Linville, super volcanoes and massive meteor strikes are two things that have caused relatively fast climate change in the past. Most other climate events happen over thousands of years not 100. Increasing forest fires are the result of climate change, not the cause of it. It certainly is contributing to excess carbon though. Climate change is also melting frozen tundra, which in turn releases vast amounts of methane. Climate change causes more climate change. The super volcano in Yellowstone is something that scientists are keeping an eye on and it could blow in 10 years or 10,000 years. At that point the argument is over and there are no jobs on a dead planet.
Fusion energy has yet to be recreated in the lab on any level that would be useful and it can't be "deployed" today. MIT researchers claim they will have a power grid ready system in 15 years, but I'm not holding my breath. Fusion is the holy grail of clean energy. If we move to cleaner alternatives, I see fossil fuels as a bridge and part of a comprehensive plan, except for coal. The only thing clean about clean coal is the word clean. You can't fly airplanes or move heavy equipment with electricity. Fossil fuels are not going to collapse overnight. ANY energy sector requires people and jobs. It's quite a stretch to link clean air and water to crashing financial markets, riots, wars and mass starvation. The DOD issued a report warning of these same issues and the risk of national security due to climate change. The issues with France are an exception IMO especially considering that it's get 75% of it's energy from nuclear power. No one said it's going to be easy.
A comprehensive plan is needed and all options, except coal, should be considered. The Green Energy New Deal, being put forth is a start and something to be debated. Fossil fuel and conservatives will mock and deride it, but at least they're not sticking their heads in the sand. Reports coming from the Poland summit are that the US delegation are literally being laughed at, while they try to sell coal to the rest of the world. They are not their to debate, negotiate or offer any real solutions. They are like carnival barkers or used car sales people. How's that for inspired leadership! No offense to carnival barkers or used car sales people!! They are legitimate jobs.
Options should include renewable's, fossil as a bridge, fusion IF it comes to fruition and possibly the next generation of nuclear power. I'm well aware of the pesky unintended consequences of nuclear. Ten years ago a company named General Atomics, which a family member of mine works at, had a plan to use spent fuel rods for energy generation. The storage of these rods are a huge problem because only 5% of the uranium is used in the fission process. Now ten years later the idea has matured and you can judge for yourself with the Netflix doc The Nuclear Option or an article on Nat Geo. A company named Transatomic Power is developing a new type of compact, low-cost, safer molten salt nuclear reactor that can use nuclear waste as a fuel source. Btw, France get 15% of it's power from recycled nuclear waste. This would solve two problems, the inherent risk of radioactive spent fuel rods and cleaner energy. Fusion and new fission are big ifs and we'll see if these ideas ever materialize.
Now if you have any better ideas, please send them to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington DC, because they have none.
Fusion energy has yet to be recreated in the lab on any level that would be useful and it can't be "deployed" today. MIT researchers claim they will have a power grid ready system in 15 years, but I'm not holding my breath. Fusion is the holy grail of clean energy. If we move to cleaner alternatives, I see fossil fuels as a bridge and part of a comprehensive plan, except for coal. The only thing clean about clean coal is the word clean. You can't fly airplanes or move heavy equipment with electricity. Fossil fuels are not going to collapse overnight. ANY energy sector requires people and jobs. It's quite a stretch to link clean air and water to crashing financial markets, riots, wars and mass starvation. The DOD issued a report warning of these same issues and the risk of national security due to climate change. The issues with France are an exception IMO especially considering that it's get 75% of it's energy from nuclear power. No one said it's going to be easy.
A comprehensive plan is needed and all options, except coal, should be considered. The Green Energy New Deal, being put forth is a start and something to be debated. Fossil fuel and conservatives will mock and deride it, but at least they're not sticking their heads in the sand. Reports coming from the Poland summit are that the US delegation are literally being laughed at, while they try to sell coal to the rest of the world. They are not their to debate, negotiate or offer any real solutions. They are like carnival barkers or used car sales people. How's that for inspired leadership! No offense to carnival barkers or used car sales people!! They are legitimate jobs.
Options should include renewable's, fossil as a bridge, fusion IF it comes to fruition and possibly the next generation of nuclear power. I'm well aware of the pesky unintended consequences of nuclear. Ten years ago a company named General Atomics, which a family member of mine works at, had a plan to use spent fuel rods for energy generation. The storage of these rods are a huge problem because only 5% of the uranium is used in the fission process. Now ten years later the idea has matured and you can judge for yourself with the Netflix doc The Nuclear Option or an article on Nat Geo. A company named Transatomic Power is developing a new type of compact, low-cost, safer molten salt nuclear reactor that can use nuclear waste as a fuel source. Btw, France get 15% of it's power from recycled nuclear waste. This would solve two problems, the inherent risk of radioactive spent fuel rods and cleaner energy. Fusion and new fission are big ifs and we'll see if these ideas ever materialize.
Now if you have any better ideas, please send them to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington DC, because they have none.