Climate crisis

^ Related;

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/19/chris-packham-autism-death-threats-save-planet-attenborough

The book this is loosely based on and now a movie is worth a read, the author Andreas Malm featured in the C4 documentary

Is it just me or is the public discussion on EVs increasingly simplistic and based around the idea that as long as we replace ICE cars with EVs it's job done? I'm sure there used to be at least a bit more nuance in the debate.

I genuinely do not know anyone who can afford an EV including myself so there is that. At the end of the day its just car addiction and consumerism.

Of course the majority will think buying EV means their job is done when it comes to climate crisis.

The best car for the environment is the one you currently have.

That isn’t true.

If you plan on driving for more than the next 4 years, almost every electric car on the market will end up being a net positive.

For greenhouse gas emissions, other environmental impacts and social impact it's less clear cut

I'm not convinced the energy and pollution required to mine and make batteries, manufacture a big heavy car, and ship it, to be then powered by non green electricity will be a saving.

Maybe a tiny little Leaf etc charged at home on a green tarrif.

Especially if you
Look after it.
Use it sparingly and frugally
Make it available to others.
Share lifts.
I’ve managed with a low mileage hatchback for 10 years that does 60+ mpg and about 1500 miles a year. I’m not about to spend any money in a new car. I’m just going to drive even less if I can.

and about 1500 miles a year.

A thinking government could incentivise (or even run) fleets of pool EV cars/vans for public use and take many city cars off the streets.

Yes, and we should go even further and rethink whether it is desirable to model our future behaviour on how we've behaved over the past 100 years. There are many more negatives in building our lives around cars than just emissions at the tail pipe.

^ this. I've reduced my daily "range" considerably but the world isn't setup to allow for the majority to do that.

The things required are vote losers. End free and cheap storage for private vehicles in public spaces. Ban private vehicles from all town and city centres. Enforce speed limits and make roads safe to walk on again, allowing kids to get to school and people to walk to the shops. Require public transport and pedestrian infra in nall new developlments. The english motorist thinks these things remove his freedom.

Subsidised car pools are a great idea. Have seen designed-in zip car storage in some new developments. Rare though.

powered by non green electricity

I noticed a couple of weeks ago at Exeter services that the charging points were being powered by a diesel generator (bio-diesel admittedly). Apparently the infrastructure isn't there yet to power them via the grid.

So far as I've seen it's always been "electric cars are great and will save us all".

Very little mention that they are still really polluting and all the other problems they bring.

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/16882867/

increasingly simplistic

As others have pointed out the embodied carbon vs operational carbon section wasn't included in the EV owners bible. I get shit for owning an early 90's car that gets used once a month by people who spend every moment they can enjoying their new found lifestyle.

That said, i sat outside a cafe on a junction in central recently that was mainly used by black cabs and the difference between a diesel cab waiting at the lights vs an electric one was fairly startling. EV's are not the solution to sustainable transportation but i think they are having some positive impacts on a smaller localised scale.

Ah yes, those electric cabs with the 1.5L engine

They only do about 30mpg too.

For real? Ah man dreams shattered

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/09/29/climate/new-orleans-saltwater-map.html

Low rain fall and increased sea levels have led to a backwash of sea water flowing up the Mississippi towards New Orleans, estimated to arrive on 28 October. The increased salinity could make the city’s water undrinkable, and damage pipes.

New Orleans and New York are battling it out to be the first major American city to collapse due to climate change.

https://theintercept.com/2023/10/29/william-nordhaus-climate-economics/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/09/2023-record-world-hottest-climate-fossil-fuel?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.jonathonporritt.com/mainstream-climate-science-the-new-denialism/

it seems quite a few have been clicking on that link...

basic summary from twitter

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