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Page added on February 12, 2023
Gaia’s Way Out
“Gaia is no dummy. She is in the process of shifting from supporting humanity to killing it off. “
I’ve never completed writing a book without offering a positive solution. Granted, those are sometimes long shots. Some may even be futile. But we don’t know unless we try and if we don’t try then we make the outcome certain in a negative direction.
Just to recap the predicament, in the framework currently used by climate scientists, there are 16 tipping elements—large, interconnected, biophysical systems that regulate the habitability of Earth. Nine of these have recently—within my lifetime—become unstable and others are showing signs of instability or awaiting further study. By changing the heat balance of the planet, with more sunlight trapped in the infrared spectrum (due to heat-trapping greenhouse gases) than Earth is capable of reflecting, we have messed up these large biophysical systems, and we are for the most part incapable of repairing them.
Gaia is no dummy. She is in the process of shifting from supporting humanity to killing it off.
Today we are experiencing the warmest temperatures since the last ice age. In fact, warmer than the past half dozen ice ages. We’ve already locked in a 20-meter (66-foot) sea level rise, that will erase all the coastal cities. We are in the process of doubling or tripling that rise by melting all the ice at the poles. Long-term, thermal expansion of ocean water will make ice melt seem like child’s play. During the transition from the last ice age/glacial maximum, starting about 18000 years ago, sea level rose ~120 meters over a ~10,000-year period.
Worse, as these tipping points fall like dominoes they’ll reduce, then remove, the human capacity for adaptation.
Merely eliminating fossil fuels by replacing them with renewables will no longer save us. That is a bandaid on a spurting jugular vein. Had we started half a century ago when Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter were briefed, we might have been able to switch in time. We missed the turn. In fact, we mashed the accelerator and are still burning more fossil carbon every year. The “bridge out ahead” signs come up faster every mile we travel. Our bridge to the future—renewables—is a footbridge.
As this decade proceeds we draw ever closer to our Thelma and Louise moment.
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We have already come to the point where fewer areas are suited for farming. As freshwater rivers and lakes dry up, billions of people will try to migrate. Extreme weather, hurricanes and wildfire lick at their heels. Climate change may also produce more volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. Civil order will fray. Chaos will reign.
That is the doomsplain.
Now for the good news. What do we choose — retreating coastlines hundreds of miles or pulling CO2 out of the air? The good news is that biogeophysical response moves slower than we do. Australian climate scientist Darren Ray compares the melting at the poles to moving a block of ice from your freezer to your fridge. The block takes a while to melt, but you know it will absolutely turn into a puddle of water eventually. Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets take many thousands of years to melt—they were still adding ice in my lifetime—so think 1–2 meters higher sea level in your lifetime, not ten times that. Sea level rise in 2022 was 4 millimeters—1/16 inch—although not evenly distributed.
Averaging the transition from the last ice age/glacial maximum, the sea level rise was 12 mm/y. We are only experiencing one-third of the rate of rise we had over 10,000 years before the industrial era. Studies now recommend coastal region planners should assume a greater than two-meter rise this century because we know the rate will speed up—to 25 mm/y on average and likely double that by the 2090s.
Likewise, not every summer will have heatwaves and droughts where you live. There are still variables like the El Niño and La Niña cycles and the ability of forests to regenerate after a fire. Hotter air evaporates more water and holds more, so it will rain more, on average, as Earth warms.
Gaia knows she has a fever and is doing what she does to reduce it. Stratospheric clouds are cutting the amount of sunlight reaching the surface and bouncing it back to space. Wherever allowed, forests are reclaiming lands once cleared, on their own. Forests have both a net cooling effect and suck greenhouse gases out of the air, converting CO2 to oxygen and soil fertility.
We have been trying to learn from forests and although it might take us a million years to catch up to the wisdom Gaia gained from trial and error over periods 2000 times longer than that, we now know how to make an artificial tree that can do the carbon removal work of 10,000 real trees. Of course, that comes with a hitch. It needs welded metals, processed chemicals and electricity. A lot of electricity.
Darren Ray says,
If we can’t strongly reduce emissions to zero before 2050, our other option to avoid the 10m higher sea level is then to reduce the atmospheric radiative forcing from the higher CO2 levels, by sucking down CO2 out of the atmosphere and reducing methane emissions. That is the fancy scientific way of saying “ we need to turn the temperature knob in the fridge compartment down to a lower level”.
He has done some useful calculations.
Currently, it seems to take between 1200 to 2000 kWh of energy to remove 1 tonne of CO2 from the atmosphere. .
That is a lot of energy. And 1 tonne of CO2 is about a return flight from Paris to New York. Or maybe 1/4 of emissions for driving your car, not SUV, around for a year.
So… to remove just 1 ppm of CO2 using current technology would use:
8×10⁹ x 2×10⁶ Watthours of energy = 1.6×10¹⁶ Watthours of energy
This is also ignoring the likely effect of CO2 that the oceans have taken up coming re-gassing back out of the oceans as atmospheric levels are reduced. I have no idea what that might end up being but could make it roughly twice as difficult.
Just taking the above figures, current global electricity production that could run direct air capture is 27 PetaWh (10¹⁵) or 2.7×10¹⁶Wh.
So, using current technology being used by people like Climeworks, it would take 60% of world electricity production to reduce CO2 levels by 1 ppm… assuming ocean CO2 out-gassing does not occur.
Or, to offset the 2022 2.5ppm increase in CO2 would we have to increase world electricity consumption by 50% and then use all of it for direct air capture 🙁 …again assuming no ocean CO2 outgassing occurs.
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| Vodka infused with CO2 captured by DAC machines |
This is why I like Gaia’s trees better. Even if they are less efficient than DAC machines at pulling out CO2, they have lots of co-benefits, repair themselves and make their own replacements. And Ray is right about the outgassing. It does work out to approximately double the amount of CO2 you have to remove. Therefore to offset 2022’s increase in CO2 coming from human civilization world electricity production would need to double and all of be devoted to DAC. Just to offset the 2.5 ppm increase.
I have written three whole books with these natural climate solution calculations so rather than extend this essay let me just summarize the key points:
- There is enough land available to reforest enough trees to rebalance the carbon cycle, assuming we phase out fossil burning
- Using biochar agroforestry and cascades of durable forest products, carbon sequestration by forests can be multiplied a hundredfold or a thousandfold
- If that were not enough, farming and reforesting the ocean, again with a virtuous biochar harvesting cycle, can do the trick
- Farming the ocean with kelp, for instance, and converting coastal seaweed to biochar, for instance, would take us to net drawdown territory, even factoring in outgassing
- None of this requires electricity. You can use that to watch your favorite streaming service while you crank up the A/c and distill some water from the air
- Pyrolysis is exothermic, so you can make electricity by doing this
- Kelp and plankton farming and foresting would also help thwart the ocean outgassing factor as well as offering huge biodiversity gains—de-desertifying the ocean.
Darren Ray also ran the numbers on what it would cost to suck enough CO2 from the atmosphere using artificial trees to reduce CO2 from say 420 ppm to ~350 ppm:
Using $50 US per tonne of CO2. The total cost is ~$20 trillion total. The global economy generates about ~$90 trillion per year, and we unbelievably still give ~$6 trillion US per year to fossil fuel companies in subsidies — so this is feasible if CO2 capture can be made less expensive in the future, and even at $1000 US per tonne is probably still a positive return on investment.
$20 trillion is a small price to pay, especially if it can save cities like Miami and New Orleans! But where will all that electricity come from? Fusion? Renewables?
Sorry, DAC fans, but I prefer Gaia’s way. Just not the part about eliminating humans.
References:
Ray, D., The most important climate change paper of 2022 you never heard of (2023).
Meanwhile, let’s end this war. Towns, villages and cities in Ukraine are being bombed every day. Ecovillages and permaculture farms have organized something like an underground railroad to shelter families fleeing the cities, either on a long-term basis or temporarily, as people wait for the best moments to cross the border to a safer place, or to return to their homes if that becomes possible. There are still 70 sites in Ukraine and 300 around the region. They are calling their project “The Green Road.”
The Green Road is helping these places grow their own food, and raising money to acquire farm machinery and seed, and to erect greenhouses. The opportunity, however, is larger than that. The majority of the migrants are children. This will be the first experience in ecovillage living for most. They will directly experience its wonders, skills, and safety. They may never want to go back. Those that do will carry the seeds within them of the better world they glimpsed through the eyes of a child.
The Great Change by Albert Bates
115 Comments on "Gaia’s Way Out"
e e e ee on Wed, 22nd Feb 2023 8:29 am
This is a message from the Quebecers writing comments on peakoil.com.
You are still an ugly whore with a gray alien bubble head, stupid useless bitch.
I wrote in a comment on peakoil.com website that I would destroy Europe and shut down its electrical grid forever. Destruction of Europe has begun. See below for food shortage coming to Europe:
https://electroverse.co/7-2-feet-of-snow-in-morocco-power-outages-in-georgia-north-americas-historic-arctic-outbreak-arrives/
As recently reported by Reuters, the UK is facing a shortage of vegetables after supermarket supplies were hit by “disrupted harvests” (i.e. hail and snow) in southern Europe and north Africa, prompting two major grocers to limit customer purchases.
Compounding the issue, indoor vegetable production across the likes of Britain and the Netherlands has taken a serious hit this winter, with growers unable to afford to heat their greenhouses due to spiraling energy costs.
eeee ee on Wed, 22nd Feb 2023 10:45 pm
This is a message from the Quebecers writing comments on peakoil.com
I told GOD to speed up execution of people living on earth that are not humans. I told GOD to change the configuration of the sun. The sun will become an emitter toxic ray that would cause cancer and accelerate death.
You see that clearly in the video below where António Guterres, has his whole body and face bombarded with an extremely powerful luminous and energetic ray , in fact the ray are so powerful that his is incapable of keeping his eyes open. He made his whole speech with his eyes almost closed. He is currently being executed by GOD and I.
You can see also in the video below that Josep Borrell Fontelles is also being executed by GOD, He has red eyes because
he is also bombarded with toxic powerful death ray coming from GOD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLW4LV_BN1s
Enjoy your pain, fucking garbage.
ee e ee on Fri, 24th Feb 2023 7:24 am
SNOW FALLS ACROSS CALIFORNIA, SETS RECORDS IN THE SOUTH
A high-impact winter storm continues to impact the vast majority of the North American continent, with close to a million homes without power early Friday morning in Michigan state alone — where is is taking down trees and powerlines.
https://electroverse.co/snow-falls-across-california-lax-busts-temp-record-portlands-snowiest-day-since-1943-europes-arctic-outbreak/
I told you to kill Blinken and all his framily. I told you to put a trade embargo on Israel. The US is being punished for disobeying GOD and I. Everyone on earth will die except some selected souls
d dede d d on Fri, 24th Feb 2023 7:34 am
This message has been sent to Israel, Europe, US state department.
This is a message from the Quebecers writing comments on peakoil.com
I told you that I would destroy Europe. Expect food shortage and electricity rationing for the Europe including east and west.
EUROPE’S LOOMING ARCTIC OUTBREAK
It was another frosty start for me this morning in Central Portugal — the 17th frost I’ve noted this February.
As per the latest GFS run, Portugal’s chill wont lift anytime soon, either.
Anomalous cold is forecast to persists across Western Europe for at least the next two weeks:
https://electroverse.co/snow-falls-across-california-lax-busts-temp-record-portlands-snowiest-day-since-1943-europes-arctic-outbreak/
I told you to kill Blinken and all his framily. I told you to put a trade embargo on Israel. The US and Europe are being punished for disobeying GOD and I. Everyone on earth will die except some selected souls.
ddd eee on Sat, 25th Feb 2023 12:27 am
This is a message from the Quebecer writing comments on peakoil.com. I told US will get punished and destroyed by GOD and I. I told you to kill Blinken family’s and put a trade embargo on Israel. You refuse to do it you are being punished for that right now.
Southern California is getting drenched by heavy rainfall while the mountains are receiving potentially record amounts of snow from the winter storm this week.
Winter storms brings heavy rainfall, snow and dangerous road conditions to Southern California
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1iiZ5if8ew
Message to Israel Netanayour on Sat, 25th Feb 2023 12:33 am
If I ever get pushed into power, I will try to make an alliance with UK, Germany and France and destroyed and killed all Jewish people living in Israel by bombing your critical infrastructures : water treatments plants, electrical generation plants, hospitals, food processing unit, ……
Below is a copy of a message I send to the US state department.
This is a message from the Quebecer writing comments on peakoil.com. I told you will get punished and destroyed by GOD and I. I told you to kill Blinken family’s and put a trade embargo on Israel. You refuse to do it you are being punished for that right now.
Southern California is getting drenched by heavy rainfall while the mountains are receiving potentially record amounts of snow from the winter storm this week.
Winter storms brings heavy rainfall, snow and dangerous road conditions to Southern California
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1iiZ5if8ew
Sissyfuss on Sat, 25th Feb 2023 9:27 am
Mormons are God’s chosen people. He would never let them be harmed by their own toxicity.
Message I left for the US state departement and Israel prime minister on Sat, 25th Feb 2023 7:04 pm
This is a copy of a message I left on the site of US state department. I think you should know what I think of Israel and the Jewish race.
This is a message from the Quebecers writing comments on the site peakoil.com. Jews are the sacred enemies of the Whites race and I am determined to destroy my enemies.
I told you to kill Blinken and his family and put a trade embargo on Israel. US is now being punished because it dare to challenge my authority over earth and all its living things. You should have obey me. US will now be destroyed by GOD
2-25-23 Big Bear Lake, CA-Historic SoCal Snow-Sanity highways closed, cars stuck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQMjnCjoyps
FamousDrScanlon on Sun, 26th Feb 2023 2:34 pm
Snow in winter? Who ever heard of such a thing?
Denier twats post snow & cold news stories without any accompanying comment as if logic will lead you to conclude because it snowed a record amount somewhere that disproves the global warming. This is actually more proof of their ignorance of how the hydrological cycle and evaporation due to global warming works.
What would not make sense would be NOT seeing record snow dumps and record hail (size). We’ve seen increases in both the last two decades, so that makes for another climate science prediction come true. Deniers lose again.
Dumb fucks don’t know this because they don’t know fuck all about …..anything. The required reading is way over their heads.
You sad sacks of shit only make yourselves look dumber with every post. If you had done any studying, made even the slightest effort, you would know that at no time did any one who studies climate change say that global warming means that winter & snow will be canceled. That’s more retard logic.
How Global Warming Can Cause Heavier Snowfalls (2014)
“While it might seem counter intuitive that warmer air can lead to more snowfall, it makes scientific sense. As the air becomes warmer, it holds more moisture. Just think about how during the summer, the air feels more like a soup. On a global scale, this warmer air makes the atmosphere wetter, while winter temperatures are still low enough to produce whiteout conditions. Climate change also warms the world’s oceans, from which east coast storms gather their strength.
It’s not a recent trend, either. Between the years of 1958 to 2007 the US has seen a remarkable increase in heavy precipitation. Rainfall in the northeast has increased 67%, and rainfall in areas surrounding the Great Lakes has increased 31%.”
https://inhabitat.com/how-global-warming-can-cause-heavier-snowfalls/
~
I really want to help tards learn, so I’m going to design a drool proof climate change coloring book with lead free crayons. No coloring while on the short bus, guys.
FamousDrScanlon on Sun, 26th Feb 2023 2:38 pm
“Exceptional! Nashville in Tennessee reached 85F [29.4C], this pulverized its record of the highest winter day on records and it ties the highest temperature ever recorded in winter in the whole State of Tennessee.
“Hundreds and hundreds of records are being pulverized. Truly historic event.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1628852725776515073
~
“More records fell yesterday in Florida and Cuba.
“Pensacola in Florida with 83F/28C had its warmest February day on records, while in Cuba exceptional 35.0C/95F at Santa Lucia in Pinar del Rio Province, is also a record for February. The station also beat also its January record.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1629141601384554496
Message send to Israel prime minister and US state department on Sun, 26th Feb 2023 9:43 pm
I just sent this message to the US state department.
This is a message from the Quebecers writing comments on the peakoil.com
I told you to kill Blinken and his family. I told you to put a trade embargo on Israel. I told you if you refuse you will get punished.
You are now being punished for your refusal to obey GOD and I.
Starting at 1:10 in the night news full broadcast for 26 of February is your punishment for refusing to obey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m-cuiauc1Y
Hello on Mon, 27th Feb 2023 8:53 am
That’s good news Famous. Very good news. When is world population finally going to get decimated? It’s still growing.
ee e e on Mon, 27th Feb 2023 9:38 am
This is a message from the Quebecer writing comments on peakoil.com.
I had to email to you fucking loser. Nobody in the world pride himself about drinking sewage water and kiss asses of globalist like Singapore does.
There is something called human dignity. Drinking piss, is something done in BDSM porn to humiliate your partner. Singapore, even if treated, is proud to humiliate its citizens by forcing them to drink their treated shit and piss.
Nobody should be proud to suck globalist’s dicks like Singapore does. Yet Singapore is always ready to suck and obey international globalist, even if it means humiliates themselves by drinking their own sewage.
You don’t belong with human, you are not humans, you are animal, you belong in wild.
This was a message from the future King of North Americal
eee on Tue, 28th Feb 2023 4:42 am
I made some research about natural resources allocation by nations. I discovered that Japan, Europe, Uk and South Korean have very few critical natural resources like: copper, silver, nickel, iron ore.
So it is natural that Europe and UK will invent something like globalism to steal natural resources from other nations like Indonesia and force globalism on nations that are not willing to participle to international globalism.
The beauty of the it is that UK and Europe were able to convince the US to accept the role of guardian and enforcers of globalism through the whole world. The US is being manipulate by nations like Europe, Japan and South Korea, UK. There is no advantages for the US to have the reference currency anymore and this responsibility should be give to China. The enforcement of globalism should have be transferred to China.
drift hunters on Wed, 15th Mar 2023 2:57 am
The good news is that over the next decade, the operational costs of renewable energy sources like solar and wind will be far lower than those of coal and nuclear power. Similarly, the price of batteries will decrease, reducing the total cost of ownership for electric vehicles. According to Grantham, we can only tolerate a rise of 3 degrees Celsius, yet carbon emissions will continue to climb even if green measures are implemented and fossil fuel consumption is reduced.