Scientists are now saying we are “out of time” to keep global heating at under 1.5°C. It’s simply too late. We’ve delayed any action far too long.

All our talk and meetings and phony “Net Zero” pledges don’t mean anything to an overstressed climate system that is rapidly breaking down.

You can’t fool Mother Nature.
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The target of keeping long-term global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) is moving out of reach, climate experts say, with nations failing to set more ambitious goals despite months of record-breaking heat on land and sea.

“We’ve run out of time because change takes time,” said Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, a climatologist at Australia’s University of New South Wales.

As climate envoys from the two biggest greenhouse gas emitters prepare to meet next month, temperatures broke June records in the Chinese capital Beijing, and extreme heat waves have hit the United States.

Parts of North America were some 10C (18F) above the seasonal average this month, and smoke from forest fires blanketed Canada and the US East Coast in a hazardous haze, with carbon emissions estimated at a record 160 million tons.

In India, one of the most climate-vulnerable regions, deaths spiked as a result of sustained high temperatures, and extreme heat has been recorded in Spain, Iran, and Vietnam, raising fears that last year’s deadly summer could become routine.

Countries agreed in Paris in 2015 to try to keep long-term average temperature rises within 1.5C, but there is now a 66% likelihood the annual mean will cross the 1.5C threshold for at least one whole year between now and 2027, the World Meteorological Organization predicted in May.
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FULL STORY -- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/30/out-of-time-temperature-records-topple-around-the-world

#Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Capitalism #BusinessAsUsual #CO2 #Emissions

‘Out of time’: Temperature records topple around the world

Despite record heat, critics cite ‘worrying lack of momentum’ during climate talks with little progress on fossil fuels.

Al Jazeera

@breadandcircuses

OK, I will start taking the high-speed electric trains and buses that run everywhere instead of driving… Oh, wait, never mind.

Well, cool, I'll at least go pick up an e-bike and ride it to work... oh they're kinda expensive and riding in this city is scary dangerous because there is no bike infrastructure.

Okay, then I will definitely sign up for the free utility-intertie photovoltaic program that has been universally offered across the country to anyone… What, there's no such thing? How about a free solar water heater installation program? Nah?

Pick any sector of modern society and there's virtually nothing an individual can do that will matter. Making change at scale comes down to policy and regulations.

IMO at this point, it will take massive, disruptive civil resistance campaigns to force governments to act. Not polite marches once a year, but a mass campaign of nonviolent protest and disruption that they can't ignore.

@Mikal @breadandcircuses a strong President would declare a climate emergency and reallocate funds for defense and energy departments and put army corps of engineers to work rebuilding the grid and adding wind and solar generation everywhere, retrofitting buildings with insulation, and building out mass transit projects. A strong President would say no selling one-use plastics without actual recycling accountability. Where can we find one of those presidents?
@Aethelstan @Mikal @breadandcircuses Such a President would need a commanding majority in Congress to accomplish even part of that, so we need to build support from the ground up for all of these progressive policies so folks in Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Iowa, etc. will elect Dems to the house and senate. Otherwise, these things will never come to pass.

@norcalpm @Aethelstan @breadandcircuses

These things will not come to pass no matter who is in office unless there is a mass, disruptive mobilization of people that makes the civil rights movement look rookie-league.

At times when the Dems did have majorities, did they ever attempt such sweeping radical transformations? Nah. Anything we've achieved has been fought for.

I'm not disagreeing that we need to vote in the most progressive climate candidates possible (but not that anti-vax dude, fuck no), but unless we are shutting down streets and oil companies and banks on the regular, they still won't act.

But, please, I'd love someone to prove me wrong here.

@Mikal @norcalpm @breadandcircuses thanks for the thoughtful reply! Two points: 1. the massive BLM riots seemed to produce nothing - other than a “defunding” punchline and an “antifa boogeyman” for RW pundits. 2. What if the president ignored the supremes, and did what was right? As long they have enough partisans to uphold a veto…
But yes, all of this requires the elected individual to hide their virtue pre-election.

@Aethelstan @norcalpm @breadandcircuses

I don't accept and strongly object to the casual description of BLM protests as riots. But I'm going to stick for the moment to the question of strategy. If that mass protest movement wasn't immediately effective at forcing policy change (it was effective in MANY other ways), that means we need better protest and organizing strategy. Not less protesting and organizing.

I think it would be great if Biden and every politician grew a spine and ignored the Supreme Court. The only way it's going to happen is through massive mobilizations.

I know it's trite to keep mentioning, but most of our environmental protection laws were signed by Nixon, and not because he was a nice guy.

@Mikal @Aethelstan @breadandcircuses I believe that if we see a Biden 2nd term that you may see him be far more aggressive and enact practices that do ignore or counter the $upremes, especially if dems can increase their numbers in Congress. Going too far right now will just give the Republicans fuel for their “anti big government activism” arguments. God forbid we see a 2nd Trump term because he is going to go full bore in the opposite direction.
@norcalpm @Mikal @breadandcircuses we can hope that not facing re-election personally Biden (and the party) could find the courage. If. If that’s what he wants. Not sure he is on board on the crisis timeline.
@Mikal @norcalpm @breadandcircuses sorry - you are so right. I did NOT mean to imply BLM protests were riots. I was at one in Boston with the kids. Only that “riots” was the mainstream media presentation — and hence my frustration with the results. How do you change minds by such events when subverting the protests was so easy for the “proud boys”?
My main point here is that government needs to step in as hard as the emergency demands.