cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/38497604
Don't mind this glaring bastion of land use mismanagement
this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2026
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AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
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I don't think the same people are saying those two things...
Dunno, some write their emails using ChatGPT and still have "think before printing this" in the signature.
Also plastic straws are about environmental pollution not about climate change.
Fishing nets are about environmental pollution.
Plastic straws are completely irrelevant.
It's about microplastics
So, this depends a lot on where you are. But in most places, plastic straws are pretty irrelevant. The main sources of microplastics are things like road markings, worn tires, synthetic textiles, etc.
Yeah, I always get a laugh out of the tantrums people throw over plastic straws and bags which is such a trivial thing to care about. It's not even about climate change either, but a different and also serious environmental problem.
On the data center point, it is expected to actually drive renewable investment. Ideally those building data centers should bear the full cost of it and should be prevented from turning to gas as a solution. And that's my main concern from this, besides all of the other issues with AI.
Yea can you source that “drive renewables” thing, cause every report I’ve seen has them un-mothballing coal plants and shit to power these things
It's just simple logic. Renewables and batteries are cheaper and quicker to build than coal and gas and easier to locate near the demand.
But agreed that the near term situation is concerning with coal and gas still being used and built which is idiotic. And the politics around renewable energy in the US aren't helping things, though I expect economics will win out in the end in the medium to long term.
Not even near term. Trump's administration here in the US is bankrolling all kinds of fossil fuel investment and specifically curtailing renewables and trying the hardest to cancel renewable contracts, as well as nuclear. Various states are also doing this, for very little discernable reason. Sure, you can pop up a solar array pretty quick, but wind turbine farms take a while to build, same with hydro and tidal power where you can use those.