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Why ecosystem collapses may occur much sooner than expected (phys.org)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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an ecosystem predicted to collapse in the 2090s owing to the creeping rise of a single source of stress, such as global temperatures, could, in a worst-case scenario, collapse in the 2030s once we factor in other issues like extreme rainfall, pollution, or a sudden spike in natural resource use.

There is no way to restore collapsed ecosystems within any reasonable timeframe. There are no ecological bailouts. In the financial vernacular, we will just have to take the hit.

Paper

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

I’m starting to see car abusers as a serious fucking problem. Burning dinosaur juice just for going somewhere for your own aims? I have never seen so many selfish people that don’t give a fuck. You’re going to kill us all.

It’s not full ecosystem collapse that’s going to kill us. I bet about 20% of the way there life will become untenable. There is no way that it’s not exponential progress. It will hit us like lightning.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Everybody focuses on cars and completely ignores everything else fossil fuels are used for and everything that's being done to stop alternatives from replacing them. Those in charge are trying to shift the blame onto powerless non-rich people like you, and you're letting them get away with it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Yup. Most plastics are made from the waste product of fuel production. It is the combination of burning and plastic trash that is causing the acceleration. It is fuel to make and transport goods, and the plastics to protect those goods in transit, that are collapsing our environment.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

And there, too, alternatives are being blocked. When's the last time you heard of a solar-powered cargo ship or freight train? Where are all the bioplastics?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

...or for that matter, when is the first time? Cuz... I haven't.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

pretty sure both of those are energy density issues that need to be solved rather than suppression specifically

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Oil doesn’t come from dinosaurs. Just sayin..

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

The more accurate description perhaps paints the problem better - millions of years of fossilized sunlight. How do you begin to reverse that, and quickly? You don't.