Great point to be made here.
It’s obvious to the scientific community that too little is being done to mitigate global warming, but policy-makers, at least in the U.S., don’t have the political will behind them to support forceful and effective action.
Moreover, the disinformation campaigns spewing forth from the fossil industry make this even tougher.
Hawaii has said goodbye to coal, and will be doing its best to phase out oil, as an increasingly rich mix of renewables comes on line.
From Governor David Ige: “This week Hawaii is receiving its final shipment of coal,” said in a statement. “This is a huge step forward in Hawaii’s transition to clean energy. In its time, coal was an important resource for Hawaii and I’d like to thank the workers who have run our last remaining coal plant.”
It seems to me that this is the proper way to think of fossil fuels in general. In their day, they made enormous contributions to all humankind. There is no reason to revile the coal industry; it’s simply time for it to step aside.
Interesting. Comments here include:
This quote from ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras translates as “Educate the boys so you don’t have to punish the men.”
There is no doubt that poor education leads to poverty and to crime. Unfortunately, our society doesn’t see this as a worthwhile investment.
Here’s a question on the same subject based on what’s below: Do we have anything to learn from the greatest minds that have gone before us? 
We all need to expect the first assertion (about health) to be cause for controversy for a very long time, if the issue is ever resolved at all. At best, studies like these are retrospective, meaning that they look back on people who eat mainly beef or plant-based meat, and compare various aspects of their health. The problem is that these cohorts could have predispositions to better or worse heath: other morbidities, smoking, exercise, food supplements, etc.
The second assertion is completely noncontroversial. Fewer acres of rainforest destroyed, fewer cows producing methane and waste, less water and feed consumed, are all good things.
From a reader:
What I can’t understand is this, supported by about every climate scientist on the globe: If the U.S. stopped producing 100% of all CO2, it would change global temperature by year 2100 a negligible amount (-.246°F) according to Forbes. Why are we doing all the green revisions for this? Our money can be better applied elsewhere where it would really change the lives of people short term and long term. (more…)
The meme at left is just silliness. I suppose if you want a plant-based opiate, or booze, or whatever, then fine.
Most people want things like plant-based meat, i.e., nutritious foods that taste like beef, that don’t come from cows.
Tons of other people have health-related dietary restrictions. e.g., men with prostate cancer who can’t eat eggs. Plant-based eggs substitutes like Just Egg (pictured) have textures and flavors that are very close to real chickens’ eggs.
A reader comments: (Liz Cheney) hated Trump before ever sitting on the committee, that’s why Pelosi appointed her. Unfortunately, there are 75 million who know Trump took this country in a better direction, regardless of her feelings about him.
I have no data to support or refute your claim about Cheney’s position going in.
In any case, it appears that your “75 million” figure has been significantly reduced since the 2020 election and Trump’s (criminal) reaction to it. It’s clear to the vast majority of Americans that Trump tried, vigorously and illegally, to overturn the results of the election.
We’ve seen it; we don’t like it, at all.
Here’s a comedic video that addresses the dysfunctionality of the U.S. lawmaking processes.
It’s more like something that would be funny if it weren’t so tragic. We’re asking politicians to get money out of politics. It’s like asking alligators to become vegetarians.
Here’s another good statement on science and the limits of our understanding.
Whatever the proportion of known to unknown may be, one thing is certain: it’s always improving.
A new 
