Climate Change

Started by Whome, Mar 08, 2023, 11:10 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Whome

I recently attended a presentation given by Bryan Leyland, a retired hydro engineer with many years experience in electricity generation in NZ and elsewhere in the world.

His talk centred on the information being used by the NZ government Climate Commission to justify government spending on climate change policies. This is information that has been greatly extrapolated and misused to present unattainable targets that suit current political whims, or required to be achieved within an electoral cycle to influence voters.

Fundamentally, he questioned the approach of listening to the unsubstantiated demands of a pot lid banging crowd vs. the use of scientific data to set realistic future climate change policies.

Despite warnings, the Climate Commission has pushed on, and when questioned they site 'consensus of opinion' rather than any scientific facts to back up their recommendations for future climate change policies. The present goals around electricity generation being formulated into policy are simply not achievable in practice, and ludicrously expensive.

His presentation can be viewed at www.bryanleyland.co.nz
It contains interesting graphs of NZ & global energy sources, use and efficiencies.

My interest stems from involvement in a large composting operation with some limited exposure to consultants working for the Climate Commission. When I was contacted about information for their climate brief, I was surprised at their seemingly preconceived notions, a lack of understanding of scientific principles, an unwillingness to listen to anything that veered from their narrow brief, and a feeling that information was open to interpretation.

So back to the presentation. This is not about climate change denial; it's about being realistic about what changes really are achievable, what actions actually make a difference, and what are realistic timeframes to produce enough electricity to meet the future needs of NZ.

Interestingly, nuclear is one of the options for future electricity generation in NZ - is it safe  - have you ever considered how come the crew of a nuclear submarine don't die from radiation exposure when living in such close confines next to a nuclear reactor on board - could be that small contained sealed plug-in nuclear reactors provide future energy for townships. The development of nuclear power has come a long way since plants like Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island were built 50 - 60 years ago. Something will be needed to charge all those EV's.


arekaywhy

I have seen him speak a few times now.  He is very reasoned and not one of the "virtuous" types.

KW

Quote from: Whome on Mar 08, 2023, 11:10 AMSomething will be needed to charge all those EV's.



You're not thinking far ahead enough.  There will be very few EV's to charge, once 15 minute cities are implemented and 99% of the population is prevented from driving anywhere.  Basically if you can't walk or cycle to it, you won't get to it.  
Don't drink and buy shares in a downtrend, you bloody idiot.

Untamed

Never going to happen in NZ. Ridiculous notion.

Quote from: KW on Mar 09, 2023, 11:00 AMYou're not thinking far ahead enough.  There will be very few EV's to charge, once 15 minute cities are implemented and 99% of the population is prevented from driving anywhere.  Basically if you can't walk or cycle to it, you won't get to it. 

Breezy

Quote from: KW on Mar 09, 2023, 11:00 AMYou're not thinking far ahead enough.  There will be very few EV's to charge, once 15 minute cities are implemented and 99% of the population is prevented from driving anywhere.  Basically if you can't walk or cycle to it, you won't get to it. 
Yes I've watched a couple of clips on this and it would probably work in many heavily populated countries but can you imagine all the motor sports enthusiasts walking or cycling to watch their events in NZ? Lol

KW

Quote from: Breezy on Mar 09, 2023, 01:49 PMYes I've watched a couple of clips on this and it would probably work in many heavily populated countries but can you imagine all the motor sports enthusiasts walking or cycling to watch their events in NZ? Lol

There won't be any motor sports.  Or boats.  No fossil fuels remember?  
Don't drink and buy shares in a downtrend, you bloody idiot.

Untamed

Guess that depends on what time frame you are talking about. I don't believe I will see that happen in my life time.

Quote from: KW on Mar 09, 2023, 06:54 PMThere won't be any motor sports.  Or boats.  No fossil fuels remember? 

Basil

#7
If you have a LOT of trees on your property and simply let them grow I reckon you can feel good you're doing your bit to chip in.
If you don't have the land for that then maybe consider getting involved with one of the many tree planting programs around.

Breezy

Quote from: Basil on Mar 11, 2023, 10:51 AMIf you have a LOT of trees on your property and simply let them grow I reckon you can feel good you're doing your bit to chip in.
If you don't have the land for that then maybe consider getting involved with one of the many tree planting programs around.
Well if you want healthier and faster growing trees then just own more cars and let them idle longer in your driveway as more abundant CO2 accelerates photosynthesis. ;D

blackcap

Quote from: Breezy on Mar 11, 2023, 11:12 AMWell if you want healthier and faster growing trees then just own more cars and let them idle longer in your driveway as more abundant CO2 accelerates photosynthesis. ;D

I do my bit by burning my rubbish on a weekly basis. It does seem to help the plants that I grow in the garden as we have had a great harvest this year. (Not sure if the 2 are correlated)

Minimoke

I'm doing my bit by driving a fossil fuel powered car.

I think that is preferable to using dirty coal imported from Indonesia to generate power for an EV.

And as a poor person I like to pay my extra car tax so the wealthy can buy their EV. Helps remind me to keep my place.

Ferg

I do my bit by chopping down various trees on my property.  The sheep get the leaves which they turn into energy, protein and gasses.

The twigs and small branches go through the mulcher and are spread under various fruit trees to give me fruit, plus I use less water on the trees and the mulch suppresses weeds.

Anything larger gets cut and split into firewood, which is burned in winter to keep me warm a 5th time.  This puts less pressure on the electricity network during peak demand while people charge their EVs, plus it provides CO2 to the other trees.

To fully complete the cycle the ashes get mixed in with the mulch which helps provide more flowers for my bees -> more honey.  Nothing goes to waste given trees are a renewable resource.

Plata

Quote from: blackcap on May 17, 2023, 09:26 PMI do my bit by burning my rubbish on a weekly basis. It does seem to help the plants that I grow in the garden as we have had a great harvest this year. (Not sure if the 2 are correlated)

I'm sure its fun and all but I would strongly caution you against burning plastics. Some of the by-products of plastic burning can't even be said out loud on one breath and they are pretty nasty, like stay in your body for the rest of your life kind of thing.

seaweed

Is the sea levels really rising? Or are those islands actually sinking. 

Waltzing

#14
well is this the future of farming in doors if things get a bit too hot outside?

https://edition.cnn.com/world/dubai-gigafarm-biggest-vertical-farm-climate-hnk-spc-int/index.html