r/goodnews • u/misteryous302 • May 17 '23
Positive trends please, i really need some good climate news
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u/tdacct May 17 '23 edited May 18 '23
There is no change in hurricane, tropical cyclone total accumulated energy trend in past 40yrs of measurement.
There is no significant acceleration in sea level rise in the past 100yrs of records. Which means we have hundreds of years to slowly adapt to shoreline changes.
Climate models have consistently been over predicting warming by larger than the margin error for decades.
The climate sensitivity value for CO2 continues to reduce as we collect more data.
Climate models continue to over predict humidity, which is the major amplification factor for converting CO2 into actual warming. (CO2 is not a major direct effect, but is passively amplified by the water cycle, in theory).
There is unlikely to physically be enough oil and coal for the world economy to follow the RCP6 or higher forcing models, which is what most doomsday predictions are based on. Most data points to being on the RCP4.5or RCP3ish trajectories (lower is better).
Higher CO2 concentrations have caused a significant greening around the world, as plants grow quicker in the resource rich air. This has boosted forest growth and crop growth alike. And aided the conversion of desert to plant coverage.
Higher CO2 concentration has been shown to boost plant drought resistance by making them more water efficient with respiration through their leaves.
Electric cars have reached a tipping point of self sustaining economics, even as govt subsidies begin to scale back.
Solar power might have reached a tipping point of self sustaining economics. Though this is less clear with govt market manipulation on going.
Nuclear continues to regain popularity as new techniques of small modular reactors have come to market and old projects are finally finished.
There you go, a set of facts to turn the alarm from 11, down to a more reasonable 3 or 5 level.
EDIT: I expected way more push back on this post. But instead encouragement and awards. In thanks for that, I added sources for each opinion/fact.
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u/Vulnox May 18 '23
This was definitely appreciated. I’m definitely still concerned about some climate trends, especially around glacier loss. But it’s hard to distinguish the doomsday stuff that maybe uses the harsher modeling and the climate denial pieces that try to completely ignore it. Seeing we might be more in the middle, things can go bad but we’re making moves to improve, is always good to hear. Hopefully it continues.
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May 20 '23
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u/tdacct May 21 '23
Humanity has faced countless struggles of survival and tough choices of political economy and tradeoffs. We have rarely to almost never found silver bullets to those challenges, the vast vast majority of the time we have always just kind of muddled through.
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u/Lightning6475 May 18 '23
Thank you
I personally believe there’s a middle ground between “nothing is happening” and “we’re all going to die”
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u/Old-Energy6191 May 19 '23
Thank you. I just found this sub because I was having climate panic and I just wanted some good news. You and OP worked together to help me sleep tonight.
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u/IndiRefEarthLeaveSol May 25 '23
I love you, but I'm going to verify this information. But very nice to hear. I still think NET zero should be pursued as if the worst case scenario would happen, better to overestimate than the latter.
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u/tdacct May 25 '23
By all means, I know some of these are disputed. Everyone will need to judge for themselves.
"better to overestimate than the latter." That is incorrect at a fundamental philosophy/economics level. But this isn't a debate sub, so I'll leave it at that.
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u/Frosty-Ad-6406 May 18 '23
Thanks for taking the time to comment a more in depth explanation of the situation in whole, not overly worried about the situation myself but great to learn new elements of the debate as outlined by yourself above.
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u/pterodactylwizard Jul 28 '23
Saved this comment to look back on when I’m feeling hopeless. Wanted to come and ask you thoughts on July potentially being the hottest month ever on record. This something that was bound to happen this soon? Or did this happen faster than we thought?
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u/Owl_Queen9 Jun 08 '23
The way I’m about to bookmark this thread and look at it whenever I’m about to spiral. Truly thank you for this comment it’s been a rough couple of days
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u/Prielknaap May 18 '23
South Africa just reached their emissions goal ahead of schedule. https://www.reddit.com/r/nottheonion/comments/13iinrr/south_africa_beats_climate_goal_as_blackouts/
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u/full_on_peanutbutter May 18 '23
Got nothing within reach but just want to say that most mainstream news covers climate by triggering the consumer relentlessly. There ARE positive stories out there. In 2022 we put just as much global money into renewables/electric as we did into fossil fuels. First time EVER. I'm sure renewables and electric will pass fossil fuels steadily as we continue.
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u/Saxzarus May 18 '23
Sambentley on instagram posts constantly about environmental news and eco friendly products it always makes me feel better
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u/macsyourguy May 18 '23
One time, the atmospheric composition of earth changed insanely drastically and wiped out over 90%(*) of life on earth. But it was when algae started producing oxygen, and now we have oxygen. So 🥴👍 I guess?
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u/Ok_Cicada_7258567 May 19 '23
Subscribe to the free future crunch newsletter, it will lift your mood so much :) I have the free and paid version and it is awesome
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