Thread by @florimondmanca, Google Earth Engine Timelapse: 1984-2020 “timelapses of a changing Earth“https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/ That’s #ClimateChange beyond [...]

Google Earth Engine Timelapse: 1984-2020 “timelapses of a changing Earth“

https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/

That’s #ClimateChange beyond numbers

Here are a few things I could see...

Google Earth Engine Timelapse: 1984-2020 “timelapses of a changing Earth“ https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/ That’s #ClimateChange beyond numbers Here are a few things I could see...

Greenland ices shrinking

View: https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse#v=72.63193,-38.57462,1.761,latLng&t=0&ps=50&bt=19840101&et=20201231&startDwell=0&endDwell=0

Siberia and Eastern Asia ices and snow shrinking

View: https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse#v=69.86946,127.12537,1.852,latLng&t=0&ps=50&bt=19840101&et=20201231&startDwell=0&endDwell=0

Southern Africa desertify-ing

View: https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse#v=-25.76378,30.49948,3.438,latLng&t=3.6&ps=50&bt=19840101&et=20201231&startDwell=0&endDwell=0

Mutanda Mine in Congo Rep, world’s biggest mine for cobalt. Co is a metal heavily used in rechargeable batteries, among other uses.

Seeing the mine appear ~2007 (connect the dots), then grow ever faster as surroundings dry up — what a symbol...

View: https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse#v=-10.79697,25.81898,10.835,latLng&t=3.6&ps=50&bt=19840101&et=20201231&startDwell=0&endDwell=0

Zooming out. I guess by now we all know climate change is real.

But many don’t realize it’s *already happening*, with effects already visible with naked eye at planetary scale.

But that’s only the tip of the iceberg (ha!).

Saying climate change is caused by “human activity” is a misnomer.

It is caused by “developed” countries. By extractivism. By out-of-this-world standards of living set as global objectives.

Meanwhile, areas like Africa dry up, start lacking food — yet they asked for nothing...

Where do you think war in Syria or Arab Springs come from?

Lots of factors, but some of them are painfully obvious.

Lowering oil resources + exceptional or prolonged droughts = economic and food disaster, which puts crazy ppl in power.

In 2013 already: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/may/13/1

Peak oil, climate change and pipeline geopolitics driving Syria conflict | Nafeez Ahmed

Nafeez Ahmed: Root-cause environmental and energy factors driving violence will continue to destabilise Arab world without urgent reforms

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/may/13/1

Climate change isn’t about saving polar bears.

It’s about saving our productivist asses from a world in which famines / pandemics / war become the new normal.

If you’re < 50yo and thinking of a quiet retirement while living business as usual until then, you’re in an illusion.

I was in this illusion up to ~1yr ago, and still am to some extent.

But look. I’m 24. I don’t want “Tomorrow’s World” to be like this.

I want to turn 54 in 2050 and live a decent life. Climate scientists too. And I bet so do you.

Yet here we are.

LET’S MOVE.

So, here are 2 things you can do RIGHT NOW:

1/ Compute your carbone footprint

For English speaking ppl, this one seems fine: https://coolclimate.berkeley.edu/calculator

For FR people, I recommend ADEME’s “Nos Gestes Climat”. Top notch UX, very fun to do with friends and relatives too. https://nosgestesclimat.fr/

Nos Gestes Climat

Connaissez-vous votre empreinte sur le climat ?

https://nosgestesclimat.fr/

Did you compute it? You’re probably somewhere b/w 5-15 tCO2e per year, depending on your country.

Goal is to get to 2t by 2050.

How? Calculators can give you hints on how to get to 2t.

Note: getting as low as 2t is a huge feat. It will take time.

But you can almost certainly cut 25-50% with reasonable measures STARTING TODAY, eg:

- Avoid plane travel.
- Reduce meat consumption.
- Turn down heaters a bit. https://www.nytimes.com/guides/year-of-living-better/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Climate change can be overwhelming. Here's how to think about your effects on the environment and the steps you can take to lessen that impact.

https://www.nytimes.com/guides/year-of-living-better/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint

2/ Get a “reality check” from an established knowledge source.

For FR ppl, my go-to is a conference by @JMJancovici.

Luckily he did a full EN presentation at MIT this year.

He speaks a bit loud, makes dad jokes, but 2 hrs VERY well spent.

Go watch it.

Then depending on your nerdiness, expand your knowledge: climate science, energy, fossil fuels, industrial economies, agriculture, oceans... And how that all fits together.

Mind you, I think it’s a life-long, ever ending source of learning.

Which is kind of exciting!

Latest Threads Unrolled: