Political impact of the melt

For threads primarily discussing Climate Change (particularly in relation to Peak Oil)

Moderator: Peak Moderation

Post Reply
User avatar
Mean Mr Mustard
Posts: 1555
Joined: 31 Dec 2006, 12:14
Location: Cambridgeshire

Political impact of the melt

Post by Mean Mr Mustard »

Would be interested to read PowerSwitcher's thoughts on the political implications of the Arctic melt, being a major and visible change. Presumably the North Pole cover will melt before the very last of the ice on the Greenland north shore does, and that might even trigger a headline news report in a few years.

When will the MSM and politicians really take notice, and what might happen then?
1855 Advertisement for Kier's Rock Oil -
"Hurry, before this wonderful product is depleted from Nature’s laboratory."

The Future's so Bright, I gotta wear Night Vision Goggles...
User avatar
PS_RalphW
Posts: 6974
Joined: 24 Nov 2005, 11:09
Location: Cambridge

Post by PS_RalphW »

It will be largely ignored by the MSM.

There will be no comment from any politician anywhere in the first world, except the green parties. Most people will remain in ignorance and/or denial.

It's the economy stupid.

:(

[edit]

Sea ice area has now fallen to less than half the long term average for this time of year on some of the monitoring web sites, and volume by more than three quarters. And we are not yet at anual minimum.

:shock:
Last edited by PS_RalphW on 05 Sep 2012, 12:27, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
emordnilap
Posts: 14823
Joined: 05 Sep 2007, 16:36
Location: here

Post by emordnilap »

So long as fuel prices are kept down, nothing else matters.

OK, I had to post a cynical sentence. Yes, we should fight to protect our biosphere of course but we're just a very tiny bunch lentil-wearing hippies (even those that aren't) and, even if the whole world were with us, it's too late.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
Tarrel
Posts: 2466
Joined: 29 Nov 2011, 22:32
Location: Ross-shire, Scotland
Contact:

Post by Tarrel »

OPPORTUNITY!!

Faster, more efficient sea routes linking The west with emerging markets.

Easier access to lots of new potential oil and gas reserves in the Arctic ocean

Warmer summers and a longer barbeque season

No more nasty polar bears to eat our schoolchildren

Easier for the US to mount a pincer movement on Canada and turn it into the 52nd state

Face it. You've NEVER had it SO GOOD!
Engage in geo-engineering. Plant a tree today.
Tarrel
Posts: 2466
Joined: 29 Nov 2011, 22:32
Location: Ross-shire, Scotland
Contact:

Post by Tarrel »

(Hope the irony wasn't lost on anyone. Wouldn't want you getting the wrong idea :oops: )
Engage in geo-engineering. Plant a tree today.
User avatar
UndercoverElephant
Posts: 13570
Joined: 10 Mar 2008, 00:00
Location: UK

Re: Political impact of the melt

Post by UndercoverElephant »

Mean Mr Mustard wrote:Would be interested to read PowerSwitcher's thoughts on the political implications of the Arctic melt, being a major and visible change.
Nil.
When will the MSM and politicians really take notice?
Never. It will never rise to the top of the agenda, or anywhere near it, because there are going to be too many other problems of much more interest in the short term. Climate change is currently getting worse (than predicted) and the MSM and politicians are taking less notice. Too much other stuff going on.
We must deal with reality or it will deal with us.
User avatar
UndercoverElephant
Posts: 13570
Joined: 10 Mar 2008, 00:00
Location: UK

Post by UndercoverElephant »

We've already had major and visible change, and of the sort that was most likely to prompt a reaction. That change has been been the plight of the polar bears, who are now starving all over the arctic because they have no ice to hunt on. There has been no shortage of pictures and stories involving distressed polar bears, and it is widely known that they don't have much of a future. And polar bears are right up there with pandas and tigers as poster boys of the popular end of the environmental movement.

If starving polar bears won't prompt a MSM/political response, why expect the loss of the last summer ice to make difference?

And what about when instead of it being arctic ice and polar bears that are disappearing, it is whole islands in the pacific and large chunks of Holland and East Anglia? Will that make, say, people in the United States decide that now is time to take climate change seriously and stop burning fossil fuels? No, they'll just accept that East Anglia is going to go the same way the polar bears did.
We must deal with reality or it will deal with us.
User avatar
emordnilap
Posts: 14823
Joined: 05 Sep 2007, 16:36
Location: here

Re: Political impact of the melt

Post by emordnilap »

UndercoverElephant wrote:Climate change is currently getting worse (than predicted) and the MSM and politicians are taking less notice. Too much other stuff going on.
UndercoverElephant wrote:And what about when instead of it being arctic ice and polar bears that are disappearing, it is whole islands in the pacific and large chunks of Holland and East Anglia? Will that make, say, people in the United States decide that now is time to take climate change seriously and stop burning fossil fuels? No, they'll just accept that East Anglia is going to go the same way the polar bears did.
Yup and yup. Like I said, it's too late so why worry? Be happy.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
User avatar
JohnB
Posts: 6456
Joined: 22 May 2006, 17:42
Location: Beautiful sunny West Wales!

Post by JohnB »

UndercoverElephant wrote:If starving polar bears won't prompt a MSM/political response, why expect the loss of the last summer ice to make difference?
Polar bears are only important if they don't affect economic growth.
John

Eco-Hamlets UK - Small sustainable neighbourhoods
User avatar
emordnilap
Posts: 14823
Joined: 05 Sep 2007, 16:36
Location: here

Post by emordnilap »

JohnB wrote:Polar bears are only important if they don't affect economic growth.
So they need to be put to work. :twisted: Some kind of bear market?

(I'd ask the wife, but it's not her scene. :wink:)
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
kenneal - lagger
Site Admin
Posts: 14287
Joined: 20 Sep 2006, 02:35
Location: Newbury, Berkshire
Contact:

Post by kenneal - lagger »

emordnilap wrote:........but we're just a very tiny bunch lentil-wearing hippies..
I know I'm a messy eater but ....... "wearing" is a bit strong, isn't it?
Action is the antidote to despair - Joan Baez
Tarrel
Posts: 2466
Joined: 29 Nov 2011, 22:32
Location: Ross-shire, Scotland
Contact:

Post by Tarrel »

Last time I wore lentils was as an accompaniment to diced carrot after a somewhat ill-judged Saturday night out.
Engage in geo-engineering. Plant a tree today.
kenneal - lagger
Site Admin
Posts: 14287
Joined: 20 Sep 2006, 02:35
Location: Newbury, Berkshire
Contact:

Post by kenneal - lagger »

Tarrel wrote:Last time I wore lentils was as an accompaniment to diced carrot after a somewhat ill-judged Saturday night out.
Too much information!! :shock:
Action is the antidote to despair - Joan Baez
Post Reply