Author Topic: Addressing climate change  (Read 10060 times)

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Offline BC_cheque

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #345 on: September 03, 2021, 04:41:40 pm »
Wind and solar will never be profitable in Canada. Nor reliable. We either build nuclear power stations or give up.

What??

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #346 on: September 03, 2021, 06:26:48 pm »
What??

Canada will never be able to rely on solar because there isn't enough sun in the winter.  Wind i'm not sure but it also isn't reliable on its own (sometimes its not windy, and it gets much less windy at night), and would need a steady supporting energy source to supply a baseload.  Hydro and nuclear would be the only ones that don't emit GHG that I can think of, maybe geothermal too.

For me the environmental risk of more GHG is much higher than that of nuclear so countries should consider it.  Spent uranium could be buried a long way under the ground.  Biggest worry is probably the risk of potential reactor malfunction or terrorism, but there's tons of nuclear plants out there including 6 in Canada without problems.

Then again I'm no expert whatsoever.  We should hand these problems to scientists and engineers instead of making it so political because the PR of doing things that are unpopular aren't always the correct decisions because most people, including myself, generally have no expertise on any of this.  The average person's abaility to even educate themselves is very difficult because most of the sources of info on energy are from oil companies, renewable energy companies, or environmental activists.  In other words, everyone has a conflict of interest.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley
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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #347 on: September 03, 2021, 09:13:53 pm »
Revenue neutral, Graham

Offline eyeball

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #348 on: September 03, 2021, 11:28:47 pm »
Revenue neutral, Graham
Some nuclear plants being designed burn spent nuclear fuel while operating much more safely than the old reactors. Operators might even turn a profit taking nuclear waste off of other countries hands. Given most nuclear waste of this type came from Canadian uranium in the first place there's probably a good ethical case that ties it all together with taking responsibility for leaving a better world behind.
« Last Edit: September 03, 2021, 11:30:24 pm by eyeball »
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Offline Boges

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #349 on: September 08, 2021, 08:21:11 am »
Some nuclear plants being designed burn spent nuclear fuel while operating much more safely than the old reactors. Operators might even turn a profit taking nuclear waste off of other countries hands. Given most nuclear waste of this type came from Canadian uranium in the first place there's probably a good ethical case that ties it all together with taking responsibility for leaving a better world behind.

Nuclear really is the only way out of this Carbon addiction.

How much quality land will have to be sacrificed if we were to only focus on Wind and Solar?
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Offline segnosaur

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #350 on: September 08, 2021, 09:47:39 am »
Oil and gas do not need subsidies to be profitable. Nor does it get much. Most of what the environmental lobby calls 'subsidies' are things like not charging the oil and gas industry for the pollution cars put out.
Even if the direct subsidies (along the lines of "Here's a tax cut to help pay for exploration) to oil and gas are minimal and not needed, that doesn't mean there aren't indirect subsidies.

Fossil fuel usage contributes to global warming, which means things like increased flooding in coastal areas, food production problems, increased numbers of forest fires. (Not saying that these didn't happen before... just that they will become more common.) At this point in time, those using the fossil fuels don't necessarily pay for the costs of dealing with those externalities, so that amounts to a sort of 'back door' subsidy for fossil fuels. (Carbon taxes do address this to a certain degree, but those are relatively new.)
Quote
Wind and solar will never be profitable in Canada. Nor reliable. We either build nuclear power stations or give up.
I agree that expansion of nuclear power would be great benefit in dealing with global warming, and I certainly hope we build new plants (with new technology where appropriate).

About wind/solar: It is true that there will be times when an individual solar or wind installation will be ineffective due to lack of wind or cloudy weather. But the plan is that there will be multiple wind/solar plants in different geographical areas. While one plant may not work, another will be able to cover for it. (No different than a nuclear or fossil fuel plant being down for maintenance.... other generating capacity will be expected to cover for it.)

Now, I don't think wind or solar by themselves will provide all the electricity needs. (I do think nuclear, hydro, etc.) will also need to be a major part of the mix.) But, that doesn't mean they can't be part of the mix, or that they can't be profitable.
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Offline The Cynic

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #351 on: October 18, 2021, 05:34:09 pm »
This guy is almost as cynical as I am, but he puts things pretty clearly in terms of our bombastic political class offering up unrealistic promises for CO2 emission reductions which will never be met and cannot be met.

Progressives are very excited, hoping the promises will be big ones. Already a few countries have gotten out in front with their pledges, eager to demonstrate their prowess at promising. President Joe Biden says the United States will cut its emissions by 50 per cent from 2005 levels within a decade, even if it has to slap windmills along the entire U.S. coastline.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is very good at promising, says Canada will cut emissions by up to 45 per cent by 2030. The Liberals haven’t hit any of their previous targets and aren’t expected to do so this year, but failing to meet past promises never stops them from making new ones.

It’s anyone’s guess what other commitments will be revealed, but you can bet they’ll be offered with great fanfare and an abundance of approval. Chinese President Xi Jinping may not show up in person, but Beijing will no doubt offer its usual assurance that the world’s biggest emitter — i.e., the country Xi runs — is utterly committed to sharply reducing its reliance on fossil fuels by planning and developing a network of alternative energy sources.

After all, as Xi told a global biodiversity conference last week, “When we take care to protect nature, nature rewards us generously; when we exploit nature ruthlessly, it punishes us without mercy.” Well said, well said. Applause everyone, please. Anyone else here got a promise to toss on the pile?



https://nationalpost.com/opinion/kelly-mcparland-world-leaders-ready-big-new-climate-pledges-as-past-failures-leave-people-cold-and-poor

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #352 on: October 18, 2021, 11:41:40 pm »
Politicians need to stop making targets, they rarely hit them.  Just do the best to reduce emissions.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley

Offline eyeball

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Re: Addressing climate change
« Reply #353 on: October 19, 2021, 12:59:32 am »
Politicians need to stop making targets, they rarely hit them.  Just do the best to reduce emissions.
So promise less and deliver more?

Good luck.