Hello From The Year 2050

[Toodles McGinty]

Just read an interesting article from Time Magazine: 'Hello From The Year 2050'.

It imagines how the world handles climate change, and the effects of heating on the planet. It doesn't really offer solutions, I suppose mainly because the tech now probably won't be the tech then.

The billion or so climate change refugees should upset quite a few, but it puts Brexit and our current pandemic into perspective. I say 'current' as there's worst to come. As I was discussing with a friend recently, God only knows what ancient diseases with emerge from melting ice millennia old.

It's a year old, so the Trump predictions are a bit hit and miss. But still a good read.

My extended family has been recently seriously considering a move either to Europe or an independent Scotland. Seems grabbing a patch of the Highlands might be a good idea. The midges will be down here soon enough anyway.

[sandGroundZero]

Given the horrendous possibilities, I fear

1. that self-appointed individuals with the resources will opt for biotechnology solutions other than tackling CO² equivalent GHGs directly. Imagine assorted insidious means of limiting human reproductive capacity — willy-nilly!
   Far worse than preempting projected peak human population circa 2080, reduce the population by 50% (or more!) and the problem becomes manageable without curtailing the excesses of the rich.
   Or …
2. new (and/or very old) diseases do emerge. The sophisticated, wealthy 'first world ' might be eliminated in favour of the most fecund on account of their high rate of reproduction. Darwinian 'fitness' could come to the fore, big time, by mid-century.

[Hamble]

I bet borders will be closed and they still won't have invented an umbrella
that does not blow inside out in the wind.

[Toodles McGinty]

Given the horrendous possibilities, I fear

1. that self-appointed individuals with the resources will opt for biotechnology solutions other than tackling CO² equivalent GHGs directly. Imagine assorted insidious means of limiting human reproductive capacity — willy-nilly!
   Far worse than preempting projected peak human population circa 2080, reduce the population by 50% (or more!) and the problem becomes manageable without curtailing the excesses of the rich.
   Or …
2. new (and/or very old) diseases do emerge. The sophisticated, wealthy 'first world ' might be eliminated in favour of the most fecund on account of their high rate of reproduction. Darwinian 'fitness' could come to the fore, big time, by mid-century.

Probably a combination of both, I'd reckon. I don't think we can build anything to 'scrub' the air. Not in any meaningful way. We'll have to utilise a biological defence.

As for the population, I think the climate itself may take care of that. If a billion or so people have to migrate, reproduction might not be the most urgent issue, initially. There will surely be an increase in the death rate, both from the migration and less land to actually use for agriculture and living. High density urban centres will probably encourage those diseases. I think we've a few emerging now that we considered long gone. TB for one.

With world leaders who actually still deny climate change, say in the case of virtually the entire West coast of the USA ablaze, vast swathes of the Amazon jungle disappearing, I think we've passed the tipping point.

Taking the USA back into the Paris accord might be a start. Not sure it will be enough, though.

[Toodles McGinty]

I bet borders will be closed and they still won't have invented an umbrella
that does not blow inside out in the wind.

They've not invented one that can cope with the sea breezes here yet. No idea where the top of mine got to, a few weeks ago.

If the predictions are accurate, I don't think borders will matter that much to a billion refugees. I doubt we could stop that any more than we can hold back the seas.

[said]

Just read an interesting article from Time Magazine: 'Hello From The Year 2050'.

It imagines how the world handles climate change, and the effects of heating on the planet. It doesn't really offer solutions, I suppose mainly because the tech now probably won't be the tech then.

The billion or so climate change refugees should upset quite a few, but it puts Brexit and our current pandemic into perspective. I say 'current' as there's worst to come. As I was discussing with a friend recently, God only knows what ancient diseases with emerge from melting ice millennia old.

It's a year old, so the Trump predictions are a bit hit and miss. But still a good read.

My extended family has been recently seriously considering a move either to Europe or an independent Scotland. Seems grabbing a patch of the Highlands might be a good idea. The midges will be down here soon enough anyway.

You would have to decide which independent Scottish area you would want to move to - I believe that the Shetland Isles are also looking for independence. Once Scotland becomes independent it will lose the financial support of England - Scotland is already in great debt.

[said]

Probably a combination of both, I'd reckon. I don't think we can build anything to 'scrub' the air. Not in any meaningful way. We'll have to utilise a biological defence.

As for the population, I think the climate itself may take care of that. If a billion or so people have to migrate, reproduction might not be the most urgent issue, initially. There will surely be an increase in the death rate, both from the migration and less land to actually use for agriculture and living. High density urban centres will probably encourage those diseases. I think we've a few emerging now that we considered long gone. TB for one.

With world leaders who actually still deny climate change, say in the case of virtually the entire West coast of the USA ablaze, vast swathes of the Amazon jungle disappearing, I think we've passed the tipping point.

Taking the USA back into the Paris accord might be a start. Not sure it will be enough, though.

The only downfall of this planet will be by the disease of human greed. Everyone has the resources to survive without having to rely on others to do it for them.

Nature is the greatest power on Earth - nothing man could ever do will stop, nor change that which occurs naturally. Or as others would put it - by God's will.

Technology is moving fast. By 2050, medical operations will be carried out by robots. Robots will be building houses, machines, etc., Motor vehicles will no longer run on petro chemicals, nor even batteries - they could run on hydrogen or similar. People will have to change, become more self sufficient, learn how to create and develop their own needs.

The fewer restrictions placed on the human race - the happier they will be.

[Toodles McGinty]

The only downfall of this planet will be by the disease of human greed. Everyone has the resources to survive without having to rely on others to do it for them.

No, they don't.

How do you survive in a city without money, resources? How would a single parent with a couple of kids in a tower block survive? How would a disabled person survive without relying on others?

In fact, how does anyone, without at least 3 acres of land, and the wherewithal and resources to grow food, keep animals, develop medicines, build shelter, defend themselves and educate themselves, survive?

Police themselves, which I find is essential to protect the vulnerable (and importantly, children) from those who would prey on them?

It's called society for a reason. We need others to survive.

[sandGroundZero]

Photograph: Robert Franklin/AP [ex: Guardian]

Unless we contain carbon, our food supply will be under threat.
By 2050, US corn yields could decline by 30%

…apropos of this thread

[Toodles McGinty]

Photograph: Robert Franklin/AP [ex: Guardian]

Unless we contain carbon, our food supply will be under threat.
By 2050, US corn yields could decline by 30%

…apropos of this thread

Some good points made in that article. The page I linked to mentioned the change in temperature as the driving force behind the problems, but I felt it skimmed over extreme weather.

We're witnessing an increase in weather changes, even in this country. The most obvious being 'once in a lifetime' floods that recur with alarming frequency. Earlier springs causing insects to wake / develop before the food is there to sustain them.

Even in my own little patch, I notice things such as fewer bees, butterflies and other insects. This year I've found myself wondering where the big hairy spiders are that always live on my laundry airer, or spin webs across the path to the shed. At once relieved they aren't there, then instantly concerned at that too.

It's happening, but apart from a bit of recycling, I don't know what we, individually, can achieve.

[sandGroundZero]

It's happening, but apart from a bit of recycling, I don't know what we, individually, can achieve. — post #10

Read George Monbiot's comment in today's Guardian:

Extinction Rebellion is showing Britain what real democracy could look like

[Toodles McGinty]

Read George Monbiot's comment in today's Guardian:

Extinction Rebellion is showing Britain what real democracy could look like

Another good article. I'm not sure I agree with all XR's methods, but as Monbiot says, people didn't agree with the Suffragettes either. Some dinosaurs still don't...

He's correct of course, not all XR's protests are directed at the environment It's a protest movement. I feel that in the next few years, more and more protesters will take to the streets. I think if it wasn't for the pandemic, some would already have started.

We might not live in enlightened times, in fact it might be the start of a terrible time in the history of this country and the whole world. But it's certainly interesting.

[said]

Read George Monbiot's comment in today's Guardian:

Extinction Rebellion is showing Britain what real democracy could look like

Since when has wholesale fascism been described as democratic?

[Nick2]

I bet borders will be closed and they still won't have invented an umbrella
that does not blow inside out in the wind.

https://patch.com/us/dealtown/we-fou...low-inside-out.

[Toodles McGinty]

Since when has wholesale fascism been described as democratic?

2019.