planet. That fact doesn't change just because over the history of the planet there have been temperature fluctuations.

[teaflake]

I agree - is it unprecedented?

[justanotherneighinparadise]

@Whathappenedtothelego

I don't think we need to be nit picking about the word "unprecedented".

If scientists said there was a huge mile long asteroid on a collision course with Earth, about to slam into the Gulf of Mexico, would everyone be shrugging their shoulders and saying "Actually this isn't unprecedented?"

No, because that has no relevance to our lives now.

Climate change affects the life of everyone on the planet. That fact doesn't change just because over the history of the planet there have been temperature fluctuations.

Even if an asteroid was about to hit I'm convinced that a majority of people would refuse to believe it.

[TooGood2BeTrue]

It was reported in The Guardian last week, but with all the Coronavirus news it went a bit under. Just waiting for the climate change deniers to come out!

[bubbleup]

"I agree - is it unprecedented?"

Does it fucking matter?

[KizzyWayfarer]

I love the idea that precedents mean there’s nothing to worry about. We do have a precedent for current carbon dioxide levels. In the Pliocene Epoch, 3 million years ago, when the Earth was several degrees warmer, and sea levels were around 50 foot higher than they are today. And of course no need to be concerned about sustaining agriculture to feed 7 billion humans since we didn’t exist.

[fedupnow20]

Sadly, there is nothing you nor I can do about it. It's up to the governments on a global scale.

[fedupnow20]

And even if the governments did wake up and act, it's far too late to reverse the damage.

[DuesToTheDirt]

I saw the headline but couldn't face reading the article. I've been coming to the conclusion that the climate is fucked, the planet is fucked, the polar bears and penguins are doomed and there's not a damn thing we can do about it.

[fedupnow20]

That's how I feel. Our civilisation is on the way out, just as many civilisations have been before.

[fedupnow20]

Two years ago I had some hope, but the more I've researched into it to see what I can do, the more I've realised that sadly it's too late.

[dreamingbohemian]

YANBU it's shocking isn't it

I wish people wouldn't take the attitude of: oh well, nothing we can do about it

We can still take action to try to reduce the level of catastrophe, and we definitely need to start planning for the impacts that are most likely to occur, that may lead to a great many deaths (e.g. extreme weather, rising seas).

[Goosefoot]

I have ben a bit shocked at how quickly anything to do with climate change or the environment generally has been sidelined with all of this, when realistically it's more urgent than the pandemic or removal of Churchill statues - climate change is going to be one of the biggest drivers of inequality in the coming years and especially will effect people who aren't white.

[KizzyWayfarer]

Agree dreamingbohemian it feels pretty selfish to look at all the young teenagers out on the streets protesting last year, let alone those already suffering from worse drought and floods etc and shrug shoulders “sorry it’s too late to do anything”. Besides there are huge differences to our future trajectory depending on decisions taken now.

[dreamingbohemian]

Yes, just because it's too late to prevent any change at all doesn't mean we should give up.

Look at the dramatic improvements in air and water quality during lockdown. Of course we can't stay in lockdown forever but perhaps we could modify some behaviour as things get back to normal? But no, apparently there are a record number of bookings for cruises in the next year.

Yes a lot of this must be government-led but governments DO respond to popular pressure if it's strong enough.

[AngelicInnocent]

The problem is that the countries producing the worst pollution etc are the same countries that won't do anything about it. The Western countries can become greener but its a drop in the ocean compared to what countries like China and India are pumping out.

I live my life as greenly as possible but realised long ago that I can't actually make a difference.

[fedupnow20]

I've really looked into it, believe me. I've been a member of Friends of the Earth for the last 20 years. Any changes we make now will have an infinitesimally minimal impact. It's too late to stop it. We need to adapt to live with the consequences where that's possible. To be honest whether it was man-made is neither here nor there. It's happening, and will be a disaster.

climate.nasa.gov/faq/16/is-it-too-late-to-prevent-climate-change/

[cologne4711]

apparently there are a record number of bookings for cruises in the next year



And probably mainly by the demographic who won't be affected by climate change because they'll be dead.

[cologne4711]

Yes, just because it's too late to prevent any change at all doesn't mean we should give up

Exactly. Ban cruises. Keep strict limits on flights.

Yes people will lose their jobs, but there will be new ones in sustainable industries.

To coin a phrase - we need to "pivot".

[shinynewapple2020]

Why are cruises bad for environment? I would have thought this would be better than flights? (Although I suppose most cruise holidays people fly to join the ship)

[justanotherneighinparadise]

It’s too big to solve sadly. People just aren’t prepared to pedal backwards and give up their lifestyle. We are trying to bring more developing countries out of grinding poverty which unfortunately will just increase the speed of climate change. I do fear for my children’s lives but not for my own. I’m completely accepting of our fate in many ways but do feel immensely sad that I dragged my kids into it.

[dreamingbohemian]

Cruises are terrible for the environment, the emissions are enormous, they produce a lot of waste and they pollute or damage coastal ecosystems. And they are totally unnecessary, unlike a good portion of air travel.