Velshi: Despite ALL the warnings about fossil fuel, we're going the wrong way - Velshi - MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

Environmentalists have been warning for years that fossil fuels are the primary cause of climate change. Yet, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released its short-term energy outlook this week and it found that global consumption of liquid fuels - like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel - will set new records in 2024. So, despite the warnings, and the science, and the trillions of dollars worth of natural disasters, the world is moving in the wrong direction. - Aired on 01/22/2023.

[moniss]

1. One President tried to tell us

that it was imperative long ago to start immediately with a major push to alternatives/renewables and conservation. Jimmy Carter. If we had listened and really pushed hard and early we could be so much further than we are now. His point also was that it was cheaper in the long run to make big investment/change early rather than wait until later. People mostly shrugged.

As a great example of the lunacy of the last 20 years we need look no further than our speed limits in various states. We kept getting mpg improvements , although slowly, but many of the states kept ramping up the speed limits and thereby decreasing mpg and losing some of the environmental gains we could have had. Likewise most states/local governments have refused to implement efficiency requirements for HVAC systems and other appliances as well as conservation requirements for structures. A few do but most do not.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Good points! And I also remember Jimmy Carter

I still remember his press conferences wearing sweaters and encouraging the country to conserve - my Dad dressed like that, too, and adopted the same message. And he was manager of the power company in these parts.

As for speed limits, I can remember when they lowered the speed limits on the highways here in New York to 55 where it was anywhere near a city. I didn't drive back then, so I don't know when it happened, but it's back to 65 everywhere which means that people drive at least 10 MPH above that all over...

[moniss]

3. Indeed and when

you go to the states like South Dakota etc. they have the interstate speed at 80 mph. So you know a lot of people are pushing close to 100.