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Yesterday, we organized an Emergency Climate Reddit AMA (AMA is short for Ask Me Anything) with some of the movers and shakers of the climate movement. Spurred by the news that the western slopes of the Antarctic may be on track to melt away forever, we wanted to create some dialogue around the latest climate situation (How bad is it? What can we do?, what color socks are you wearing?, etc.). Check out the highlights of what our cast of experts had to say below!
Photo by Steve Liptay, Rolling Stone
Highlights from Bill McKibben's Reddit answers
Is climate change at all reversible? (question by Frajer)It's not 'reversible,' and we've bought a lot of trouble. but we can keep it from getting worse than it has to. we're headed for at least 2 C at the moment, which will suck (1 degree has melted the Arctic, etc etc). But current trajectories, unless we get off coal and gas and oil very fast, take us to 4-6 degrees, which is impossible.How do you see the balance between adaptation and mitigation efforts? (question by am0z256)we've already caused some damage, so one has to adapt. but if we don't stop burning coal and gas and oil, the damage is going to pass the adaptable point. here's the mantra: adapt to that which you can't prevent, prevent that to which you can't adaptHow come the climate movement doesn't go all out, calling on people to go vegan? (sparked by theavocadojones)think it's because some of us think the best way to change ag/diets is actually by ending the era of cheap fossil fuel, which is what the cheap meat industry runs on. i don't think we're actually going to get there one vegan at a time, but the meatpackers of the world are very vulnerable to a real cost of carbonOn Creating Change (sparked by deepdowntherabbit)we need a big honking movement. that's how things change. come to new york in Sept http://act.350.org/signup/readytomarchDo you believe supporting a 3rd party candidate, like a Green Party candidate, for Congress person is a valuable use of one's time? (question by djb85511)i think most of it should go into movement building instead. if we change the zeitgeist, then we change the politicians; i don't think it works the other way aroundConsidering that most of science's theories throughout time eventually get changed or dis-proven, what do you think people will think of this climate craze in 400 years?great argument. in fact, i'm having a hard time typing because my macbook just floated away now that gravity turned out to be a passing fadOn the Internet (sparked by Unidan)i think the net is the wild card we've got. you could imagine a far more local (and efficient) economic world, but without the parochialism that used to imply. because we'd all be on reddit from our cool hometowns! sipping microbrews!Can we (the US) get to 100% renewable energy by 2050 or will we still need to rely heavily on nuclear and natural gas as transition fuels? (question by ClimateRealitySTL)last sunday germany was at 74% from renewables. given that germany has, in comparison to the US, no sun, i say it should be doable!On Getting to NYC in September (editor's note: world leaders are gathering for a historical climate summit in NYC Sep 20-21, so the US climate movement is gathering for a historic mobilization)please [come]. it's going to be the next great moment in the climate movement. we don't come together as one very often, but this time we need to. and new york in the autumn is often pretty nice! http://act.350.org/signup/readytomarch
Highlights from Rebecca Anderson, Climate Scientist for the Alliance for Climate Education
On Mitigation vs. Adaption (sparked by am0z256)When you can't rebuild in the same spot along the coast after your house was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, that's adaptation. But I don't agree with those who argue that it's more cost-effective to only adapt to climate change and forget about doing anything to stop it. That is a dark, dark road to go down.Do you think that keeping the temperature increase under 2° C is realistic at this point in time? (question by twinkling_star)The window of opportunity is getting smaller and smaller, it's true. It may well be that by the time we build the political will to act, the emissions reductions will have to be incredibly drastic to limit warming to 2ºC. But there is still a window of opportunity for action.Will coastal cities still be livable in 10, 20, 30 years? (question by edbles)It depends what cities you're talking about! The worst-off cities aren't in the U.S., they're in China and Southeast Asia. Here's the list of cities that are expected to suffer the most damage as a percentage of their GDP by 2050: 1) Guangzhou, China 2) New Orleans, United States 3) Guayaquil, Ecuador 4) Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 5) Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire 6) Zhanjing, China 7) Mumbai, India 8) Khulna, Bangladesh 9) Palembang, Indonesia 10) Shenzen, China.Here's also a cool interactive map from Climate Central where you can look at the impacts of sea level rise on U.S. cities: http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/How do you deal with all the depressing news? (sparked by deepdowntherabbit )I work with young people. I know it might sound cheesy, but for real, that keeps my spirits up. There are so many examples of young people leading the fight for more sustainable schools and communities. Here's my favorite recent example - students in Reno, NV banning car and bus idling outside their school.
Highlights from Eric Holthaus, Meteorologist for Slate
Is it too late to stop climate change? Are we in the "run-away" phase yet? (question by bluesthrowaway)My scientific conclusion: It's never too late, and it could always get worse. In other words, we still have the ability to change the trajectory we're on and reduce the worst case scenarios.On Connecting Extreme Weather Events to Climate Change (sparked by ClimateofOne) As a scientist who frequently talks about the link between climate change and extreme weather, the reason I do it is because a lot of the most severe impacts of climate change are felt in the extremes—at the tails of the distribution, so to speak. For example, in Hurricane Sandy, the extra foot-or-so of flooding from sea level rise meant an estimated 80,000 additional people were flooded (http://mashable.com/2014/05/20/antarctia-collapse-ice-sheet-how-worried/) and increased monetary losses by 30% (around $8 billion) http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/may/08/lloyds-insurer-account-climate-change-extreme-weather-lossesOn the Antarctic Timetable"With this week's announcement of the melting glaciers in Antarctica, I can see how it might come across as happening relatively soon. The truth is, we don't know how long it will take, but it almost certainly won't happen in the next 10-30 years. The timescale offered by scientists was 200-1000 years, though they didn't explore the worst case scenario of it happening before that. We've had other parts of the climate system change much faster than we've expected (Arctic sea ice, for example), and some relatively slower (global temperatures). What we do know, is that once the West Antarctic glaciers enter full-on collapse mode, it may only take a few decades for sea levels to rise 5-10 feet. But we don't know when exactly that might be.Shameless plug: here's what cities across the USA might look like when that happens.
Who is (or should be) the face of the [climate] community. (question by also_onfire)The face of any successful social movement is that of the people on the front lines-- those who have the most to lose. I think that's starting to be true here, as we see leaders from frontline communities emerge to take more central roles --in refinery towns, in places where oil has spilled and where the mountains are being blown up. I also think that, as climate change progresses, we will increasingly feel like we're all somewhere on those front lines, and if we play our cards right, that could work to bring all those groups you mentioned together.How do you move people to action (the wonky/apocalyptic reports aren’t working)? (sparked by jsantanna)This is kinda my favorite subject: changing the narrative around climate change. Part of the answer, I think, is storytelling. You're right about wonky science reports-- fear doesn't lead to action (mostly, despair and/or apathy), and statistics only move people to a certain degree. We need stories of what solutions look like, sound like, might feel like. We need good characters. We need to make it easy to conceptualize. That's only part of the answer, obviously, but I think it's important. It's also why I' so psyched about groups like Bold Nebraska, who are really changing the story around the KXL pipeline and showing that it's not just crazy hippies that want to protect land and water from fossil fuels--it's average, midwestern Americans who cross political divides and appeal to what's universal in us.For the climate movement to be successful, do you think we need to develop a new economic system that is not dependent on ever growing consumption? (question by hightower22)Personally, yes, and that's part of a broader cultural shift. But that's not a great message to inspire people. When Jimmy Carter told people to turn down the thermostat and put on a sweater, people were not psyched. I think the story's more about alternatives, and about stimulating local, sustainable economies rather than reducing consumption.WhatColorSocks - What color socks are you wearing?Global warming = too hot. No socks. Sandals!
Highlights from Nathanael Greene, Director of Renewables, NRDC
How do get get a national policy that forces the states to act? (sparked by eternallurker)One solution you may find interesting... NRDC has a proposal for how EPA should use the clean air act to regulate CO2 that allows states to propose state implementation plans. This authorizes EPA to assess and approve state specific climate plans and then take enforcement action if a state is not complying. The CAA isn't perfect, but it has worked reasonably well and saved countless lives from a broad range of air pollution related diseases. As part of the state implemenation plans, states could use renewables through policies such as renewable energy standards and net metering to meet their CO2 limits.I should also add that the EPA will be introducing a draft standard on carbon pollution from existing power plants on June 2nd, so coming right up.What gives you hope? (question by 350pensacola)I get hope from how fast the cost of renewables is coming down. The lower the costs on all of this technology, the faster we can afford (politically and economically) to go. And of course, we need to be moving fast. The climate surely isn't waiting.Also, my kids give me a lot of hope.
Highlights from Fossil Free Stanford Leaders - including Mikaela Osler, Michael Peñuelas, Graham Provost, and Sage Behr
Editor's Note: Stanford recently divested its $18 billion endowment from coal stocks.
Do you think divesting (in Stanford's case, from coal) is more of a symbolic gesture? Stanford's choice to divest from coal was symbolic because our investments alone cannot impact the share prices of coal companies, but it shows that we believe that it is wrong to profit from climate change. --Mikaela OslerWhat do you think actually needs to happen before the world will appropriately start the battle against climate change? (question by deepdowntherabbit)I think that the battle has already begun, and it is going to grow. When I talk to people my age, who have grown up in the context of climate change, I am always awed by how many people are supportive of what we're doing, and how many are committed to seeing the world change. --Mikaela OslerWhat can be done to educate people in an easy to understand, yet scientific way?Putting climate change into a framework of justice is a helpful tool for education. We don't need to operate under fear, but we do need to accept responsibility to our neighbors on the planet. --Sage BehrOn Getting More Churches On Board. (sparked by ClimateRealitySTL)A ton of religious institutions in the US and abroad, including plenty of Christian churches, have started divesting from the fossil fuel industry as a mechanism by which to make the statement that they aren't okay with the negative social effects of climate change. This rings true with a lot of the social justice teachings of Christian doctrine. Try heading to the GoFossilFree webpage and click on the "Commitments" tab. If you then scroll to the Religious Institutions section you'll see where tons of churches of different denominations have declared their divestments, including Anglican, United Church of Christ, Evangelical Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterians, and others. - Michael PeñuelasShould I learn how to sail? (question by PanaLucho) Doesn't hurt. --Mikaela Osler(at which point Bill chipped in and was like "check it out: sending food by sail barge is a thing again."
Highlights from Kim Knowlton, NRDC Health/Climate Scientist & NCA Author
How do you see the balance between adaptation and mitigation efforts? (question by am0z256)Adaptation and mitigation at the same time is the ideal. Like a strong marriage – these two belong together, they complement each other. We're seeing the effects of climate change here and now, so preparedness and adaptation to deal with that is a must. But to deal with the effects without getting to its root cause – carbon pollution-- is like treating the symptoms of an illness without getting rid of what's making you sick in the first place. We can make both of these priorities – they deserve to be.On Hope.I'm hopeful when I see how much people - and especially a lot of young people – care about climate change, and want to take action to create healthier, more secure futures. Like them, I care deeply, love, want to protect, the people and places in my life. We've become quite good at modeling temperature and rainfall changes, but there are things we're not yet good at modeling with computers –human spirit, and creativity, and engagement. Those will inform where we go from here. If we can make our decisions informed by solid science, and fueled by the power of human spirit – that gives me hope.
Highlights from Heather Libby, DeSmogBlog Canada
If coffee was unable to be produced ten years from now because of radical climate change, what would you drink instead? (question by YouNeedToStopPosting)...probably my tears.Who gives a shit? (question by Gufgufguf)97% of scientists, the US military, NASA, billions of people in the developing world and (hopefully, eventually) you, too.What are mayors doing to help their towns & cities build resilience for climate change? (question by jkdegraf)It really depends on the mayor, and the vulnerability of a specific region to immediate climate change impacts. I'm from Vancouver and our Mayor Gregor Robertson wants us to be the Greenest City in the World by 2020 (which will be pretty tough to do if an expanded coal port is OK'd, along with a pipeline/tanker terminal). For my part, I love the collaborative, proactive work of ICLEI (http://www.iclei.org/) and the C40 Cities initiative (http://www.c40.org/). There's lots of inspiration there for people who want to push their cities in a more sustainable direction.
That's a wrap for the highlights - but there's a lot more quips, sobering trends, and inspiring stories where these came from. Check out the rest of the Reddit AMA here, and you can see what comments got the most votes here.
Oh, and see you in NYC in September?
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