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顛覆你對電動車、太陽能、植樹、核能等認知的知識

(2022-03-10 18:05:40) 下一個

01.視頻

02.內容摘要

一款由“氣候互動”、MIT斯隆商學院等實力機構聯手開發的強大氣候預測模型，En-ROADS，普通人即可學會操作使用，顛覆你對綠色新政(Green New Deal, GND)、更好重建政策(Build Back Better, BBB)、電動車、屋頂裝太陽能、植樹造林、核能等原有認知。

如果沒有時間，可以看這幾個關鍵要點處：

第5分&第8分，點評分析綠色新政(GND)：根據該預測模型，許多對於延緩溫度上升的要素，並沒有被GND采納進去；
第6分&第12:30分，分析了電動車、太陽能-譬如屋頂安裝太陽能板，等等，對於氣候變化和溫室氣體排放是否有顯著效果。結果發現，改善非常有限；
第10分，點評更好重建政策(BBB)的缺陷和不足，真正對於應對氣候變化的最有效措施，譬如減排甲烷氣體、增強建築物的能源使用效率、碳去除和適度的碳稅，BBB並沒有包括或者隻是膚淺地提及；
第14:15分，過去的氣候數據很好地檢驗了該款模型的精確性，發現該模型與實際變化的數據擬合度相當高；
視頻還通過模型模擬，揭示了核能、植樹、降低人口數量，都對控製溫度變化影響有限。這些都打破了許多人的固有認知，非常值得了解。

03.累積知識是長線反戰

正在進行的俄羅斯烏克蘭戰爭讓我們也清楚看到，能源完全可以成為戰爭時期限製、對付敵人的強大武器，而能源政策已經與氣候變化學說強勢捆綁。因此，增強公眾對氣候科學的基本了解，才能讓我們選擇支持合適的政策，而不是誤入歧途。

youtube.com/c/MOSHANGUSA/community

本期節目由設計攔截導彈、無人機係統的專家，畢業於MIT的湯姆·翰佛(Tom Hafer)先生，跟我們科普一些讓AOC和伊隆·馬斯克同時難以反駁的氣候科學事實。

這是翰佛先生寫的對應的科普文章（首發BigThink，經作者授權發布全文，如需翻譯，您可以直接看本文開頭的視頻）：

https://bigthink.com/the-present/en-roads-climate-model/

En-ROADS: A powerful, interactive climate model for predicting temperature rise

Driving Teslas and planting trees are nice, but methane reduction, industrial efficiency, carbon removal, and a moderate carbon tax are the most efficient ways to fight climate change.

Tom Hafer and Henry Miller

Understanding climate is a tricky proposition because it is a long-term phenomenon that involves so many variables that they cannot possibly all be evaluated or even measured. For example, we cannot really predict cloud formation or volcanic activity. Therefore, we must rely on models that make many unverifiable assumptions. At best, they can take into consideration some of the physics that influences climate and a consensus of the assumptions regarding climate.

As a result, there are a number of models that predict a variety of outcomes, depending on how the modelers selected variables. This can be baffling even to real scientists, let alone to politicians chosen for that elusive quality of “electability.”

So, what are concerned citizens to do? Should we compost our food scraps, buy a Tesla, or what? Fortunately there is a well-regarded, scientific model that lets us answer some of those questions: the En-ROADS model, developed by Climate Interactive, Ventana Systems, and MIT’s Sloan School.

The En-ROADS climate model

What is unique about En-ROADS is that it is interactive, with a simple interface that allows each user to explore most of the variables that are thought to affect climate. The figure below shows the En-Roads interface.

Credit: Climate Interactive

The top row shows the sources of energy over time (first graph), greenhouse gas emissions (second graph), and the expected temperature rise through the year 2100 – that is, through the end of this century.

The slider bars in the lower half of the figure allow the user to manipulate a variety of variables to see what their effects are. Clicking on the variable allows the user to see what assumptions are made for each action and reveals more slider bars that change variables. For example, clicking on “Renewables” reveals, in part, this explanation: “Encourage or discourage building solar panels, geothermal, and wind turbines,” and the slider bars allow the user to change parameters such as the imposition of a tax or subsidy.

The variables assume that the actions are taken globally, not just in the United States. Thus, any actions that are implemented only in the U.S. will have much smaller effects. The current values for each variable are the baseline and result in a predicted rise of 3.6° C by 2100 if no new actions are taken. The accuracy of this model is unlikely to be better than ±10%, in other words ±0.36° C. So, in this article, we will call any effect that results in less than a change of ±0.36° as being negligible.

What are the best climate policies?

The Biden administration wants trillions of dollars to enact the “Green New Deal,” which includes large cash incentives for wind turbines, solar panels, and electric cars. Therefore, it is instructive to see what the effect would be if we subsidized renewable energy globally to the maximum extent possible. If we slide the slider for “Renewables” all the way to the right, the temperature drops only 0.2° C by the end of the century. That’s negligible. How about electric cars? Slide the “Transportation Electrification” bar all the way to the right. The drop is 0.1° C — again, negligible. How about punitive taxes on coal? Still negligible at 0.2° C. Planting more trees – negligible. Bioenergy has no effect at all. Thus, the important bottom line: Much of what is in the Green New Deal has little scientific justification.

Which measures could have an appreciable effect? There are a few. Extreme reductions in methane emissions result in about half a degree drop. This would not be easy to accomplish but is worth exploring. Carbon removal could result in a drop of about 0.4° C. Unfortunately, we do not currently have scalable technologies for this, but again, exploration could be useful; science and technology are powerful when they are focused and well-funded. Highly improved industrial energy efficiency would also result in a 0.4° C drop.

The big winner according to En-ROADS is a very large carbon tax. At a price of $250 per ton of CO2 generated, En-ROADS predicts a reduction of a full degree. But a carbon tax is not part of the Build Back Better proposal and for good reason: such a tax likely would stifle the economy and would disproportionately impact the poor.

The good news is that investing in reasonable methane reduction, industrial efficiency, and carbon removal technologies, along with a moderate carbon tax on a global scale could result in a drop of 1.3° C in the expected temperature rise. The figure below shows the effect of these changes.

Credit: Climate Interactive

An inconvenient truth

The bad news is that this still means a rise of 2.3° C. And that is if the entire world were to implement these actions; acting alone, the United States will spend trillions and have a negligible impact.

The hard choices involve creatively and fairly implementing a carbon tax, telling the truth to the public, and providing for adaptation. We know that flooding can be abated; Amsterdam and much of the rest of Holland have been below sea level for centuries. Drought can be abated through efficiency and better water management, including desalination and long-distance pipelines. Buildings can be hardened against storms, and better warning systems can alert people to approaching adverse weather.

Finally, it must be noted that the temperature rise, while significant, will be gradual and will not have sudden inflection points. Thus, the notion that we are approaching some “tipping point” beyond which there will be a global catastrophe resulting in human extinction is simply insupportable. Let’s not panic but put our heads together and work.

Tom Hafer developed systems for neutralizing rockets and drones. He currently coaches teenage robotics teams. Henry I. Miller (@henryimiller), a physician and molecular biologist, was a Research Associate at the NIH and the founding director of the FDA’s Office of Biotechnology. Henry and Tom were undergraduates together at MIT.

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