Your article indicates there are paths to reducing the methane ppm but the roadblock is that political will is often not sufficient to overcome the powerful economic forces that would have things remain as they sre
That is true, but in this case you'd hope that it would be a win win, especially if its cost neutral. Just a little bit of policy or regulation could make a big difference.
A very good question. I suppose it’s when optimism is a stance that resists plausible evidence to the contrary. Can one be a cynical optimist? At this point in my long life I admit to a lack of climate optimism. and an overabundance of cynicism when it comes to human foresightedness. I think that's a mix that distorts sound judgements in some cases but is sufficiently realistic in most given the state of the planet and human civilization at this time. However as always I could be wrong and I often am. Forecasting is extremely difficult. I suppose intellectual humility should have us say, “I dunno'“. But that leads to a planet of us milling around saying “I dunno’ to each other. We have to start somewhere.
HI Tom, did a bit of research around the 1999-2005 pause and it may be down to the phasing out of ch3 ccl3 which was an industrial solvent that breaks down the ozone layer, which may have lead to a new equilibrium with methane breakdown. Another interesting side note is the European heat wave of 2003 and terpene stress release from northern hemisphere conifers and the interaction with lower atmosphere methane may have resulted in 2004 measuring as a methane fall. So much to unpack here, but if this is the case our fires across the north could not be helping matters destroying all this potential mitigation. Thanks for the interesting read
There could be a lot said about having the right type of agriculture in the right place and how mixing and matching plant and animal interactions can not only reduce harmful byproducts but enhance stability of the whole. Why have one whole area designated for dairy of grain when the interspersion of viticulture or restoring the natural environment will create a more stable and productive overall system. Grain and grazing are not conducive to rain creation so we should not be surprised that we suffer prolonged droughts, irrigation helps but reduces the overall economic benefit which we could enhance naturally with the right plants in the right place.
Your article indicates there are paths to reducing the methane ppm but the roadblock is that political will is often not sufficient to overcome the powerful economic forces that would have things remain as they sre
That is true, but in this case you'd hope that it would be a win win, especially if its cost neutral. Just a little bit of policy or regulation could make a big difference.
When does optimism become naivety?
A very good question. I suppose it’s when optimism is a stance that resists plausible evidence to the contrary. Can one be a cynical optimist? At this point in my long life I admit to a lack of climate optimism. and an overabundance of cynicism when it comes to human foresightedness. I think that's a mix that distorts sound judgements in some cases but is sufficiently realistic in most given the state of the planet and human civilization at this time. However as always I could be wrong and I often am. Forecasting is extremely difficult. I suppose intellectual humility should have us say, “I dunno'“. But that leads to a planet of us milling around saying “I dunno’ to each other. We have to start somewhere.
HI Tom, did a bit of research around the 1999-2005 pause and it may be down to the phasing out of ch3 ccl3 which was an industrial solvent that breaks down the ozone layer, which may have lead to a new equilibrium with methane breakdown. Another interesting side note is the European heat wave of 2003 and terpene stress release from northern hemisphere conifers and the interaction with lower atmosphere methane may have resulted in 2004 measuring as a methane fall. So much to unpack here, but if this is the case our fires across the north could not be helping matters destroying all this potential mitigation. Thanks for the interesting read
There could be a lot said about having the right type of agriculture in the right place and how mixing and matching plant and animal interactions can not only reduce harmful byproducts but enhance stability of the whole. Why have one whole area designated for dairy of grain when the interspersion of viticulture or restoring the natural environment will create a more stable and productive overall system. Grain and grazing are not conducive to rain creation so we should not be surprised that we suffer prolonged droughts, irrigation helps but reduces the overall economic benefit which we could enhance naturally with the right plants in the right place.