I was talking to a really prominent climate scientist a few months ago, who was one of the lead authors of the IPCC last report, and has been doing a lot of consulting work in New York City where he lives. So I said, "Are we gonna build a sea wall in New York?" And he said, "Oh, of course we'll build a sea wall. Manhattan real estate's way too expensive to lose." But those kinds of projects ... You look at the subway, it takes 30 years.

If we started now, he said, we couldn't build it fast enough to save parts of Howard Beach, South Brooklyn, Queens. He said, "The city knows this, and you're gonna start seeing them stopping infrastructure repair, not doing work on the subway lines and even telling those residents explicitly, 'You might be able to live here for another 20 years, but you're not gonna be able to leave this house for your kids.'"

As far as I'm aware they still haven't started. From an article in 2024:

https://newrepublic.com/article/178452/clean-air-rich-luxury-good

[–] FedPosterman5000@hexbear.net 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That guardian article, while depressing, was actually really nice for remembering we’re not alone in the despair, and in the technical/political struggle. Sometimes, after spending time with “ordinary fuckin people”, I’m almost convinced to ignore my lying eyes- fortunately the seeming omnipresence of convective cells reminds me.

[–] tocopherol@hexbear.net 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I spend a decent amount of time with extremely "ordinary fuckin people", and they really aren't the worst, most people just seem to be tuned out. But especially with regards to the climate crisis and capitalist greed destroying us all, the majority of people seem to be in agreement.

[–] FedPosterman5000@hexbear.net 6 points 2 months ago

For sure, I was just watching the show “party down” and the repo man quote stuck so I had to parrot it lol. But yeah in this age it’s information overload, so it makes sense to tune out. Especially if one perceives they’re doing their best, but it’s not helping or being acknowledged.

So then imo it’s easy to try and divide “ordinary” people from “ivory tower” practitioners when it comes to climate, by leaning on the implication individuals aren’t doing enough (contributing to alienation from the movement), can’t do more without an advanced degree (furthering alienation and sometimes disdain for practitioners), and that action to combat climate change will threaten whatever livelihood/stability they have more than the affects of climate’s itself (creating a strawman of climate activists).

“Getting to the Heart of Science Communication” is a book I really like; largely about “meeting people where they’re at”, but also understanding the path/traumas that have led there. So while I joke about mingling with “ordinary people” it really is the most rewarding; sometimes you’re the first person someone can “come out to” about climate woe, and then once their feelings are in the open, one can listen, learn, and guide them to contribute in the manner best fitting their means. In the process, you’re hopefully heading off hopelessness and tuning out, and building a community around an issue that affects the whole community. Grassroots action - who’da thunk

[–] Bakzik@hexbear.net 3 points 2 months ago

Thank you very much! Also thanks to JoeByeThen!

It's grave, but giving up isn't an option. Gotta keep surviving.

Totally. At the end of the day, we need to keep fighting.

Hasta la victoria, siempre.