tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post2607620091523039131..comments2024-03-28T22:02:16.520-04:00Comments on Politics and its Discontents: News Many Would Prefer Not To KnowLornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-89477968553640888122016-08-23T12:48:24.374-04:002016-08-23T12:48:24.374-04:00Adaptation seems to be far from the federal govern...Adaptation seems to be far from the federal government's mind, Mound, when I read about infrastructure grants. While it is vital to reinforce transportation infrastructure (Toronto just received $500 million for repairs and upgrades to the TTC: https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/08/23/ttc-gets-500m-boost-from-ottawa.html), I see precious little evidence that they are serious about adaptation, as the next round of funding will focus on "culture, recreation, tourism and other sectors" that are transitioning to a green economy, whatever that really means. My guess is that it will be wasted, like it was during the Chretien years, when infrastructure grants went to things like hockey arena improvements and theatre improvements.<br /><br />Thanks, as always, for your insights about the bigger picture, frightening in all dimensions as it is.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-20702756642790599602016-08-23T12:04:06.999-04:002016-08-23T12:04:06.999-04:00There are popular cut-outs in this climate change ...There are popular cut-outs in this climate change saga. Much of the conversation is limited to man-made events and consequences, taken in isolation of the knock-on effects or natural feedback loops that are being triggered.<br /><br />We know that we have already "locked in" 1.5C of warming with our existing atmospheric emissions but that's 1.5C short term warming. That existing atmospheric loading has another 1.5C of long term warming for the planet before it dissipates. That's a total of 3 degrees Celsius of warming, long term, that's already locked in. Only then do you get to the knock-on effects ranging from loss of sea ice and glaciers increasing the atmospheric water vapour loading to sea level rise and the increase of severe storm events (intensity, duration and frequency).<br /><br />We view all this, to the extent we don't simply turn our heads and avoid it entirely, in the context of bubbles. There's one that runs to 2030, another that goes to 2050 and so on. Small bites make it easier to those inclined to believe in our powers of adaptation.<br /><br />How many realize that what's depicted in your posts, in these NBC reports, is merely "early onset" climate change? This is just for starters. I wrote an essay on the demise of "normal." This isn't the new normal as sometimes suggested. It is just an early point in a transition to a new normal that will take centuries, perhaps millennia. It's hard to imagine but those who are around 30 or 40 years from now may look on today's cataclysms as the "good old days."<br /><br />Alison, from Creekside, said she has two brothers in the UK working in the field of resilience. All she would say about their work is that it's pretty grim. How resilient are we? How far can we bend this twig before it snaps? What are we doing to restore, reinforce and replace our obsolete core infrastructure without which our society and our economy collapse? How many mega-droughts or mega-floods can any community withstand? Why are we not having an adult conversation about these things?<br /><br />We pay lip service to these things - at times, when necessary - but we're doing next to nothing and continually falling behind. <br /><br />It's important that you continue these posts for the reasons you've given. It has to be done.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-36425169443156946322016-08-23T11:50:32.955-04:002016-08-23T11:50:32.955-04:00Thanks, Owen. That helps put things into perspecti...Thanks, Owen. That helps put things into perspective for me.Lornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15741324981120408977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884128379999766348.post-14455373679689382552016-08-23T11:15:44.455-04:002016-08-23T11:15:44.455-04:00Sometimes, Lorne, our task is straightforward: to ...Sometimes, Lorne, our task is straightforward: to document what is happening. At least, the record will be clear.Owen Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464860078574618579noreply@blogger.com