Can you imagine eliminating and ordinance that requires water breaks for construction workers? How do these people sleep at night? Then again, Abbott has so much he should be loosing sleep over....
Bill McKibben wrote the End Of Nature in 1989 and it changed me. Unfortunately, at the time even my liberal and educated friends thought it was alarmist. Jeffry Hansen at NASA made predictions, mild compared to today's events, and was ridiculed. McKibben thesis and thus the title of the book was that by 1989, humans had altered the balance of gasses that make up the atmosphere. Therefore, nature as we understood it was done, we now live in an era where human influence on our environment had tipped that balance into unknown but dangerous territory. The human population of the earth emitted more CO2 last year than any year previous. We're in a ditch and we keep digging. So I concur, it is the only issue, but the lesser issue is people doing something about it. Thanks for the article, and sorry about the rant, I am just so fed up with it. Glad I'm old but I fret for my children and grandchildren.
My own education goes back to Al Gore’s documentary “Inconvenient Truth.” Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change. But at the time, Gore became a punch line to many. If you cited Gore’s movie as proof of climate change, you were frequently ridiculed. Maybe still so.
Climate change is a global problem. It will take the world working together to solve it or at least limit its effects. It’s not going to work if nations like India, China and Brazil are allowed years before they have to make changes. And it does not help to make a serious case when politicians either dismiss the problem outright or on the other hand want to ban wood fired pizza ovens. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed with facts and reason; and frankly less emotion, if we are to get people to work together.
You are correct, Ken. Climate change is the only issue. Back before he blocked me, I responded to a tweet from Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin expressing my concern about Rensco's lack of response to this crisis. His response? "The planet is fine, Bridget."
So glad you made this point that climate is the only issue that matters. All of our decisions should be based on the environmental impact of the choices we make—without the necessity of long reviews! This is an emergency that we created by 50 years of denial. It is true the northeast has been spared much of the impact so far. People are sheltered here.
I also remember the Gore book and movie. Unfortunately, the environmental tipping point may have been when the monied interests decided he didn’t win the election in 2000. What a different path could have been taken!
Today I talked with a man from northern Germany where the temperature this summer and the last 2 summers hit a record 95 degrees, an unbelievable event for the people who live there. He was not surprisingly deeply concerned. This is a global problem that needs all of our attention.
Can you imagine eliminating and ordinance that requires water breaks for construction workers? How do these people sleep at night? Then again, Abbott has so much he should be loosing sleep over....
It is hard to believe. But I suspect he sleeps just fine. That’s the problem. No moral center.
I’m sure you are right but selfishly I hope not.
Bill McKibben wrote the End Of Nature in 1989 and it changed me. Unfortunately, at the time even my liberal and educated friends thought it was alarmist. Jeffry Hansen at NASA made predictions, mild compared to today's events, and was ridiculed. McKibben thesis and thus the title of the book was that by 1989, humans had altered the balance of gasses that make up the atmosphere. Therefore, nature as we understood it was done, we now live in an era where human influence on our environment had tipped that balance into unknown but dangerous territory. The human population of the earth emitted more CO2 last year than any year previous. We're in a ditch and we keep digging. So I concur, it is the only issue, but the lesser issue is people doing something about it. Thanks for the article, and sorry about the rant, I am just so fed up with it. Glad I'm old but I fret for my children and grandchildren.
My own education goes back to Al Gore’s documentary “Inconvenient Truth.” Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change. But at the time, Gore became a punch line to many. If you cited Gore’s movie as proof of climate change, you were frequently ridiculed. Maybe still so.
We're our own Worst Enemy
Climate change is a global problem. It will take the world working together to solve it or at least limit its effects. It’s not going to work if nations like India, China and Brazil are allowed years before they have to make changes. And it does not help to make a serious case when politicians either dismiss the problem outright or on the other hand want to ban wood fired pizza ovens. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed with facts and reason; and frankly less emotion, if we are to get people to work together.
I Googled the author, and spelling is, Goodell. An interview aired recently on WMAC.
You are correct, Ken. Climate change is the only issue. Back before he blocked me, I responded to a tweet from Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin expressing my concern about Rensco's lack of response to this crisis. His response? "The planet is fine, Bridget."
<b>When people find out I’m retired, they are often curious if I plan on moving to Florida or somewhere south.
The answer is no.
One of the reasons is climate change.</b>
I can go along with that. Another being Florida Men and other assorted Southerners. Bless their hearts.
As bad as upstate NY MAGA Republicans may be I’m sure they don’t hold a candle to the idiocy in that part of the world.
Also, the Times Union had an article that was somewhat reassuring that the Adirondacks would not suffer the fate of Canadian forests. 🙏
I’ve lived in Tenn. so I also have some experience with the south.
I know a couple in Tennessee that are retired school teachers. They’re wonderful people.
So glad you made this point that climate is the only issue that matters. All of our decisions should be based on the environmental impact of the choices we make—without the necessity of long reviews! This is an emergency that we created by 50 years of denial. It is true the northeast has been spared much of the impact so far. People are sheltered here.
I also remember the Gore book and movie. Unfortunately, the environmental tipping point may have been when the monied interests decided he didn’t win the election in 2000. What a different path could have been taken!
Today I talked with a man from northern Germany where the temperature this summer and the last 2 summers hit a record 95 degrees, an unbelievable event for the people who live there. He was not surprisingly deeply concerned. This is a global problem that needs all of our attention.
I totally agree with you. Thanks for another great article!