Quote:
Originally Posted by NiceTom
Jacko-care to share any thoughts as to what your crystal ball sees in 2027, as far as where our energy might come from, what we'll drive, and any appreciable changes in lifestye, as we try to head off climate change? Limits on personal "carbon footprints", curtailed recreational travel, taxes on excess energy consumption, energy rationing (for the purpose of limiting CO˛ releases), rich vs. poor regarding energy consumption-that kind of thing. For instances, I've heard it said (not from experts) that the migration to the suburbs will reverse, and that people will start moving back into downtown areas as gas prices increase. Not looking for debate fodder-just what you think the future holds. PDS-I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on this same question.
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2027? Hell..I'll be 74 years old by then...what would I care?
Just kidding...I have been telling folks what I would do for a while here...many are already bored of listening...
I think many of your suggestions may be right though...the overriding opportunity though is that the quicker we get started on dealing with the problems(and there is LOTs we can do, right now!) , the sooner we will see the benefits of our action mitigating the effects of the global warming and the burning of carbon...it really is that simple....
First, we will NOT likely STOP global warming...the best we will do is to slow down any impact man has on its progression while cleaning up the air and transitioning to renewable and cleaner energy..our efforts will hopefully buy us time and minimize the worst of any catastrophic consequences....
I think a few posts ago a few gentleman much wiser than me from the Royal Society commented on this in a link from diogeron..I highly recommend you read this. Al Gore has written a few things about this as well
Lots of good writings out there from all the environmental groups as well including the Sierra Club,
Environmental Defense- Finding the Ways that Work, Natural Resources Defense Council etc. etc........We don't have all the answers of course...that is what the IPCC, Kyoto and Bali are all about.....ultimately, it is much more of a political challenge than a technological challenge...but, for me, I wish......and work hard for....
Continual use of fossil fuels that are "cleaner" as we more aggressively deploy technologies to accomplish this.
Rapid introduction of renewable energy sources..nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, efficient, sustainable biofuels (e.g. switchgrass or cellulosic ethanol), hyrdrogen fuel cell technologies, etc.
Huge savings from conservation efforts and the rapid deployment of effective technologies....hybrid and plug-hybrid, LED etc...
Huge focus on recycling, reusing and reducing technologies
Rapid move to more efficient mass transit systems.
Green building and sustainable living engineering implementation....
Cap and trade
Carbon sequestration?
Many new things we have not yet even thought about......
Gosh...I could just go on and on....
We could get started doing these things with much greater focus and enthusiasm...or we could continue to ignore the problem...or wait until we find the perfect solution before we start taking aggressive action...or just figure that we will never be able to do enough and just live our individual lives to the max, "giving up" on the future of our children
...I can't do this....
The future is not certain...it will have huge challenges...still...I choose to move forward with positive, informed enthusiasm and dedication....my parents did that for me in the face of huge challenges...we can do this for our children too.