The universal premise on HN is that the forecasts are accurate and we need to do something drastic immediately.
The forecasts assumed are actually just projections from computer models. The global atmospheric temperature, as measured by satellite, is not doing anything unusual. It continues its gradual increase. We are, after all, still coming out of the last ice age. Fifteen thousand years ago, there was ice a mile thick where I’m sitting.
IMHO, these satellite measurements are the only credible temperature measurements. They show an increase of 0.14 C / decade since 1979. That’s 1.4 C / century, which is inconsequential.
Even if the forecasts were correct, China is now emitting more than the US and The EU combined. No significant reduction in CO2 is possible unless China and India make reductions.
If we were really concerned about this, we’d be switching away from power generation using fossil fuels.
Wait a minute, we are doing that! I believe it’s going to happen over the next couple of decades - either to a methanol economy, a hydrogen economy, or with better batteries. Or all three. And we need modern nuclear power - preferably fusion to supplement photovoltaics.
What is my point?
This: there is no need to panic. The effect of anthropogenic CO2 from burning fossil fuel is acceptably small, and we will stop doing that in a couple of decades, in any case.
Check out Ned Nikolov's work. The greenhouse gas model is as flimsy as the Flat Earth. Reading his stuff reminded me of Leah Remini talking about learning of Xenu and the associated lore in Scientology. I can't believe I was so brainwashed.
