On the total failure of COP26 and the inevitability of the collapse of western civilisation.

[UndercoverElephant]

I have just published a 4000 word essay on my website (https://www.geoffdann.co.uk/on-collapse/).

The title is "On the total failure of COP26, the inevitability of the collapse of western civilisation, and why uncompromising realism offers the only viable path towards a saner, sustainable world." In the introductory section of my forthcoming book on foraging I make clear that I believe collapse is inevitable, but there was no space for a 4000 word explanation of why I believe that. Therefore I've decided to fully come out of the closet as a full-blown collapsist, not just as an anonymous person online, but as my professional self (writer and foraging teacher).

None of it is news to people here, but I thought it would be worth posting it here in the hope I'll get some suggestions on how to improve it. And obviously please tell me if there's anything wrong, confusing or missing. Please do feel free to comment there as well as here. It is intended to provoke discussion. I want the debate to move on.

[Mark]

Interesting read.....

Not sure I can add too much - maybe a point about fossil fuel lobbying at COP26 ?

COP26: Fossil fuel industry has largest delegation at climate summit:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59199484

[UndercoverElephant]

Interesting read.....

Not sure I can add too much - maybe a point about fossil fuel lobbying at COP26 ?

COP26: Fossil fuel industry has largest delegation at climate summit:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59199484

I'm not convinced their presence made much difference to the outcome. The Australian government doesn't want to stop the mining of its coal reserves, and the Chinese and Indian governments don't want to stop buying and burning that coal. The fossil fuel industry doesn't have much work to do in making sure that business continues. If the political will existed to stop it, then it could be stopped.

[BritDownUnder]

I could sum it up as the developing world wants to burn 'its share' of fossil fuels to get to the same level of development as developed western countries even if this involves the destruction of the whole world.

On a side note I am sure Australia would not mine coal if no-one bought it (except small pieces for politicians to wave at each other during parliamentary debates).

[UndercoverElephant]

I could sum it up as the developing world wants to burn 'its share' of fossil fuels to get to the same level of development as developed western countries even if this involves the destruction of the whole world.

Exactly. But the western world can't "pay for its historic share". It isn't an option. Therefore we're f***ed, because the politics is impossible. This has been exactly the situation since the 1980s.

On a side note I am sure Australia would not mine coal if no-one bought it (except small pieces for politicians to wave at each other during parliamentary debates).

Of course Australia wouldn't mine coal if there was no market for it. But we all know perfectly well that there will always be a market for it.

[Mark]

Not sure I can add too much - maybe a point about fossil fuel lobbying at COP26 ?

I'm not convinced their presence made much difference to the outcome.

Me neither, but the WHO didn't get serious about stopping tobacco until all the lobbyists for the industry were banned from their meetings.
We can't immediately stop all fossil fuels, but their lobbyists should at least be shut out of the talks.

[kenneal - lagger]

Big business and the fossil fuel industry are pushing expensive national electricity grids in developing countries as they can supply fossil fueled power plants to supply the power. The west should be paying for these countries to install decentralised power systems such as PV, wind and micro hydro which can get a basic supply quickly and cheaply to large areas.