200 Nations sign on to Paris Climate Deal

No, it's certainly not solved yet, for sure, and the work is anything but done but it's a big step in the right direction, especially because the goals are a lot stronger than was anticipated. For now, I'm feeling hopeful.

^^^ Yeah, that green gavel, Give me hit on that thing... I mean with that thing.

Hell's bells, I know that things can get swept back under. It happened with the Whale hunting issues. Whaling was "outlawed" and everyone said "yay!" and went home. And the whales kept getting killed anyway until more aggressive action was (and still is) taken to reduce the loss of those bright, sensitive mammals.

So let's hope the same holds true with climate. It's going to take some effort. It's not like, "Whoopie, the Green Hammer! We're saved!" It has to be more like, "Alright, well that's cool, but now lets start working or things ain't gonna happen."

BS44325 said:

The agreement has no compulsory targets. So basically it is just a piece of paper. Think how much CO2 was emitted just to produce this waste of time.

Yeah, probably right, BS.

Back to the grindstone.

It's another no drive day for me and the heats turned down. Got the extra layer and warm fuzzy socks on.

polaris_x said:

this agreement is an abject failure ... if there are no legal binding consequences - then there is no progress ... the only positive to come of COP21 is that there was limited energy spent on actually debating the science and that the consensus on global warming is starting to be a bit more real ...

the sad part of this is that we have the technology to reduce our carbon emissions right now ... but there are too many people making too much money on the backs of the planet for us to do so ...

Yes again, so true. So it's up to all of us to do our part. I won't list the things we can do. In a nut shell: lower our consumption of energy and goods and what we do purchase, gear more toward needs than wants and seek the most durable good available. That's the only way things will change. Us doing it.

ldent42 said:

Brian, it's Dec 14 and here in NY the day's high is 63 degrees fahrenheit.

They can sign all the damn papers they want. I'ma be underwater soon.

That's crazy! I lived in western NY for a couple of years and I remember one day in early March the thermometer hit 54 and I thought I was magically in the Bahamas. 63?? This time of year? Crazy!

mookeywrench said:

200 leaders flew into Paris on 200 different private airliners and drove from their hotel to the event center with 200 different police escorts to halt traffic to smile in front of a camera and sign a sheet of paper to declare themselves to be on the forefront of solving climate change.

And again, I cannot argue. The link below confirms this.

So again, I have to ask, what are we going to do about it. All we've gotten so far on this thread- and don't get me wrong, I have no arguments with or bad feelings toward any of you-- is how the Paris agreement is a failure and means nothing.

Here's the deal- if this was 1995, the Paris agreement would have meant something (again, see link below). But the agreement is overdue, and it may be too weak. Many will throw their hands up and say, "See, I told you, we're screwed." Well, I gotta say, screw that. Let's not be weak about this. That kind of talk is for quitters, whiners and the faint-of-heart. We can do better that that.

The fact that the Paris talks have little to back them is all the more reason for us to wake up, look at the potential disaster we face, and do something to at least buy us (and other life- it's not just about the humans) some time.

Time to go turn my heater down... even if it is only 26% F up here at 2,000 feet outside right now. Where's my blanket!


http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-paris-climate-agreement-would-be-a-great-first-step-if-this-were-1995/

ldent42 said:

I bought a filtered water bottle. To replace bottled water.
Don't worry guys, climate crisis solved.

What's that you say? 68 degrees overnight is not normal weather for New York in December? Don't worry, that just means we're burning less fossil fuel to keep warm! I told yous, I'm on it! Climate crisis is under control.

LOL, you keep me a-goin' Ident!

Great idea with the water filter bottle. I have a couple of 2 1/2 gallon PBA free bottles (another iffy product only because I couldn't find the glass ones- crazy enough, I guess they stopped making them out here). The good thing is these bottles will last at least a few life times and I refill them a few blocks from work at Kinetico on Broadway and never need to buy another water bottle. The one I refill and carry around with me is light weight, durable stainless steel.