Peak Oil & Climate Change (merged)

[Heineken]

Why do you feel the need to compete, Cashmere? This comes through in many of your posts. Perhaps you're aware of it, perhaps not.

I think Ibon gave you good advice. Sometimes the best advice is that which stings a bit.

[rdsaltpower]

found this climate story today... http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080820/ ... 02b49.html

[dissident]

As the article states we are in the La Nina regime so no big surprise. The El Nino cycle is irregular but around 5 to 7 years.

[Lore]

I call on everyone who wants to save western democracy to kill all global warming alarmists.

Sounds like the Mr_Hyde is coming out in you?

[mos6507]

I call on everyone who wants to save western democracy to kill all global warming alarmists.

I call on everyone who wants to save Peakoil.com to ignore Dr_Jekyll.

[Cashmere]

And just to make the point -

Try to find a GW story in the headlines over the next 12 months.

Nobody gives a rat's ass about GW when they're afraid their credit cards might not work tomorrow.

[Lore]

And just to make the point -

Try to find a GW story in the headlines over the next 12 months.

Nobody gives a rat's ass about GW when they're afraid their credit cards might not work tomorrow.

That doesn't make GW less important of a crisis. Human nature is about fixing the flat tire on the car today, even though next week the engine may blow up.

[mos6507]

Human nature is about fixing the flat tire on the car today, even though next week the engine may blow up.

Yikes, another great potential sig line!

[Cashmere]

And just to make the point -

Try to find a GW story in the headlines over the next 12 months.

Nobody gives a rat's ass about GW when they're afraid their credit cards might not work tomorrow.

That doesn't make GW less important of a crisis. Human nature is about fixing the flat tire on the car today, even though next week the engine may blow up.

We agree.

[Lore]

One time I snorted some amphetamine sulfate and took a bunch of morning glory seeds and got a spasm in my face that made me look like that.

Right track, wrong combination.

[vision-master]

NASA Data Show Arctic Saw Fastest August Sea Ice Retreat on Record

Following a record-breaking season of arctic sea ice decline in 2007, NASA scientists have kept a close watch on the 2008 melt season. Although the melt season did not break the record for ice loss, NASA data are showing that for a four-week period in August 2008, sea ice melted faster during that period than ever before.

Link

[dinopello]

Actually, I haven't read this book by Peter Newman, but if work allows me, I'm going to a book launch and and talk tomorrow. If you read the book post a review.

Here's a recent interview

[dinopello]

Here is a google preview.

[blukatzen]

Cool Dino, glad to see you are going! I'll be sure to read the thread as I would like to see your take on his suggestions. I know that you are around Atlanta, I'd wonder how he thinks changes can happen there, and in a snow-bound city like Chicago, amongst others. (hard to ride a bike right now, for one.)

Have fun, thanks for letting us know!

Blu

[dinopello]

Cool Dino, glad to see you are going! I'll be sure to read the thread as I would like to see your take on his suggestions. I know that you are around Atlanta, I'd wonder how he thinks changes can happen there, and in a snow-bound city like Chicago, amongst others. (hard to ride a bike right now, for one.)

Have fun, thanks for letting us know!

Blu

No problem, but I'm not in Atlanta, but Arlington, VA.

The temperature has been in the teens here and I see people commuting on their bikes. Personally, I don't bike much because the car drivers are idiots. But walking for me is easier in the bitter cold than it is in the humid heat. When I get to work I don't have to take a shower. As you must know, if you dress appropriately, cold is not a problem.

I'll probably get the book, but this stuff isn't rocket science. It's pretty obvious what to do, the problem is overcoming the psychology.

[Duende]

dinopello wrote:

Actually, I haven't read this book by Peter Newman, but if work allows me, I'm going to a book launch and and talk tomorrow.

Ah! I can't go - I've got a caterer tasting for a wedding to go to - absolute bummer.

If you end up going, please post how it went. I love going to the German Marshall Fund stuff when I can, and I'd be interested on the impression a PeakOil.com 'insider' walks away with.

[dinopello]

Well, I went. Mostly a review session for me. He started with a basic peak oil presentation followed by some urban form stuff and some technology stuff (PHEV, smart grid). There was over 40 in the audience. I recognized some T4America people and APA, ULI, etc. I don't think there were many or any noobs in there so he was preaching to the choir for the most part.

He dropped some names (R Bartlett, Simmons, etc). He attributed the "end of civilization as we know it" quote to Bartlett in one of his slides. Newman looked tired, but occassionally got a little animated. I think he is generally a good speaker and looked like he would have answered questions all night, but the agent from Island Press seemed to want to go home so she pressed him to stop calling on people.

There was one question from a guy who arrived late who I would bet is a PO.com member based on his question. Anyone want to confess ?

He had some interesting insights on the stimulus package (the 180 day limit tends to favor maintenance projects) and reiterated what we in the room already know- that the key is the upcoming transportation reauthorization bill.

DC was beautiful with the snow on the ground and had a good dinner after. So, all in all a night well spent.

I have the book and will comment if I get a chance to read it.

[3aidlillahi]

I'm taking this Environmental Modeling class this semester. We have this guest lecturer today and last week. She's a climate modeler and is working with the King Abdullah environmental fund for dealing with climate change. Today, we were talking about fossil fuel inputs and how that affects CO2 concentration and thus global climate change. Someone mentioned running out of oil and she scoffed at that idea. She talked briefly about how every few years, data comes out that we'll reach peak oil and then it fails.

I don't read the actual reports on climate change that much. For those that do, do they take into account even the prospect of peak oil/coal/NG? I find it insane and infuriating that she dismisses and laughs at, literally, the idea of finiteness on a finite planet.

Thank you.

[eXpat]

Hi 3aidlillahi, IMHO they do not, none of the studies I read, took PO into consideration, having say that though, it looks that we are well passed the tipping point when it comes to Climate Change, so the point is moot really.

[galacticsurfer]

Yeah I watched the video someone posted of university prof on another thread the other day and wondered how he took the approach to emissions without really discussing effects of depletion. Although he said we could burn up all the oil and gas as long as we don't use the coal if I recall right. As soon as oil is gone all those mountaintops will stay put as they are too hard to cut off and a lot of millions of miners will have to dig with their hands so I think PO will stop GW dead in its tracks unless CTL is used and Biodiesel/ethanol to get the excavating equipment going at the open pit coal mines. Lots of oil and gas will get stranded too due to finances and politics so that this could go really fast and GW could just be end up being a Russian fantasy of a pacific island paradise.