Global Biodiversity - If you're on this forum, you gotta read this!!!

Report is here:

Global Biodiversity Outlook 3 - Home

 

So what shall we do?

Are you going to tell the millions of Indians or Chinese that they shouldn't have a/c because some bugs in a forest somewhere will die? Or that that rich business owner in China shouldn't drive that Range Rover he's saved up for and dreamt about for a decade?

Who are we to say, tell or dictate to anyone else?

I don't know the answer to this. Perhaps we should lead by example and hope that others follow?

 

Some ways forward, though quite unspecific, are presented in this report. Several more specific suggestions have been published elsewhere. Those interested could no doubt find them, or I could make a suggestion or 2?

However, the reductio ad absurdum does not impress. Sorry mate.

 

I agree but I'm not convinced the politicians are. I think they see it (at least here in the UK) as some great excuse to tax us more, but unless that tax money is used to subsidize solar panels and the like, then the tax paying public will remain cynical.

If the governments were serious about it, they would implement plans to 'green' up their buildings where appropriate to set an example. It has been suggested here locally but it was rejected for being too expensive! If it's too expensive for the government, then it's too expensive for us too.

It's too complicated an issue for someone like me to grasp, but I think education can play a big part. There has been a big insulation grant available from most power companies over here for homeowners to upgrade their insulation to new standards. My power company wrote to me saying they'd fully insulate my house for £300 (loft/roof space and walls). I agreed, they came, did a great job and the heating savings in the first year alone covered the cost! My sister is with the same power company yet didn't want to get the work done as she couldn't afford it (still in recession and money is tight). But she can't afford not to! She will spend the money on gas heating anyway. The same applies to cars and the Prius. Some fellow taxi drivers say they'd love a Prius but can't afford to buy new, but the fuel savings I make of £3000+ a year (35-40k miles pa)would pretty much cover the car payments.

So how do we convince people like my sister and my taxi driver colleagues that being 'greener' doesn't have to cost the earth as often the savings alone will pay for the greener product option.

Is this a role for the UN or local Governments or a combined effort?

 

That's odd, because there are so many efficiency projects that pay for themselves in a short time period.

Over here, the federal government has a plan that was put in place by executive order. Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance - EXECUTIVE ORDER 13514 | The White House

Additionally there are things going on at the local level. The State of New Jersey required every government agency to conduct energy audits, with retrofit incentives provided through the utility board. Local Government Energy Audit | NJ OCE Web Site

 

what should we do?

how about transferring the real cost of using fossil fuels to the entities using them.

immediately require upgrades of every single stack and pipe that currently spews exhaust to stringent emission levels. forget what it will cost the driver of the car or the owner of the power plant. they either pay or find another option.

taxes should be raised on gas to maintain at least a $5 per gallon rate (we are getting off CHEAP!! at that price) use the additional revenue to fund a REAL effort at using renewable green energy sources. if it cost 25 cents a kilowatt, before you start whining about the price, lets figure out what our share of the 121 Trillion dollar loss to the environment?

we put little value on destroying someone's home until it becomes our home, and i mean OUR home. all over the US, we have forced people out of their homes because of the environmental damage we caused by our direct actions in the pursuit of "cheap" energy.

there are several definitions of cheap including one that implies "not well made", shabby, or of low morals.
that is only type of cheap i can apply to the entire fossil fuel energy system