11. The 2050 goals of the IPCC
Difficulties in reaching the 2050 goals of the IPCC Report 11: June 1, 2023 The IPCC has presented several scenarios of global warming, only one of which, scenario (RCP 2.6), met the goal of having a 50% chance of remaining below an increase of 1.50 C by 2050. At the other extreme, scenario (RCP 8.5–which approaches a […]
6. The Interaction between Nature and Culture
Report 6:03/15/2023 The Interaction between Nature and Culture In my book, Nature & Culture–A Personal Crisis, I expressed the ways in which I see the world as centered on an individual. I also attempted to diagram that view from an institutional perspective in which the focus became “US” rather than “I”. (The diagram below is […]
2. Changes in Global Land Use
Number 2: 10/03/2023 Changes in Global Land Use In Number 1 of this series of diagrams and graphs, I showed that Greenhouse gases (GHG) come from three major sources; the release of CO2 from land clearance and agriculture; from the destruction of forests and woodlands; and from the burning of fossil fuels. The graphs below […]
The need to understand the nature of the physical world
The Natural World and Humanity are in Trouble By now most people reading this have accepted the idea that there are major, worldwide environmental problems. We have personally experienced the “heat dome” and temperature extremes as well as the ash and destruction of devastating fires. Many of us have also accepted the fact that human […]
Technology and Climate Change
The Problems of Reliance on Technology to Solve Climate Change We humans are directly related to climate change through the knowledge of the ways that atmospheric matter and energy have been altered by the pollution created by the application of modern technology. This relationship is primarily understood by scientists and technologist. Because scientists understand these […]
Beyond Climate Change
Reducing the emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels and the release of methane gas are but a small part of an environmental crises facing the world. Of overriding concern beyond climate change should be the excessive consumption of all forms of energy, which are used to exploit the material world. Consumption in […]
Some energy basics
1. All energy requires energy to be extracted from the Earth. We have lived for the last decades ( our whole lifetimes) on the benefits of cheap oil (in terms of energy). 2. Fossil fuels are finite. We have reached the peak extraction of fossil fuels. All remaining fuels also demand more energy to extract […]