Green energy and sustainability is...“boring...???”

[Infected Mushroom]

Well is it?

Theoretically, the survival of the planet is possibly at stake.

Yet try talking to someone about environmentalism, green energy, sustainability and so forth and there’s a good chance you’ll be considered a bit of a bore. For whatever reason, the topic is considered to be “boring” by lots of people... even though it will determine the future. It’s strange and paradoxical. This reminds me of several college classes where the professors liked to bring up environmental issues. In every one of these instances, aside from a few classmates who were really into it, a lot of people appeared bored. When pressed they said: “Well... the prof is probably right. The planet is in trouble and we may need to do something. But I don’t want to hear about it.“

So what do you think?

Has environmentalism and environmental issues (including recycling and green energy) been unfairly branded as “boring”? Is it a bore to you personally? If you’re at a party or on a date and someone decides to start an environmental discussion, would you view this as boring? Why or why not?

I would say it has a reputation for being a boring topic (though largely unearned). It isn’t supposed to be boring since it could determine our survival as a species, but it gets a reputation for being an uninteresting topic somehow.

[UniversalCommons]

I find green energy interesting because I invest in it. Money can be interesting. Plus solar panels came from the space program and space based solar power is pretty interesting.

[Major-Tom]

Sometimes the most crucial and pressing topics are the most...boring. I worked for an environmental lobbying group for a while. Trying to package the crisis as less "sleep-inducing" was agonizingly hard, even among left-wing college kids and generic Southwestern hippies.

The point is, I think to a point, it's inevitable that hard science and the soul-crushing reality of the climate crisis isn't supposed to be packaged or presented in a fun fashion. It just can't be. Similar to how there are always a few topics comedians can't milk jokes out of, the climate crisis is a political topic tough to poke fun at.

And that's okay. If existential dread is enough motivation for people to get serious about this shit, then so be it.

[Deacarsia]

“Green energy” and “sustainability” are absurd on their face.

If green energy has such promise and potential, then the market would allocate resources toward developing it on its own, seizing it as an occasion for profit.

Furthermore, a market economy by its nature is sustainable, as even were resources to start running out, then the price simply would rise. This in turn would encourage more efficient resource usage as well as the exploration of alternatives.

Coupled with the fact that increased economic development by its nature produces more output per unit input (as implied by the word economize), which in turn increases the effective supply of resources, this makes the whole notion of “sustainability” as presently understood simply ridiculous.

[Senkaku]

People don't say "I don't want to hear about it" because they're bored, they say it because they're terrified and don't know how to deal with that (and then rationalize it away as just "oh it's boring haha")

[Tinhampton]

I thought that environmentalism became sexy 23 months ago

[The Free Joy State]

Now for one of the sexiest things in the world... stats!

Most people around the world do see climate change as a major threat: 90% in Greece, 86% in South Korea, 83% in France, 81% in Spain, 80% in Mexico, 75% in Japan, 73% in Argentina, 72%in Brazil, 71% in Germany, Italy and Kenya, 70% in the Netherlands, 69% in Sweden, 67% in the Philippines, 66% in Hungary, Canada and the UK... (this is not the whole list and does not include those who see it as somewhat important)

Another global survey shows people love green energy (when asked: “How important do you think it is to create a world fully powered by renewable energy (by this we mean energy is produced in a way where there is limited or no impact on the climate)?”): 84% in Canada, 83% in the USA, 82% in the UK, 83% in Denmark, 80% in Sweden, 81% in the Netherlands, 83% in France, 84% in Germany, 80% in Poland, 73% in Japan, 77% in South Korea, 89% in Taiwan...

So, it seems that large percentages of people recognise the importance of climate change and of green energy in tackling it.

And, no green energy is not boring. It's vital for the future of the planet. I think they used to get that reputation, but I think fewer people buy into that stereotype now.

Sometimes the most crucial and pressing topics are the most...boring. I worked for an environmental lobbying group for a while. Trying to package the crisis as less "sleep-inducing" was agonizingly hard, even among left-wing college kids and generic Southwestern hippies.

The point is, I think to a point, it's inevitable that hard science and the soul-crushing reality of the climate crisis isn't supposed to be packaged or presented in a fun fashion. It just can't be. Similar to how there are always a few topics comedians can't milk jokes out of, the climate crisis is a political topic tough to poke fun at.

And that's okay. If existential dread is enough motivation for people to get serious about this shit, then so be it.

I think boredom and existential dread are different sensations, though.

Boredom says more, "I cannot be arsed; yawn". Existential dread is more "does anything matter; what is the point to all this".

You can tap into existential dread and help people figure out small things that make a difference, IMO. When people are bored and unengaged -- perhaps because (although this is, as highlighted above, is becoming a much rarer phenomenon) they don't see climate change as an issue -- that's harder to tap into to encourage people to make a difference.

[Saiwania]

Lets just say its the boring stuff we have to get good at to some extent. We don't need most people to become masters of chemistry, just some or enough of them to make a real difference. If people get really good at removing Carbon in general, most of the problem is arguably resolved. Asides from figuring out the economics and making it so the solutions scale well.

Even if fossil fuels aren't used for energy anymore out of necessity, there is perhaps enough of a future in extracting hydrogen from such substances. If most of it is all hydrocarbons. The hydrogen portion is clean and poses no problems. Its the carbon component we want to solidify or ensure it stays in the ground.

[Heloin]

I think if you're the kind of person who thinks a wind turbine or solar cells are boring I seriously doubt you'd actually be that interested in talking about a diesel engine.

[The Free Joy State]

I think if you're the kind of person who thinks a wind turbine or solar cells are boring I seriously doubt you'd actually be that interested in talking about a diesel engine.

I don't find environmental issues boring. I wouldn't talk about the finer points of a diesel engine unless you paid me.

For starters, beyond "does it run", I have nothing to say.

[Indian Genius]

I think if you're the kind of person who thinks a wind turbine or solar cells are boring I seriously doubt you'd actually be that interested in talking about a diesel engine.

Best point yet.

[Necroghastia]

“Green energy” and “sustainability” are absurd on their face.

If green energy has such promise and potential, then the market would allocate resources toward developing it on its own, seizing it as an occasion for profit.

Furthermore, a market economy by its nature is sustainable, as even were resources to start running out, then the price simply would rise. This in turn would encourage more efficient resource usage as well as the exploration of alternatives.

Coupled with the fact that increased economic development by its nature produces more output per unit input (as implied by the word economize), which in turn increases the effective supply of resources, this makes the whole notion of “sustainability” as presently understood simply ridiculous.

You do realize you're explaining why capitalism is absurd and not in the slightest giving reasons why green energy and sustainability are, right?

[Heloin]

I think if you're the kind of person who thinks a wind turbine or solar cells are boring I seriously doubt you'd actually be that interested in talking about a diesel engine.

I don't find environmental issues boring. I wouldn't talk about the finer points of a diesel engine unless you paid me.

For starters, beyond "does it run", I have nothing to say.

Let me introduce you to Fun with a capital F!

[Infected Mushroom]

I don't find environmental issues boring. I wouldn't talk about the finer points of a diesel engine unless you paid me.

For starters, beyond "does it run", I have nothing to say.

Let me introduce you to Fun with a capital F!

What does the stopcock do?

[Infected Mushroom]

I thought that environmentalism became sexy 23 months ago

It did? Why 23 months?

[Indian Genius]

Let me introduce you to Fun with a capital F!

What does the stopcock do?

That's the point. People who are supposed to be interested in things will always be interested. And those who aren't supposed to, won't.

[Bombadil]

There are aspects of green energy and sustainability that are extremely boring, and that is when you run up against competing government departments and trying to align them on doing anything to change. For example, as something I've noted before, it's very hard for me to simply get a solar panel for my house. I need to speak to the buildings department, the environment department, the tax department among a bunch of others.

I have come to feel that major inertia lies in government regulation here, and what it really requires is different departments to get straight on easing the ability to actually go green.

[Infected Mushroom]

There are aspects of green energy and sustainability that are extremely boring, and that is when you run up against competing government departments and trying to align them on doing anything to change. For example, as something I've noted before, it's very hard for me to simply get a solar panel for my house. I need to speak to the buildings department, the environment department, the tax department among a bunch of others.

I have come to feel that major inertia lies in government regulation here, and what it really requires is different departments to get straight on easing the ability to actually go green.

I suppose...

For I can’t imagine anyone living here (except maybe the super rich) setting up a solar panel for their residence

[Heloin]

Let me introduce you to Fun with a capital F!

(Image)

What does the stopcock do?

Stops the passage of liquid, in this case diesel, through a pipe when you don't want it to go through. Like Indian is clarifying for me environmental technologies is no more or less boring then any other technology.

I understand that other people find the bureaucratic side of environmental legislation uninteresting, but that's just to do with the fact most people find bureaucratic paperwork deeply boring.

[Resilient Acceleration]

Talking about the opposite, the fossil fuel economy, is certainly not boring. The oil glut was disastrous with people being fired left and right, and then last year has been doom and gloom for the global oil industry. With profit prospects rapidly dryimg out, a future business environment of increasingly pro-environmental national governments isn't good news either.

I would even say that today, the oil sector is one if not the worst sector you can possibly choose as a career choice. I mean, there isn't a lot of industry where a big chunk of voters and government officials are actively out there to destroy you, while at the same time subsidizing your competitors. You also have things like China, where transitioning to nuclear and renewables is a matter of national security since 80% of Chinese energy currently came from US-controlled supply routes.

[Infected Mushroom]

What does the stopcock do?

Stops the passage of liquid, in this case diesel, through a pipe when you don't want it to go through. Like Indian is clarifying for me environmental technologies is no more or less boring then any other technology.

I understand that other people find the bureaucratic side of environmental legislation uninteresting, but that's just to do with the fact most people find bureaucratic paperwork deeply boring.

I am very impressed with this post (assuming you did not Google).

[Infected Mushroom]

Talking about the opposite, the fossil fuel economy, is certainly not boring. The oil glut was disastrous with people being fired left and right, and then last year has been doom and gloom for the global oil industry. Future prospects of increasingly pro-environmental governments isn't good news either.

I would even say that today, the oil sector is one if not the worst sector you can possibly choose a career choice. I mean, there isn't a lot of industry where a big chunk of voters and government officials are actively out to destroy you, while at the same time subsidizing your competitor. You also have things like China, where transitioning to nuclear and renewables is a matter of national security since 80% of Chinese energy currently came from US-controlled supply routes.

Even in Alberta?

[Heloin]

There are aspects of green energy and sustainability that are extremely boring, and that is when you run up against competing government departments and trying to align them on doing anything to change. For example, as something I've noted before, it's very hard for me to simply get a solar panel for my house. I need to speak to the buildings department, the environment department, the tax department among a bunch of others.

I have come to feel that major inertia lies in government regulation here, and what it really requires is different departments to get straight on easing the ability to actually go green.

I suppose...

For I can’t imagine anyone living here (except maybe the super rich) setting up a solar panel for their residence

Do you know how much solar panels cost? Sure their out of the averages persons price range at the moment but still, you act as though it's hundreds of thousands of dollars per installation.

[A-Series-Of-Tubes]

Well this is why nuclear energy has to be advocated in the 'green agenda'.
Whatever people think of nuclear energy, it's not fucking boring!

[Infected Mushroom]

I suppose...

For I can’t imagine anyone living here (except maybe the super rich) setting up a solar panel for their residence

Do you know how much solar panels cost? Sure their out of the averages persons price range at the moment but still, you act as though it's hundreds of thousands of dollars per installation.

I have no idea