Shed A Light: Rupert Read - This civilisation is finished: so what is to be done?

Rupert Read, Environmental Philosopher and Chair of Green House Think Tank.
The Paris Agreement explicitly commits us to use non-existent, utterly reckless, unaffordable and ineffective 'Negative Emissions Technologies' which will almost certainly fail to be realised. Barring a multifaceted miracle, within a generation, we will be facing an exponentially rising tide of climate disasters that will bring this civilization down. We, therefore, need to engage with climate realism. This means an epic struggle to mitigate and adapt, an epic struggle to take on the climate-criminals and, notably, to start planning seriously for civilizational collapse.
Dr Rupert Read is a Reader in Philosophy at the University of East Anglia. Rupert is a specialist in Wittgenstein, environmental philosophy, critiques of Rawlsian liberalism, and philosophy of film. His research in environmental ethics and economics has included publications on problems of ‘natural capital’ valuations of nature, as well as pioneering work on the Precautionary Principle. Recently, his work was cited by the Supreme Court of the Philippines in their landmark decision to ban the cultivation of GM aubergine. Rupert is also chair of the UK-based post-growth think tank, Green House, and is a former Green Party of England & Wales councillor, spokesperson, European parliamentary candidate and national parliamentary candidate. He stood as the Green Party MP-candidate for Cambridge in 2015.
About the series
Shed A Light is a series of talks that seek to present alternative framings of future human-nature interactions and the pragmatic solution pathways that we could take to get there.
By recognising the interlinkages between struggles for ecological, social and economic justice in addition to the desperate need for immediate societal transformation, Shed A Light aims to engage everyone with the green agenda and prompt broad-based discussions on sustainability issues.
Filmed at Churchill College, 7 November 2018.

[@vsteph4133]

When he talks about rebellion, I look around and realize we are indeed doomed. Where I live (American Midwest) everyone is religious to some degree and they would find this too implausible and scary. After all Jesus will take care of us. If I spoke up in some public way people would look at me like a mad person. Meanwhile they are willing to believe all sorts of ludicrous rot they got off the internet. It’s such a relief to hear what I’ve been thinking about spoken out loud.

[@Ash-yf5bn]

There will be a shift, where things that previously seemed impossible become possible, right and necessary. Just don't give up.

[@darladrury76]

Excuse me these people are lieing. Its a solar cycle. They did this since Egypt. They know the cycles and this caused small pox etc. They use the cycles to have white people genocided. Omg

[@Ash-yf5bn]

@@darladrury76 you've gone down a terrible KZbin hole my friend. Try and talk to more and different people in real life.

[@jonsebastian1366]

We are all doomed. Some will last longer than others, but everyone will suffer and most will die.

[@jonsebastian1366]

@@Ash-yf5bn Sounds like you expect a dictator to come "fix" everything.

[@evanhadkins5532]

We will need friends. None of us will make it alone. This is the first priority I think.

[@lydialaxy4841]

Best advise so far.Let's all be friends.

[@evanhadkins5532]

@@lydialaxy4841 Thanks

[@penyarol83]

This is in fact the root cause of all this. Human interpersonal trauma and disconnection leads to the greed (addiction), sociopathy, and zombie-like materialism That’s has driven industrialization, empire, colonization, etc. If we still had that essential emotional connection, we would have come to our senses and fixed things long ago, or they would have never gotten out of hand to begin with. We would be able to feel our impact on the world around us, and we wouldn’t have wanted to harm it. And we would all be oriented toward cooperation and listening, not animosity, shouting at each other, and being out of sync.

[@russelmurray9268]

You need help strong people are much more resilient I've no need of your needs I've supplied myself by myself because needy people suck and are unstable and a threat to my survival

[@russelmurray9268]

@@penyarol83 talk about bullshit sir you are lost with theories total crap

[@rudlzavedno7279]

I'm twice the age of his audience and have had hard time to swallow the truth pill. I can't even imagine what must this knowledge do to you at the age of 18. Poor lads.

[@scientifico]

Any act of empowerment is better than the other option.

[@brucefrykman8295]

The best advice this fellow can give these kids if to get out of college immediately and use the savings to invest in beans, rice and canned tuna fish. They can at least outlive all the idiots getting their degrees to watch their planet die.

[@samoto22]

18 year old, i’m just gonna keep the facade up to my parents that i’d be a success while doing copious amounts of drugs and degenerate sex haha.

[@brucefrykman8295]

@@samoto22 Good for you, you are doomed so don't waste your precious money and time on tuition and boring lectures telling you what you already know.

[@brucefrykman8295]

@Donald McCarthy How very prescient of you, I'll bet you always vote Democrat too,

[@paxwallacejazz]

It's going to change with unimaginable rapidity. "We are under the gross misconception that we are a good species going somewhere important and that at the last minute we will correct our errors and God will smile on us. It is delusion". Farley Mowat

[@dentonfender8872]

That's part of the problem. Religion and greedy rich people. The religious fanatics think God smiles upon them, and the rich control the charlatans that minister the Church of evangelical crazies. So they don't recognize Science as any kind of evidence for global warming. They would rather believe the burning bush story. The burning bush now may be a metaphor for the burning planet. Maybe we can get them to believe that since they don't want to believe in global warming.

[@peterbelanger4094]

It's hopeless, no reason to care anymore. Just let it all go to trash.

[@joehart6030]

'Never Cry Wolf'!

[@aaronpitt9]

paxwallacejazz ww

[@paxwallacejazz]

@@dentonfender8872 It's a Quote Voltaire

[@nobodythatyouknow241]

3 years on and the throttle has been smashed to the floor. Full speed ahead to self destruction. Thanks rich people.

[@brucefrykman8295]

Lets take all their money so we can be "rich" too. What pathetic specimens you dingbat socialists are.

[@DS-fk7ed]

Just before Covid came; maybe the middle of 2019 (ish) I was travelling home on the London underground after work and reading a book (as I usually do). I happened to look up and start people watching (I do that now and again - it can be interesting); some were reading like me, some on their mobile phones playing silly games, some with headphones listening to their ipods, other just glumly staring into space. I suddenly had a horrible feeling that I was some how witnessing the last few 'good days' or our society before some sort of collapse. That something terrible was going to happen and irrevocably change the world and probably leave very few survivors. It was an awful feeling that came from nowhere; I was reading a book about Black Holes. I told my partner and mum about this and they both actually agreed the human race was pretty much screwed, and we had done this to ourselves. A few months later came Covid and all that ensued with that; I think this was the first big step towards collapse. Since then I've noticed the news is reporting more and more terrifying signs of climate change; mass fires, drought, mass flooding due to torrential rain, the list goes on. To put it crudely since that episode on the underground (a premonition or probably just a realization) I've become convinced that we as a species are F*cked, with no real leadership (anywhere in the world) and few people with to stomach to actually get off their arses to do anything positive. We have collectively shoved out heads in the sand like a bunch of terrified Ostriches pretending that everything will be OK. What upsets me most of all is not that we ourselves are screwed, but that we have taken what can be described as Eden and totally trashed it. Earth is a jewel in the cosmos and we have raped and pillaged everything we can get out if it out of pure greed. Not only that but we have treated other species (innocent of any wrong) with utter cruelty and contempt. Beautiful creatures either butchered for food or 'sport'. Everything beautiful has been soiled. Forests burned and cleared, lakes and seas filled with poison. I'm ashamed of what we have done, and the fact the our legacy will be the smashing of the only home we have, along with everything on it. I've tried to make my own changes; I've given up beef, and eat very little meat. I try to use minimal electricity. I don't have a car. We planted some more trees in our back garden. I don't purchase things like DVD's or anything like that. Apart from that what can I do? Writing this I feel anger and helplessness. It feels like being told you have incurable cancer but the length of time you have to live is unknown. My partner and I are planning to leave London and have a small patch of land and as far as possible try to grow out own food. Apart from that who knows what the hell is coming in the next few years?

[@henrycordero8265]

I’m right there with you brother

[@liborsionko]

The latest installment... War.

[@bartmira]

Shit is about to hit the fan

[@ppetal1]

I'm 67 and loved the lock downs, apart from not being able to visit my dying older sister in hospital.

[@aegisfate117]

Spoiler: it got so much worse

[@RupertReadClimate]

Thanks so much everyone for the comments! [Okay, some of you more than others...;-] I want to say to those of you who are feeling hopeless... That’s OK. But please don’t use your lack of hope as an excuse for inaction. For that way lies certain nemesis. ...Rather, use it as a basis for finding the COURAGE we need at this time. Courage to look reality ever more deeply in the face. Courage to deeply and transformatively adapt. Courage to break the rules; to non-violently resist and seek to change our course, even now. #ExtinctionRebellion.

[@24haikus]

@Braxton Nibley, why is he an enemy of the people of the United States?

[@joehart6030]

Would be making our peace with God and getting our affairs in order be appropriate now?

[@kelownatechkid]

Very well done presentation, much appreciated.

[@garydeforve5055]

@Braxton Nibley this is the most ridiculous shit I have ever heard, it's like supposed to make people who believe in climate change look like utter morons. it's always a dead giveaway with these types, anything but the political action necessary to solve the problem.

[@garyking934]

I'm with the Climate Reality group and teach classes on climate change. The thing I find people need most is to empower them with local actions they can take. The feeling of helplessness is common.

[@highend79]

For the entire history of human, for once this time, the disaster did not come with a knife, threatening words or show of force. It came slowly, quietly seemingly not threatening during our happiest and luxurious hours. Can we wake up ? How many of us are willing to wake up?

[@brucefrykman8295]

snore.......wake me when the "crisis" is over. What will our next one be? Miscegenation - naw that's passe' and planned parenthood has already done marvelous work in culling "the lessor breeds without the law" I vote for offences against the sun, we can sacrifice our first born to appease old Sol into giving us back our warmth.

[@brucefrykman8295]

Human sacrifice to appease the weather Gods has been going on from prehistoric times right up to this video.

[@user_mac0153]

You think human avarice can just be switched off so affective social actors can just occupy their base impulse with something else?

[@highend79]

@@brucefrykman8295 Funny you mention it indirectly its already happening just less bloodyly. AOL (New york legislator) openly call and ask people to reconsider having child at all. Personaly i dont think its workable but same as the pass, elite are asking population to sacrifice first born or the unborn.

[@brucefrykman8295]

@@user_mac0153 Which do you consider the more base impulse: avarice or envy? Someone in your village wins the lottery and takes home 100 million dollars while you cant even afford a new I-pad. What is your "fair share" of his unearned fortune?

[@sharonrose2751]

This was 2 years before the pandemic. Does anyone else do that, ie always ask was it before or after the pandemic? I think it’s because most of us know deep down that it’s the beginning of the collapse.

[@cypress1337]

We only have 0.2 degree C left to safe 30% of the corals (no chance).

[@Ocean-Mariner]

Surely we are not past the pandemic Sharon Rose? So nothing is 'post pandemic'?

[@sharonrose2751]

@@Ocean-Mariner that’s not what I meant.I meant the pandemic is the start of a slow collapse, not that the pandemic is over.

[@Ocean-Mariner]

It's a bit disingenuous to change the wording of your post @@sharonrose2751 . And then reply to me, making it seem like I've got it wrong! But yes. I agree, the ongoing pandemic, while not the ultimate cause of mankind's societal collapses. Is certainly a significant contributing factor to it hastening.

[@colindant3410]

@@Ocean-Mariner The only thing that was wrong with Sharon's reference to the pandemic was the word 'started' was missing at the end of the relevant sentence.

[@yarodin]

Watches this video - opens facebook - immediately being greeted by climate change deniers telling everybody that's a hoax by some people just to make money - silently weeps and despairs...

[@goddessintriptych7046]

The good news is that we're so screwed that it doesn't matter what any of us do at this point. It may take some people years to accept that, but you come out on the other side much more peaceful.

[@yarodin]

@@goddessintriptych7046 too bad I don't believe in "the other side"

[@goddessintriptych7046]

@@yarodin My bad- I meant the other side of the anxiety of living with the idea of death and social collapse.

[@melissab8500]

Resignation might be a good word, or acceptance

[@squareysquare3150]

I've been depressed about it for years, but since about half way through 2018CE I've been in complete despair every day, often from the moment of awaking. It's hard to find any value in any activity that isn't trying to stop what's happening, to wake people up to the urgency, but there seems little that my small voice can do and most of the people around me are like zombies.

[@MrDaddynomates]

Our leaders have failed because they're not leaders. We don't have leaders. We have career politicians. There's a big difference. We haven't had "leaders" for a long time.

[@andrewfiles4184]

Would those be the same “leaders” that lead us to where we are? .. This has took hundreds of years to achieve snd there have been warnings about the damage being done to the environment all along the way…

[@elfboi523]

I am almost 44--my birthday is the 29th of March, I might still get Brexit for my birthday, not that I ever wanted it--and ever since I was old enough to read (and I started to read everything about science and technology that I could find), I was convinced that I would live to see the beginning of the end of this Industrial Civilisation. All the things you talk about have been present in my mind my entire life. I have never had any children, because I have never had enough hope in the future. It's not just climate change, it's also overuse of resources, overhunting, overfishing, polluting the biosphere with all kinds of toxins (industrial chemicals, pesticides/herbicides/insecticides, all kinds of waste products), distrupting natural cycles, habitat destruction. The real elephant in the room is Capitalism: A global economy that needs to grow constantly is basically a kind of cancer that is killing us all. The real existing global economy, where real things are made, transported, sold, bought, used, broken, discarded, is already twice as big as the planet can take. The US economy is six times as big as the US ecology could sustainably support. If you want to do something that might buy us some time, crash the world economy as hard as you can.

[@elfboi523]

@TheEsotericZebra I don't expect to survive for very long. In fact, I hope I get vaporised by a nuclear bomb in WW3 so I don't have to suffer.

[@brucefrykman8295]

I always suspected life in the UK as being somewhat analogous to living in what Trump would call a "shit hole country," particularly after being forced to work in the UK on a number of occasions. I believe you have just confirmed my suspicions or I might similarly share you opinion of "doing myself in" as the better alternative, but then at least you have a national health service so you wont have to "go it alone"

[@laurameszaros9547]

Capitalism is merely the symptom. The real elephant in the room is greed.

[@sichere]

So you are the pessimistic half empty sort of person then - Joy

[@vsiegel]

@@elfboi523 Simple rational suicide may be a valid solution here - and sounds somewhat more optimistic to me. I would see it like a suicide of a person with an untreatable terminal cancer. (I do not think it will be necessary.)

[@almagirimai8931]

I've been in despair over this culture's trajectory of destruction of this exquisite planet for many years. So long in fact, that now that there seems to be something of an "awakening" occurring, given the weather/flood/fire impacts around the world, I'm no longer in despair. My sadness is part of me now, I look about and often foresee bustling streets and shopping malls emptied out of people, silent, meaningless, as though I'm looking at a movie. The only thing I can compare this to is the vistas of Pompei with plaster casts of fallen citizens caught as they ran from Vesuvius' eruption. I know that this culture will grind blindly on until it falls over. And it will be horrible for a great many people, probably for me too. There will be no large-scale voluntary changing away from cultural self-indulgence and profligacy. We have caught ourselves in a trap of our own making. This culture is built on addiction to (slave) energy; first people and animals and then it learned how to enslave the ancient efforts of the cretaceous to be mined and burned in steam and internal combustion engines, etc. Those in charge of extraction and distribution and the spinoff industries are addicted to the power and the money they generate. So.... what can be done about an addiction that is not acknowledged, the pain of causal loss un-investigated? What is that loss? I believe it is loss of connection to the Earth and nature herself. Instead of trusting, respecting and relying on Her, it was decided that nature (food supply) could be controlled and thus owned. Agriculture and domestication of people began. In the process of losing reverence for and connection to the Earth's fecund generosity and necessary methods for maintaining balance we lost the very meaning of our existence. We are a species with amnesia of all that we once were and of our precious function is on this planet - and dare I say in this conscious, living universe. To extinguish the light of this living jewel of the cosmos is an unbelievably grave sin.

[@ariesred777]

I here stand as the devils advocate and tell you that human beings are also spiritual beings.i.e they have the power to understand their transgressions in that hour of despair and call forth from within forgiveness which illuminates compassion for all life.It is a personal admission of guilt which can begin the process of understanding and rebuilding a truer identity.Through selfless intention, manifest a better life both individually and collectively.Many have already experienced this and understand what I am conveying from personal experience.2020 is a place of not knowing but full of hope.

[@philgwellington6036]

ariesred777 I agree with not "knowing", as a certainty, but "hope" is not the right word. What is?... Knowing you are caught in fatal trap... that's always been there... it's called mortality.... make the most of life, best wishes..

[@drkevincampbell]

More CO2 is great for greening the planet. The more the better. This global warming nonsense is so silly and stupid, most people with IQ's above 150 know its nothing more than a tax scam

[@24haikus]

no that's wrong, increased CO2 push plants to grow faster but they take up less nutrients in the process and in turn give us less vitamins. Have a good long look at the graphs over time of CO2, TEMP, METHANE and then come back and tell about taxes and your IQ

[@Nonconceptuality]

Thought free Awareness is the peaceful conclusion.

[@jerrysedlacek6354]

Our high tech societies have almost completely forgotten how to live organically

[@brucefrykman8295]

We must get back to our roots and live in trees on the African savanna

[@brucefrykman8295]

@Penumbra But then how can I make airline reservations and drive to the airport so I can begin my journey back to the trees?

[@brucefrykman8295]

Nose nuggets are organic and can be made into a fine stew.

[@brucefrykman8295]

Yep we passed that bridge 25,000 years ago when we "domesticated animals" .

[@antonleimbach648]

Population control is not being discussed by any nation and that’s the core problem.

[@JulioGarcia-wp2um]

No

[@fatimagabriel8877]

I agree with you

[@peterdollins3610]

At 76 from collecting wood in the early Fifties and living in deep country fro 48/9 is see 90%, at least, of small birds and wild animals vanished. The increase of visible pollution in Greece from 74 to 84, the time I lived there, is unimaginably greater. Then when we ran the Steam Engines into London from Didcot the temperatures were regularly far lower than now. Even in such cold snaps as now. To take the dramatic actions needed is a political problem. I can only suggest everyone joins Extinction Rebellion 38 degrees et al and develop tactics and strategies to create the saving changes we desperately need.

[@brucefrykman8295]

We don't have climate change in Arkansas....its the same as ever, foxes, coyotes, bears, deers, elk, skunks, turkeys, raccoons, bobcats, armadillos, opossums, turtles, bluebirds, cardinals, woodpeckers of all variety, herons, doves, bats, bees, termites, water moccasins, coppperheads, and our friends, the black snakes Not one of these species has gone missing. They all pass through my yard in wondrous profusion...(the skunks are't all that welcome but they are all Gods creatures) Without using antidotes, can you tell us how the general climate conditions of the UK have changed? Do you still have rain? Are summers still mostly mild and warm, are your winters still mostly cold and blustery? Are your springs still fecund and blooming? Is the grass still green? Does the Sweet Afton still flow? upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Confluence_of_Afton_Water_with_River_Nith.jpg/800px-Confluence_of_Afton_Water_with_River_Nith.jpg

[@pollyb.4648]

In 10th grade, 54 years ago, my Civics/Econ teacher said the success of America was continual growth. And I thought, that doesn't seem right. He assured me I was wrong. I was naive (and a girl) so I didn't question further. Sigh, I'm so sorry I was right. Since then I was in on starting recycling centers in several cities and thought that was the best I could do. I've now apologized to my younger family members for not pushing harder. And again here, I'm sorry everyone, our generation failed us all. Live! Love! Enjoy!

[@rivolinho]

Incredible to think that xx million years another dominant species on this planet may find the remains of our civilisation buried deep the ground and wonder what catastrophe befell us. Just like we did with the dinosaurs.

[@DoesItHaveARectifier]

What’s even crazier is the elements of those beings will possibly contain you.

[@engincallahan2943]

Quite hardly, our cities will be dissolved by nature and crushed by the elements, they'll be lucky to find human remains, we should build a giant titanium pyramid thats indestructible and contains all the basic to advanced scientific knowledge and things to avoid. That'll make it worth our while on earh for the next species. Probably octopi or giant cuttlefish.

[@pas9ify]

@FilthyDank Wasteman the 11th and bacteria

[@cliffstevenson5773]

Most of the replies are amusing. Whistling by the boneyard. The philosophical issue is that it is very unlikely intelligence at our level (such as it is)will emerge again. How common is it in the universe? We are the only ones as far as we really know. It is really tragic.

[@EmeraldView]

It would be VERY difficult to find any evidence of human civilization in the 10s of millions of years it would take for another intelligent species to evolve. Almost all obvious evidence will be gone in a few 10s of thousands of years.

[@lucaodlum2208]

The CO 2 numbers are fact. The CO 2 latency period of decades is fact. The Methane numbers are fact. The feedback loops are fact. The melting ice is fact. The ocean and land temp increases are fact. Exponential as a mathematical concept is fully understandable. Global dimming is a fact. The baseline is 1750, not 1850 and we are easily past 1.5 C and already very near 2.0; actually 4.0 in the Arctic where it really matters. There are known temperature numbers for decline and failure of agriculture which we are now flirting with. The world population continues to grow as does the use of fossil fuels. The 6th mass extinction is factually underway. Literally nothing of a meaningful nature was done 40 years ago when it mattered and nothing is being done or will be done even now when it is too late. Human beings will vanish from this planet in very short order, probably years......

[@dag1489]

They may but unfortunately so many others will be taken with us.

[@bazinit]

So its nothing to do with the sun then

[@kimweaver3323]

Not latency, residency.

[@kimweaver3323]

No, nothing to do with the sun. Total Solar irradiance has diminished by about 2.5 watts/sq. meter over the last 35 years. @@bazinit

[@vibefrequencyable]

4 decade lag time.

[@Whydoibother943]

Rupert, i agree with everything you are saying. I'm dipping in and out of doomer depression. i am awake! you are a nice and well rounded person. wtf is humanity doing to itself, i just don't know!!!

[@classiccaravansaustralia9245]

I like that you've mentioned a couple of times the terrible effects that the meat industry (mass agriculture in general actually) are having on the environment. This fact completely escapes most people. The environmental destruction is great indeed, but also the terrible suffering that the entire meat industries perpetuates needs to cease.

[@CrakenFlux]

Yes, it will. Once we are gone. Or the fur industry. or mining for gold with cyanide. all these will only be gone with this runaway specie, malicious and ignorant, egotistic, is gone.

[@jimstan23]

The suffering of animals completely outweighs everything that happens to humans. Suffering is suffering.

[@lesliemuse677]

Seriously. I’m inclined to consider the whole Gates/Branson endeavor to improve their efforts as horrid - growing meat in a Petri dish feeding it blood 👁 extremelyclose in proximity to a PPH plant 👀🙈 gross! ImpossibleMeat is practically soyletgreen 👋🏼😶 and if spraying the dead onto the crops that feed you is cool by you, Katrina Spade is ur kinda peep. How do these ppl get so far in life ?

[@treehousesmotors2562]

Yes, but only to the extent of the "industrial meat industry". We have to keep in mind that grazing megafauna fills a key ecological role in most of the worlds biomes. This role was kept up until 70 or so years ago with the traditional husbandry of the past, but since the abandonment of traditional agricultural practices, this is no longer the case. Less meat consumption is preferable, but widespread, small-scale meat production on small-scale farms is a must with the conditions that we currently have.

[@kitchencounterculture8466]

Am feeling goosebumps, knowing the grave truth of all of this. Glad he talks about food security and food sovereignty (wisely as separate things!) and the need for UK to become much more self sufficient and aware of diets. One can imagine the dependence of Britain on imported food as a predictor of very precarious food future.

[@bumblebee9337]

From a nation of shopkeepers to gardeners?

[@brucefrykman8295]

I feel giddy too

[@DS-fk7ed]

@@bumblebee9337 Maybe a bit of both.

[@matthewtrow5698]

I remember watching this back in 2018, which did lead me to somewhat of a prolonged depression. I'm watching again now, nearly 3 years later, with COP26 approaching. In this year, as the most recent IPCC report is released, the entire world has been shocked at the extreme events we have seen recently and that many have witnessed first hand. Fire and flood and drought - the levels have ramped up so much in just 3 years - everywhere we look, the disaster is accelerating - exactly as climate scientists predicted it would. Three years ago, climate denialism was rampant - the vast majority of ordinary citizens were unconvinced, mostly due to their own governments dismissing the reality. Now there is nowhere to hide - there is not a single government in the world who can deny the reality without ridicule - not that this offers any comfort. I'm no longer depressed about the situation, because that doesn't help. But I am bordering on just giving up, even though I've spent the last few years cutting my carbon footprint quite radically. I'm not sure how much I've cut my own carbon footprint by, but it has certainly halved, which I know isn't nearly enough. But here we are, as I write this, in 2021 - and every aspect of this talk by Rupert Read has quite simply been illuminated for all the worst reasons - it was "bang on the money". Good luck and stay safe, prepare as best you can ... things are going to get difficult.

[@AGMI9]

At the end of the day we are well past the tipping point on multiple feedback loops, things only get worse from here on out. Try not to get stressed or depressed about it, it is what it is. Every article I read or talk I listen to a common line is "sooner than expected" I think even the researchers/scientist themselves are way to optimistic in regards to how much damage is done but also how much people will do to change things, people inside their own countries argue about abortion still. Paris agreement no way near meet, COP20 didnt achieve much, Bidens build back better was a complete flop, Artic ice probably has a couple more years left before a blue ocean event, China putting a coal fired plant on every week and India not far behind. As selfish as it sounds enjoy your life with your loved ones and experience everything you wanted to experience.

[@ddoumeche]

Maybe degenerates like Rupert Read should make a great service to humanity and life in general and shoot themselves in the hèad, their chemical been used for usefull livings being like turtles or cats or worms

[@xyroslol]

Here is a newer video from Rupert for anybody reading this and feeling hopeless or verge of giving up. There's still reason to fight like hell and join the people in your community and larger movements that help both mitigate further damage and adapt to the new realities coming. kzbin.info/www/bejne/opy1oaKNq7uabdE Video about what things it's too late for and what not.

[@johncoviello8570]

Another person who actually gets the end game in this global warming saga. He's talking about what we face in stark terms that others won't say. On the other hand, I still debate global warming deniers who think it's not real or can be managed. They are in for a BIG surprise.

[@Lorax_Tribe]

When you find yourself deep into this doom scenario, search post-doom. You'll find your own salvation there. Good luck.

[@bargdaffy1535]

Post doom would be when the 450 global nuclear plants go all Chernobyl on anyone left.

[@Lorax_Tribe]

@@bargdaffy1535 No, that's doom. You'll find it: Post-doom.

[@jedcollings3624]

@@Lorax_Tribe cheers, me and surely others could do with a bit of closure for now

[@dediosp16]

..over 3 yrs ago...and these words still fall on deaf ears ,its only the money sounds that ring loudest !..SAD !

[@meowmeowmeow1243]

The best thing about this is that humanity overall deserves what is coming. We had plenty of time to change the way we live and the way we act, but we chose to remain the same arrogant, hypocritical, greedy creatures. Not all are like this obviously, but most are. I have 2 small children, and to be honest with you, I'm scared for them. But i still try to raise them into being responsible, respectful, compassionate human beings, regardless of what the future looks like. I just feel a deep guilt and frustration with the mess we are leaving for them, a mess they had nothing to do with.

[@bobbysleft-eye3345]

I've watched a lot about climate breakdown and, so far, this has given me the most answers to the question ""what the f**k are we gonna do?". I'd wholeheartedly agree that the arts need to get a grip on this. Imagine a no holds barred multi million quid full CGI movie based on the real science behind all this.

[@SuperTonyony]

I think you mean "no holds barred".

[@bobbysleft-eye3345]

@@SuperTonyony it's taken me 54 years to learn that. Thanks.

[@RedmotionGames]

As long as its made as sustainably as possible

[@vsiegel]

@@RedmotionGames That is, counter-intuitively, not relevant.

[@RedmotionGames]

@@vsiegel Why? Those who Are against action will say "why did you make a movie about climate change that made the situation worse" as way to weaken it's message.

[@havenbastion]

"It is better for some civilization to survive rather than no civilization to survive." isn't true on its face and especially not when it's the civilization that caused the problem in the first place.

[@theobserver9131]

I really hope an asteroid strikes my home and quickly and painlessly take me, and my family out of this doomed life. No matter what, it's going to horrible, desperate, and violent.

[@evadd2]

The first two minutes of this video have compelled me to no longer softly discuss the issue. I promise all my students to be honest and thus I must give my own apology. I did not do enough. And I've been aware since the 1980s.

[@thebritishbookworm2649]

Have you actually read WG1 IPPCS report?

[@evadd2]

Yes. And I have closely followed the numbers. Not only are we not going to stay at or near 1.5, we are going to get there by 2027 and likely to blow right past 2 in 10 years. Once we reach that marker, it's over as most climate systems are no longer controllable or even affected by humans. I'd like to be more positive but it's too late and we to think transition. The world we live in is not sustainable.@@thebritishbookworm2649

[@blazingax05]

Watching this in light of the updated IPCC report...I'm 33 years old. The next 40ish years of my life are going to be hell

[@MartinDoyle]

The talk brings together many topics I’ve been following, but to hear them all together is still shocking. Many of our livelihoods are dependent on the system continuing as it always has done (well, for the past 200 years in developed nations...) and to consider giving this up for an uncertain future is daunting.

[@cramoc]

"This intergrated view of complexity and understanding of the biosphere was already proposed by George Marsh in 1867 who argued that the apparent balance visible in nature isn´t something that should be tampered with, as the transformations could become beyond the power of man to rectify or restore, which strongly suggest caution when engaging in fields like geoengineering that also serves as its major critiuqe"

[@GreatBoneStructure]

I feel so horribly smart, having come to all the same conclusions on my own without attending Cambridge. Great talk.

[@vsiegel]

It may be only because you are rational. (I do not doubt you are smart)

[@freeheeler09]

I became a biologist in the early 1990s, doing wetland and rare plant studies and surveys. I quickly realized I was just documenting the end of the world

[@salvatorenastasi6475]

Hello, this video is one of the clearest and most honest contribution to the understanding of the irreversible horrible situation we got into. I want to translate in Italian, can I? if I click add translation it says it's not open to contribution, can this be changed, please?

[@edominguez8999]

Did you find a way at all? I'd also be interested in translating it to Spanish

[@RupertReadClimate]

@@edominguez8999 Do go ahead :)

[@RupertReadClimate]

Please go ahead :)

[@RupertReadClimate]

You can do it by downloading the video and reposting it with the translation, for example.

[@RupertReadClimate]

You can do it by downloading the video and reposting it with the translation, for example.

[@jimferguson31701]

Time is short. What is best use of these next few moments? Kindness, empathy, acceptance make each of our last moments as humans on this earth moments of love. May mercy, acceptance, and forgiveness be born anew with each breath. ALL THE BEST. AND THE BAND PLAYED ON...

[@rapauli]

Overwhelming, thank you, I sort of listened to it all but I need to replay across a few days,,, and in small pieces. Meanwhile sharing this widely, and waiting for conversation...

[@RupertReadClimate]

Thank you!

[@TheSonicfrog]

People in general will never face up to doing anything significant to address this crisis, quite the opposite, they will continue to exploit new economic and ecological niches until collapse. It's the same behavior that got us into this mess in the first place. Talking about the issue, therapy, greenwashing and virtue signaling, will make absolutely no difference in preventing collapse.

[@fmj9346]

Thank you Rupert. Been following you and Roger Hallam for a while now. I no longer have hope, it is a ridiculous emotion considering our current dire situation. It is our young I feel for. I currently don’t have grandchildren for which I am very grateful. My adult children see the writing on the wall.

[@andy-maunder]

(In my opinion) Its people like Read who 'collect' people like you and convince them life is not worth living and the best thing you can do is end it all. Right now, you have a life and you can either spend the time you have absorbing yourself in life or you can waste away, scared every moment of every day. I say, don't listen to cranks. Read and Hallam are all about power. They want to be adored, to lead and they don't care what cause they leech on to in order to achieve their aims. If it wasn't climate change it would be something else.. so stop following these self appointed messiahs and live your life. has it also not dawned on you that their speeches are directed at young people? They are effectively grooming children. Come on, see them for what they are, live life and lust for grandchildren, because these two are nothing but dangerous cult leaders.

[@drhirise1]

This is a tough one. People really don't want to be told what they do not want to hear. When the truth is too hard to face denial is the preferred option. Yes, this civilization is finished! Another civilization based on the same values as this one will yield the same result. Those in power now must go, because they are the ones who are standing in the way of necessary change, if that is even possible.

[@WASF2024]

We need governments of the world to provide quick, painless, peaceful drugs for humanity's death once food runs out. Keep violence at bay. I knew about this coming climate/extinction crisis in the early 1980s. Have one kid or none. Fewer people, less suffering.

[@kimweaver3323]

My plan is to drink a load of fine wine, put my head in a couple of pillow cases, and exercise my second amendment right to blow the contents of my skull into mush with my .45ACP. The pillowcases are just a tip of the chapeau to polite behavior.

[@brucefrykman8295]

Why wait drowning in your funk. Hook the vacuum cleaner hose up from your exhaust pipe into your back window (seal the rest of the space with cardboard and tape) This is painless and as a bonus you can listen to Bono on the radio singing "Candle in the Wind" as you, your quietus make: "Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

[@mr.v2689]

Amy Lynn you people are demented

[@brucefrykman8295]

@@kimweaver3323 Mom and dad, this is what government education can do to a kid's mind.

[@kimweaver3323]

@@brucefrykman8295 My education is just fine. I wasn't propagandized in a religious den of vipers or by inept parents. My parents recognized that I would, and did, learn things they knew NOTHING about, and I got that education in a government school where I was free to exercise my mind and abilities. What is YOUR problem, Sparky?

[@antonioreid534]

Im 25. So I will be here to witness how the 21 century unfolds in terms of climate change. All I have to say is thank you for this. I want to be real and I want to face reality. I want to bravely face truth.

[@cliveargyle5237]

Great logic amongst so much noise, please keep up the good work.

[@lisastassi4500]

If the banking system collapses, I don't think that having squirreled away cash in your house is going to be any help. People will likely be using canned goods and ammunition as money. But that brings up a much more troubling discussion, at least it does for me. How low a quality of life are you willing to tolerate for you and your family? Some people have said that if civilization collapses, the grocery stores will be empty within 3 days. You'll witness people transform into animals shortly thereafter. People need to "go there" mentally and then have a heart to heart talk with themselves. The best film that I've seen portray this issue is The Road, which is a HUGE downer of a film, but it's quite helpful in it's own way. Another film/book that delves into these issues in smart and compassionate manner is On The Beach by Shute.

[@danwalburn6954]

Maybe the government can start offering suicide pills, lol. Surely Pfizer or Merck would take that contract.

[@lisastassi4500]

@@danwalburn6954 Opioid painkillers, dude. Opioid painkillers.

[@danwalburn6954]

@@lisastassi4500 Yeah, but I doubt I can get my kids to swallow 40 pills in a time of crisis. Okay....this line of thinking has gotten too "off color" XD

[@juliehay]

@@lisastassi4500 how many would you have to take to do it efficiently?

[@juliehay]

oh someone has just said 40 pills, sigh

[@SimonSozzi7258]

#Bernie2020 He's the most "radical" of all candidates when it comes to climate change. He says it's the most important thing above and beyond all others! I'm just saying... #BernieOrBust

[@everettgaskins5040]

Bernie a joke he know he can't do what he talking about he he just make it sound good

[@brucefrykman8295]

How is he on "brain flatulence" the most dangerous thing to planetary existence Rodan and Godzilla duked it out?

[@grayzytube]

@@everettgaskins5040 Sounds a bit like Trump then? The swamp is bigger and deeper now. No hopers like you will never bring about real change. If the people stood behind Sanders, who would try and stop you? He can achieve anything without the corporations and banks they won't stand up to you either.

[@hezlerb7239]

(The Venus Project) Look it up! Jacque Fresco already outlined everything and designed a new society without exploitative capitalism and competitive one-upmanship. He designed a humanitarian & environmentally friendly society that provides for all instead of a few elites without Governments or war. R.I.P Jacque and thank you for your life's work we just need to listen.

[@musicdev]

This is interesting. Going to go check it out.

[@tristansykes5224]

Thank you so much! I've been waiting 30 years to hear this lecture. 💚💚💚

[@brucefrykman8295]

Wow, I never realized people endured such a boring existence.

[@longbowarcher100]

its just as much garbage now as it was 30years ago

[@charlescoryn9614]

@@longbowarcher100 ........ Wake up! Open your eyes! That about sums it up..........

[@sarkyization]

and we haven't drown, dessicated or any of the other climatic nonsense we were threatened with. Meanwhile we are in solar minimum so get yer thermals oot!

[@darinhitchings7104]

I believe it... having studied it and looking at it in terms of feedback control theoretic ideas. Conservation of momentum... We're in serious trouble. And every day people participate in the present economic system looks more and more foolhardy and pointless to me. The present system is about to collapse.

[@bobmathieson987]

"The Greatest Crime in Humanity on this Issue could be to do Nothing for fear of only doing a Little"

[@PaulWetStuff]

Robert, thank you for this. I've been woken up to this situation for the last 40 years. I find it slightly comforting that more are now talking about the climate emergency. The skill I'm happy I have is the emotional skills of putting people back together after trauma. With time and onging attention these feeling can all be worked though. (till the next mess sets off more) That and building all sorts of housing and repairs. As a scientist, my focus has been on disease transfer programs. These will take off as societies crumbles.

[@Captain_MonsterFart]

So you are going to unleash the plague to save us? How about not?

[@bridgetveldhuis4473]

@@Captain_MonsterFart Bill Gates is.

[@Hili24pur]

Did I miss or did he not say STOP HAVING CHILDREN NOW. That would make the greatest difference immediately. Seriously

[@Youtubesucks3]

World population growth already peaked in 1968 and there has already been a collapse world wide in fertility rates(amount of children per mother) of around 50% since then. The few places on the planet that will still grow like Africa and some parts of s. America s. asia contribute the least to climate change per Capita and their population is mostly growing because people are living longer not because of new birth. The problem lies squarely in production and our economic system and how we organize to meet our needs. We're going to need more youth to be born in order to support an aging population and properly organize against climate change. And if anybody would be enforcing a policy of depopulation it would just end up being the US killing other countries even though the US with out almost no competition contributes the most c02 per Capita.

[@Mad_Intalect]

@@KZbinsucks3 In most African countries, especially where I am from, the majority of the population is under 35, no family planning and people just keep having kids, whether one can afford them or not.

[@niqjaw5009]

People should stop breeding now. That is the single most effection action one can take to reduce CO2 emissions. Why bring people into a dying world? Senseless and egocentric.

[@Youtubesucks3]

@@niqjaw5009 did you even read my comment?

[@terrymoore861]

The reduction in the magnetosphere's strength coupled with the increase in volcanic and other dusts in the atmosphere not only increasingly affect the world climate, but alter the perceived colour of the sun. Increased volcanic and earthquake activity could trigger more tsunamis in the future. It would be sensible for anyone living on the coast to either move or at very least, subscribe to early warning systems. Increased solar and cosmic radiation will almost certainly increase grid failures, many of which are already in need of upgrades and/or replacement. It is essential for those living in cold areas to ensure alternative heating arrangements are in place in the event of grid failure. For everyone, back up food and water sources should also be in place. As many marine species use the position of the magnetic south and north for navigation and as the magnetic north has moved over 1600 Miles towards Russia and the magnetic south has moved a similar distance in the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere, species from the Antarctic are going into the Pacific instead of the Atlantic and species from the Arctic are going into the North Sea instead of the Irish Sea or Atlantic. There are many other marine migratory changes like species going to the east side of India into the Bay of Bengal instead of the Arabian Sea. Species are also going into the Atlantic instead of the Indian Ocean. The incidence of marine species beaching has been increasing year by year as the magnetic poles move further from their historic positions. Changes in migratory routes of birds, butterflies and land mammals are also being noted and recorded.

[@aland5478]

The room was looking pretty empty. Very sad. The world needs to hear this.

[@RupertReadClimate]

Hey, don’t worry; the world is hearing it. 57k views so far...

[@aland5478]

@@RupertReadClimate Sorry the world has there head in the sand! Now 2 years later and emissions are still climbing! So pull your head out of the sand or your ass if you like!

[@danawhiteboy]

i liked this video alot, the idea of a successor civilisation i think that is where we are headed, i just hope we can work this out and minimise impacts to our climate

[@babakmohebbi3862]

Thank you for your honesty. I removed the word hope from the equation long ago.

[@ceciltagg]

Good vid THANKS when you use an overhead projector please use darker writing use a texter marker so we can see what you have written please

[@moebees3060]

I'll come back to this!

[@kimieann1975]

Here I am watching this 2 yrs later. We still haven't done a single thing that is going to matter. Unfortunately we as humans don't do anything until it's way to late and then we want to look for blame.

[@nancylaplaca]

Thank you very very much for this excellent presentation and discussion

[@nicklomas6017]

I am proud that you have had the balls to spell it out as it is. I naturally presumed the establishment would have swamped you with negative comments,to undermine youre efforts The quantum to even reach the 1.5 degrees is almost inconceivable,even if the world did change and put humanity before money.This has historically never happened. When I was in a position of privelage 40 years ago,I had a naive plan in hindsight to regenerate the Sahara. But could not get this off the ground. I am extremely proud of you're efforts Nick Lomas A beleiver

[@lorcro2000]

A society like ours, built on competition as its basic paradigm, is just too warped and nasty to survive. The sickness is at its very core, even below terms like "capitalism". Any competition based society is wrong, and every society we have or have had has been built on competition. The successor civilization will be innately cooperation based, and have no things like currency or trade. Sustainability will be a basic requirement, not an afterthought. Suggestions for how to do that would be the Venus Project and the Zeitgeist Movement. I doubt we will be able to transform into that. It will probably be something we construct as a successor civilization - assuming humanity isn't too stupid to realize that "everyone against everyone else" is an insane way to run any group. Try running a family like that and see how it works. The same is true for something much larger, like the human civilization.

[@brucefrykman8295]

The African lion can teach us a lot regarding the avoidance of competition at all costs

[@brucefrykman8295]

Can you think of any living thing that does not need to compete.

[@lorcro2000]

@@brucefrykman8295 Humans. We have brains and intellect and can choose a saner path and intelligently work together. We're not rats or roaches.

[@brucefrykman8295]

@@lorcro2000 (Certain) individuals have brains and intelligence, others smoke dope and meth and inject their veins with brain damaging drugs. These Intelligent people working together can produce wondrous machines, efficient agriculture and transportation systems that can give the same kind of life that would be the envy of the few aristocrats and supremacists only a few generations back. The other kind of people working together are called mobs, they hanged witches when bad weather caused crop failure in Salem Massachusetts and burned Jews in Germany, France, and Italy to scapegoat them for the failures of their own "leaders." We would have been far more fortunate had they only been rats and roaches. We could have then fumigated them in a timely manner. We have a method of distinguishing the former from the latter kinds of groups, its called the free market place. In it each individual can judge for themselves the merits or the folly of group think, each individual being their own judge and jury and acting of their own accord. This way of thinking gives no particular power to either the pied pipers of doom or con artists selling real estate in Utopia. Sloganeering would not be useful in such a world. You can follow your "sane" path by avoiding the acquisition or consumption of anything, mined, manufactured, grown or transported through the use of oil or other combustion products. You can demand that those of you whom YOU have chosen to follow do likewise. You would demand the politicians and government you want represent do exactly the same. No more junketing on private jets or any other kinds of fossil fuel driven conveyances for your "leaders" I'll take my own sane path lying diametrically the opposite of yours.

[@shamus2198]

@@brucefrykman8295 There has never been a "Free Market". It's always been rigged. For the few. Your ideology has always been flawed. The science indicates that you too are going die with the rest of us humans and all the other species on this planet. You may as well face up to it. It's really going to happen.

[@RSLtreecare]

A very interesting talk, presentation. I have been trying to plan and talk about this issue for many years. I studied conservation 25 year's ago. I am at the same time, very positive. I keep a sense of there being a growing number of people that will take on the change required to slow down. There's more, but I feel the space, writing room on here is limited.

[@andybarrios4204]

I can agree, the sense of urgency is here. The people are depressed for a number of reasons but that same despair drives change. People are way more political today than I've ever seen. Everyone is doing what they can, but will it be enough? Who knows, what I do know is that no matter what happens we all experience these changes at the same time. We're feeling the effects and we're starting to respond. For that I'm grateful.

[@stevengill1736]

What shocked me was how much of the greenhouse gases ocurred during my lifetime alone....

[@crisismanagement]

has anticipated this problem and has forewarned about it for years.

[@DavidDanos]

Indigenous countries are those with the laws and know-how to stop these cataclysmic environmental changes. We are living in apartheid in the US, Canada, Australia, etc., very much literally. Part of rebellion involves calling out and stopping the governments, but another part means empowering the people whose countries have been here for 10+000 years, who have experienced major climactic shifts before and who are fully matriots, aka fully on the side of the Earth and not corporations/governments

[@DavidDanos]

@@DJMalleus I live in BC, but j'viens pi j'ai aggrandi en Californie du sud, so I have got a range of perspectives... and I could not agree more -____- people really do not realise how bad apartheid is right now let alone that the US, Canada and Australia are apartheid States. However, it is actually really good, in Canada, the tide is and has shifted. Acknowledgements of country are widespread and almost necessary at every level of society, and people inherently *know* whose lands they are on/share.. or at least more and more younger folks do. It is actually really incredible (but then also really terrible because it is still only a small portion)

[@brucefrykman8295]

If there is one thing I cant stand its a country that migrates. Ban plate tectonics now. Keep countries in their own neighborhoods.

[@norawheeler2555]

no countries have been here for 10000 years.

[@mikeearussi]

I've also been thinking about something similar to your "lifeboat" idea and base it on Musk's (and others) plans about colonizing Mars. I call it "Colonizing the Earth." If we're trying to save the human race then we'd be much more likely to succeed by trying to "colonize" the Earth than by going to Mars. There are those who see no hope of survival and advocate surrender to the inevitable by retreating into the woods and "making peace with your spirit" or some similar fatalistic idea. But the Human Race didn't drag itself out of caves and into skyscrapers by just giving up. We've always had a fighting spirit and we ARE technologically advanced enough today to be able to do this. So even if the worst case environmental conditions of global warming happen and the Earth becomes too hot for any higher life to exist on its surface, it would still be easier, faster and cheaper for us to adapt to those conditions here than trying to run away from it by going to another planet. The Earth is still the only planet that has a radiation belt to protect us, as well as Earth's one g gravity so no bone loss and muscle wasting will occur. There's also plenty of water readily available. Nor do we incur the high transportation costs of a space journey or require the technological advances needed to make the trip. With the resources on this planet we could easily build an underground shelter capable of housing thousands for the same (or less) cost of shipping a few dozen people to Mars (and a few dozen do not make for a viable gene pool). We could also store all of our knowledge plus much of the DNA of the rest of life for (hopefully) eventual resurrection. Granted this would not protect us from the other possible Earth hazards such as nuclear war (yes, I know we're still that stupid) or a meteor strike, but even a floating space station would be better than a Mars colony until some geneticists figures out a way to make us immune to percolates (once those were discovered any dream of a viable Mars colony was over). The Human Race has been through bad times before, though usually not of our own making. We can also survive these as well if we just want to bad enough. BTW, money has no value if the government backing it has collapsed. So saving any would be useless unless you plan on using it to start fires.

[@rey82rey82]

Mike Earussi But humanity SHOULD end. Plant cactus

[@christiansarkar92]

I have also thought about exactly this - why not try to regreen this planet?

[@shamicentertainment1262]

Ive always thought the same. It would be far easier and cheaper to colonize even Antarctica, then it would be to colonize mars. It's a crazy idea

[@joehart6030]

Are you an alien? You sound too logical to be human!

[@everythingmatters6308]

How will you feed the thousands living underground?

[@aztec8888]

I have begun to impact some that I know because I moved to Costa Rica and I changed my lifestyle. People realized how serious I was and by moving I am not contributing to the status quo. I am living where the energy I use is 99% renewable. I rarely drive, I do not fly anymore. I am a member of the Green Party and support everyone who is calling attention to this problem. It takes a great deal of effort to make changes in our lives. My idea is to make those changes now, before conditions forces those changes on us.

[@ericcotter1984]

Im costa rican, nice to hear

[@victorialeif9266]

Thank you Dr.Read,for the candid talk. It is a relief to hear someone talk about the feelings of sadness and even hopelessness. I am an American, and the daily pain and humiliation caused by our current President, and his cabal of criminals, racists and religious fascists has caused anxiety and despair for me, personally.I think that we are already seeing how humanity will respond to the coming crisis: consolidation of wealth,to control over resources,to destruction of democracy, to massive loss of life for the sick and the poor, or anyone who may be seen as undesirable. My only consolation is that I never had any children. As per your remarks about the arts, there are a few good works out there: The Children of Men. The Golden Compass books( not the movie) by Phillip Pullman. A film called IO. ( That's letters i and o.) On Netflix.

[@victorialeif9266]

Adding to my own comment...I would like to see the world class scientists, and engineers spend some time making instructional videos on subjects like : how to grow food, and on water collection and purification. The more people are educated, the less they need to fear.

[@owlnationlegal4228]

"We need to stop?" Oh hell no. We need to get every basement and barn engaged as a franchise of the Parliament Pitchfork and Guillotine Company.

[@brucefrykman8295]

Viva Guy Fawkes, now here was man who saw the problem coming.

[@markrobinowitz8473]

"We have met the enemy and they is us." - Pogo. Hint: if you're using the internet, you probably use a lot more energy than you realize.

[@owlnationlegal4228]

@@markrobinowitz8473 I use 1 gal petro/year while I can get it.

[@SteveMoyer]

We need a new economic system which promotes sustainable culture.

[@johnduggan8398]

Eco Fascsim. No I'm not joking . Fascism is not materialistic compared to capitalism and communism.

[@dreamfire5210]

@@johnduggan8398 the old Soviet Union had terrible pollution/environmental issues. Humans are a heat engine regardless of the form.

[@troydavis4452]

Today's Economy A. Population must Grow Exponentially. B. Economy must Expand Exponentially. C. Jobs & Incomes must Grow Exponentially. D. Innovation must Grow Exponentially. E. Politics must give way to growth. F. Children must learn to become consumers. The untold and inconvenient truth not being told to you is we are functionally extinct. Our global habitat has been so weakened that on it's own can no longer support life. Sad truth is man has past the point of no return. Even if we stop all emissions today the methane now being released will dictate the terms. Just as the Siberian Traps destroyed Earth the Methane will do the job. We buy time if we go back to tribal hunter gathering. That is the only way we have a chance. Back to the loin cloths, back to chucking spears for food but meat will be scarce for quite some time but it will recover if we manage things smartly.

[@tomat6362]

The only sufficiently draconian solution I have imagined so far is (are) Global Warming Moratorium Days. That is, think of imposing New Years Day style shutdowns of business and government. Wipe the entire day off the books; no sales, no work, no payments, no interest no nothing, starting at one work day per week. It would take 8 working days to get 7 days economic output, but in seven remaining production days. This would average up to14% reduction of weekly pollution per moratorium day. Only essential functions, like nuclear facility monitoring, first responders, intensive care, food distribution and a very few others would be allowed to continue. By the time this solution might be implemented, we might need to wipe out 2 work days per week. But by the books, nothing would be lost. A fiscal year would be unchanged, but it would take many more calendar days to achieve, that's all.

[@debbiehenri7170]

I keep seeing a repeated comment stating that 'the extra CO2 will help green the planet.' What that person (can't be bothered to look for him now) really ought to do is ask a scientist, an environmentalist, a gardener or farmer, or research for himself as to what all that extra CO2 'really' does to plants. An excess of CO2 makes plants grow quick, lush and tall. Yes, that's very true... Also it makes them grow weak, susceptible to many more pests and diseases, their natural tolerance to changing temperatures lessens, their actual temperature tolerance range narrows (higher temperatures causes them to be an even greater drag on water supplies - a problem if that water isn't there any more), and they are much more prone to damage whenever the next climate-induced storm comes along. For the record: I'm a gardener with previous experience in botanical research, currently retraining to go back to the academic world (unless the world goes to pot before I finish my studies). I'm sure all my gardening experience will help me when it comes to the necessary self-sufficiency, but I am not betting on this being easy accomplishment given the fast-accelerating changes occurring in the environment. It is possible, I suppose, that after a certain amount of extinction, there will be pockets of the planet that may remain habitable for some time to come. Either way, now is the time to learn how to prepare if you want to continue some standard of lifestyle.

[@user-cp3ju2fz4z]

YES 1. CO2 makes not all plants grow faster, but yes on weed, etc... it does mostly, that is very bad for the balance and for every biotope - means in the end it is bad for all the vegetation 2. It is bad to grow plants in nature fast by more CO2, it is making them also weaker and they need much more water and nutrients, this is not controlled by a farmer in nature giving water and all the plants do need, they need to survive on their own, you would also not grow your kids fast with steriods because we do this with pigs and then you need also more food for them or calories, you do not fertilize natural vegetation they are evoluted to the circumstances of their environment, not evoluted to your fertilization and they are not short living goods you do take care of and all their needs. 3. More CO2 does mean Ocean Acidification and of the whole water cycle, does mean by rainfall there is much less nutrients in the upper soil and also for vegetation 4. The warming means season shifting and climate zone changing what is very devastating for vegetation, the tropics will be no more the tropics in a few decades that does say all, also You will not shake off all the leaves in autum and glue them back on in spring. 5. The warming means more dry and more heavy rainfall events, what is very devastating for vegetation by increasing events 6. Warming and season shifting does breed more pest, so your point there is violalting reality and what is happen around the world today, 7. World wide crop failure is increasing and this is vegetation where mankinds DOES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to MAKE THIS VEGETATION SURVIVE, BUT THEY CAN NOT AND ITS PROVEN. 8. The Oceans are loosing Oxygen and an extinction event on marine Life did already started years ago by the warming, that means a chemical change of the whole water and Oxygen cycle on earth what is very devastating to vegetation. 9. More Warming means the slow down of jetstreams and ocean circulations does lead to more constant weather low and high pressure zones over a longer period onto a region, what is devastating for vegetation 10. More warming means sea level rise and more salty water inland what is bad for all vegetation on the cost 11. More warming does say extreme weather events, of storms, floods, heavy rainfall, colds, blizzards, wildfires, heatwaves, droughts,... what is very bad for vegetation by increasing frequently and increasing intense Events. 12. But yes more warming means also much less Ice and colder temps and a greener world to an up coming critical point of extiction also on vegetation in total

[@brucefrykman8295]

@@user-cp3ju2fz4z What a compendium of utter bullshit; 1) Medical advances are deplorable since they promote the longevity of people that nature wants dead. 2) Peace only promotes obesity, shiftlessness and cowardice; war insures the most healthy societies survive I could deconstruct the rest of your bullshit with equal alacrity but your bullshit shovel has been working overtime. i.e. CO2 makes natural weeds grow faster but not our unnaturally hybridized grain crops???? WTF?

[@brucefrykman8295]

RE: "I keep seeing a repeated comment stating that 'the extra CO2 will help green the planet.' What that person (can't be bothered to look for him now) really ought to do is ask a scientist, an environmentalist, a gardener or farmer, or research for himself as to what all that extra CO2 'really' does to plants." Of course you will get many bad answers but the only people who bet money on the correct answer are the people who buy these: www.greenhousemegastore.com/equip/co2-generators/co-1001-ng?dfw_tracker=43186-CO-1001-NG&gclid=CjwKCAjwiN_mBRBBEiwA9N-e_rr2ncPErFBAJXsFYujGGkz-Tvm8l3dnTSzoToIYmtl37EjbMlNCwRoCIvkQAvD_BwE

[@user-cp3ju2fz4z]

@@brucefrykman8295 Yes it is what political propaganda is made of... Of course since there is more CO2 and glacier melting and in colder region warmer we got world wide more green, thats a fact but does not tell the truth about the impacts of CO2 on vegetation and not what science and the facts are, what says clearly that CO2 is very devastating to natural vegetation, much more then people do by deforestation for products, because this impact is only reginal not world wide. Also you do never fertilize the vegetation in nature, it is very easy to understand why you do not, when you got short-living Flower or Food you do take care of with extra water, pest extermination and you change the whole soil which becomes nutrients-poor with time, it is not such a problem, but you will not give every forrest extra water and change the soil and take care of pest, by that we have also the impacts of warming by too much CO2 does say seaonal shiffting, climate zone changing, more acid soil and water cycle of earth, more flooding, droughts and extreme weather impacts and so on..... you will not prevent vegetation of these impacts. Even the world wide crop failure rate is increasing and this is vegetation you care a lot of and these people do everything needed to not loose their income and lifestock on these products does say everything you need to know and what science did make clear decades ago, there even countries to warm around the equator already they all have programs for farmers to adapt to the changes but there is no chance like in West-Afrika there is now a 4 year long drought, in Bangladesh there is flooding, Mexico can not handle the missing water and temps too, and so on and so on .... even in Climate balanced regions like Europa with a lot of money and technologies you have rising crop failure rates, in Germany also with also higher prices now on some food-products like bread and normally you can grow everything in Germanys Climate without Problems at all, it is a country in very balanced climate zone where you normally do not know a crop failure rate.

[@luigi2k]

You live in a land of fools. Climate models do not account for water vapor, clouds, cosmic rays and the Sun. The Earth is in a preglacial period. It will certainly get colder. And carbon dioxide is not a pollutant. The extra CO2 in the atmosphere inadvertently added by man has increased the biomass and has made life expectancy soar. I read comments by depressed millennials who say they do not want children. Not sorry to bust their bubbles, but having children is the reason for human existence. Cultural Marxism has inculcated so many young people with a slave's mentality, as intended. The world is not ending in twelve or one hundred years. We Are Not The Enemy Of Nature Between 8000 years ago during the Holocene Climatic Optimum and 1000 years ago the temperatures fell, but the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration increased from 260 to 280 ppm. And no one knows why. This is The Holocene Conundrum. Scientists don't understand most things pertaining to climate. Industrialization interrupted the inexorable death of plants and the end of life on Earth. We are not the enemy of nature, but its salvation. Patrick Moore - The Power of Truth › kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4jEmX5_fJl1e5Y

[@misterguts]

26:03 "...individual prepping..." Totally impractical, we are too tightly wired. Money under the mattress? Storing food? There are systems behind money and food delivery, and those things will fail when the systems fail.

[@evadd2]

Both China and Saudi Arabia have bought farmland on a large scale throughout Africa. There will be regional conflicts and inter-regional conflicts over things like food. Syrian rebellion generated 1M migrants and refugees. Imagine what destabilization occurs when 100M let alone 1B people try to leave the inhabitable zones? Dystopia will be a dream at this point.

[@exiled_londoner]

I was quite taken with the starkly brutal but nonetheless honest way in which this guy made his case... right up to the point where he said that we should all join and vote for the Green Party (34:04) because it was the only political party "even remotely serious about the kind of agenda we're talking about here". This is utterly untrue, for two main reasons. Firstly, the Green Party (of England and Wales - the Scottish Greens have sold their souls to ethno-nationalism and are a vile disgrace to any kind of progressive or environmentalist agenda) is very much part of the problem rather than the solution. The GP (EW) draws in many people who care and who are aware of the dangers we face but who lack the political experience or the economic and ideological knowledge to grasp that the transformation we need to achieve has to include the abandonment of our entire economic system and its replacement with one that has to be broadly collectivist and socialist. The Green Party, for a variety of reasons, but primarily because of political cowardice, and also its origins in the fiercely right wing Ecology Party, tells people that we don't have to change very much and if we simply adopt some environmentally friendly policies (renewable energy, electric vehicles, home insulation, carbon emission reduction targets with teeth, etc.) then we can all carry on pretty much as before. Therefore all those enthusiastic young people who join or support the Green Party are effectively lost to the real struggle, which is to persuade people to accept that an economy based on permanent growth and permanent debt cannot even start to make the changes necessary to prepare for transformation. The second reason the statement is untrue is because it is just factually wrong. There are other political organisations who broadly accept the analysis offered here (unlike the GP) and who are far closer to the policies being argued for (the Alliance for Green Socialism [AGS] is the obvious one, but there may be others). The reason the AGS, and any other like-minded groups, are ignored is because they are tiny, and the reason they are tiny is because their message (that consumer capitalism and environmental sustainability are incompatible and that we have to ditch our current economic and political power structures) frightens many people... which is why the gutless cowards leading the Green Party don't dare to say it, even if they know it's true. I agree with much of the analysis being laid out here, but while people like Mr Read still advocate for a political party which claims that the changes we need to make can be relatively contained and won't cause too much disruption, then it's all so much wasted hot air. If we're not willing to throw our weight behind the only political groups making the case for treating Global Warming as an existential threat that requires drastic and difficult change because we're scared this might frighten off people worried about their pension funds and their property prices then we're all totally screwed and might as well throw in the towel now.

[@ArTiiCDivision]

What he says about ecology psychology at 20:00 is something ive been saying for years! No Wonder People are depressed and anxious when we are so alienated from ourselves, nature, and ofc the destruction we are causing to something that is an extension of ourselves will manifest in our psychology.

[@zeroxcliche]

also methane as 25 times CO2 is just a convention - in its first two years its more like 160 times - this is where there is possibility of a rapid run away effect combined with sea ice loss & why Hansen has advocated for geo engineering in arctic

[@markrobinowitz8473]

Hansen also says we should boil water with slow motion atomic bombs, otherwise known as nuclear power. Plutonium made in reactors will be dangerous even longer than methane and CO2. Using less of everything is not on Hansen's list of responses.

[@morninboy]

The sadist part for us collectively and as a species, is that an organism that has arose out of the primordial soup and can see its place in the universe, has become the instrument of its own demise. Dinosaurs 123 million years, Homo sapiens 250 thousand years

[@pmillieret5036]

at last an honest talk where the speaker does not dillute his message by unnecessary list of "2100" predictions...

[@elischrock5356]

So you finally changed my mind on nuclear power. Thanks.

[@joehart6030]

Well Halleluja!

[@user-cp3ju2fz4z]

Nuclear energy is the most stupid choice right at the moment, for nuclear energy you need security and monitoring, but with increasing weather extremes, sea level rise, heat waves, wildefires, floods, conflicts, economical collapse,... you do not want nuclear energy solutions without personal to monitor and secure the reactor all the time or will be wipe off the map into the environment by an impact of climate change. Already the reactors we have today are in near future a great risk and increasing.

[@joehart6030]

@@user-cp3ju2fz4z - Just say 'NO!'!

[@kootzie]

Yes! Not many people point out the accounting anomaly which attributes emissions to the country of production rather than the country of consumption. Also, even more important, the current AGH is due to centuries of emissions during the imperialist colonialist eras while the infrastructure of the western colonies-turned-countries was being built with ill-gotten goods extracted, expropriated, exploited from the frontiers in the Global South - now well shit-hole-ified A proper accounting must take into account primarily the per-capita _accumulated_ emissions...

[@alexwing3880]

As an aspiring writer myself I always did find the future of climate change to be a disheartening one. For instance, where could I possibly find the motivation to write what I want and to truly express myself when just a generation or so down the line, if they are even literate would more likely burn my book as fuel instead of read it. Then he mentioned that today's media is sorely lacking in realistic portrayals of the future; in terms of climate change. This "successor civilization" as he put it plants the seed that could grow into innumerable books. What will these civilizations be like? Will some live in highly advanced cities while some live in a stone age society? Conflicts with one another and the environment will inevitably arise. Are some of these civilizations even on earth to begin with? In my mind's eye, these books could serve as more than just entertainment but rather sowing the seeds of hope in these very real successor civilizations when their time comes.

[@christopherdennis4280]

I guess the third rail in this discussion (bc it is the core culprit and went unmentioned) is the economic system.

[@wnose]

2019: Greenland melts, in a worst case scenario expected for 2070. "Worse than expected", "sooner than predicted", "hotter than ever" welcome to the new normal.

[@eameece]

His lifeboat section kind of reminds me of some of the final scenes of Dr. Strangelove, when they were talking about an underground mine-shaft settlements of chosen folks.

[@lindahurrell1864]

Not sure if the problem is with my reception, but the sound track on this (essential) talk keeps fading in and out?

[@danuneken]

Haven't noticed that...

[@danikadinsmore]

I can hear it perfectly fine.

[@brucefrykman8295]

Its another byproduct of climate change (along with vastly diminished IQ....the data here is alarming)

[@kerrymarris4260]

your right about one thing, and that's the extinction of humanity. I have a great feeling for the rest of mother earth's inhabitants.some will not survive like us, but at least they'll have a chance without people here. thanks again, Wonka say's ask A dolphin or A whale what they think about this, and you will always get the truth.

[@danwalburn6954]

Now would be a good time for the aliens to show up and give us the technology to save ourselves. Except that we'd try to give them bibles, or put them in a porn video.

[@thomasskokan4644]

Dan Walburn Why not both??? Think abt it ...there is plenty of SEX in t OT of t Bible.Biblical Porn BP cud save us !! Maybe if 4.69 % of t BT's ( Bible Thumpers) wud b so shocked by BP they might 👀 how silly many of t ppl in t OT were & how they followed an = silly (& scary !! ) "god" who, whatever he was...was NOT deserving of t title of t "Creator". BP for the BT's !!!

[@jacob_massengale]

they're already here. sadly, they seam pretty indifferent to our plight

[@jacob_massengale]

either that or they think we are a disease not worth saving. maybe they've already collected samples of all the speacies they could find for relocation.

[@bargdaffy1535]

Ok, from 1980, the average Decade increase in Global Temperature was 0.09C, By 2020 this figure had increased to 0.3C, more than a tripling in 40 years. Conservatively estimating a linear increase puts this figure at 1.0C increase per decade by 2060. Now, we can assume that there will be at some point a leveling out of emissions, simply due to the decay in civilization, somewhere around 2040 or 2050. This leads to Today 2020 1.4C over the 1750 Dawn of Industrialization Baseline....0.4C by 2030 leads to 1.8C warming, 2040 2.3C, 2050 3.0C 2060 4.2C. Much of this is already built into our more recent world record emissions. The true problem will be ability to grow, distribute and store grains and vegetables in Scale and Scope and we are unlikely to meet that challenge with our current leadership.

[@victim21]

@26:10 In response to putting money under your mattress: if the banks fail, would this physical cash be worth anything? Wouldn't it make more sense to stockpile supplies and food rather than cash? When money isn't in a bank, the value stays stagnant or drops over time, so I don't think this is a good idea overall. I agree with the presentation and Rupert Read as a whole but this one point really irks me. Open to discussion if I'm wrong, however.

[@hashkeeper]

wish it would fucking collapse already, honestly. having all aspects of life dictated by money is the worst form of hell

[@prolificlife1710]

100% right

[@paxwallacejazz]

Finally someone's telling like it is besides McPherson.

[@mkkrupp2462]

As well as a few others now.

[@drkevincampbell]

More CO2 is great for greening the planet. The more the better. This global warming nonsense is so silly and stupid, most people with IQ's above 150 know its nothing more than a tax scam

[@earldecker7760]

paxwallacejazz-Both are IDIOTS preaching to IDIOTS.

[@patrickbateman4492]

@@drkevincampbell Every single life form on earth is in decline pal. 200 species going extinct every day. That's a fact. Another fun fact is, you're IQ is nowhere near 150, for if it were, you would most certainly posses the ability to form a correct sentence. Just one of your many shortcomings, but nowhere near as dangerous as your arrogance.

[@sorbetelf460]

paxwallacejazz but he totally ignored the impact of disease. As people are forced into new previously forested areas we are at a huge risk of releasing currently unknown pathogens plus as climate changes insect ranges change bringing with them disease into populations that have not had the time to develop a resistance - Zika virus should be seen as a very benign warning. People are screwed. It would be nice to think that one day everyone will wake up have a reality check and take the kind of radical action that would now be necessary to survive (well a few of us), but, Rapa Nui provides us with clear evidence that we actually behave counterproductively when we are faced with such extreme risk to our survival. The world is now providing additional proof, we are instead pushing for cheaper goods so we can produce ever more useless crap with zero actual purpose. We are doomed!

[@GregoryJWalters]

Thank you so much Prof. Read! May I humbly suggest, however, that your lecture holds a Presupposition that is slightly at odds with your philosophical approach as a whole. Stated simply, you assert a Negative view of Geo-engineering from the outset. More importantly, you presupposition about its various means already holds a negative moral valence, and, if I understand you correctly, an imputation of "Technological Optimism" or some view of technology that will be useless, and, morever, merely mask the pride and ambitions of Human beings. Am I correct? Have you clearly thought through the implications of Deep Adapatation and the role of technology therewith? Thank you so much for the work that you are doing. You are making such a hugh difference in understanding in our world. Much appreciated!

[@GenJouh]

I was afraid back in 2010 when I discovered this trend by watching videos like this and following The Arctic Sea Ice Graphs. By now I'm jaded and have resigned to the fact that about 90% of us will perish because industrial civilization will collapse. I don't believe our technological civilization will collapse, however most of us will die. Enjoy it while you can.

[@jilloneill4672]

Yes the world is changing, we are going through a convergence of changes on many levels, climate is only one. Today’s world and tomorrow’s world will never be the same as yesterday’s world, this has always happened in the past and will happen over and over again, yet some people will always hanker for what they once knew to be normal. The strength and survival of humanity has always been due the ability of mankind to change and adapt to our surroundings and we don’t need doomsday nutters like Rupert Reed, Roger Hallam and the likes who offer nothing more than to inject negativity and hopelessness into the human psyche which will affect people’s ability to gather the strength to rally and adapt. This sort of despondent rhetoric is what undermines our progress towards healthy and stable adaption to the present changes. If we are not defined by a vision of the future, we are left with memories of the past. If these people are sapping and bleeding you of you ability to maintain a positive vision of your future then source other views....a good one is Gregg Braden, who acknowledges all the planetary changes that are occurring but explains them in a different way. Check him out or find your own. Bruce Lipton is another one. Be very, very wary of people and groups who project dire and fear ridden forecasts, there is often another agenda attached that’s not always visible. Be cautious and always do your own research before jumping on “band wagons”.

[@sipplix]

Ok, so now I'm enlightened. One question, why is the thumbnail for this informative video so bright, sunny and almost cheery in nature? After watching it I'm contemplating packing up moving to the hills and building an ark... sheesh! 😳😥

[@brucefrykman8295]

In one hundred years the sea level might be a few inches higher, sell everything and start building your Ark on the crest of Mt McKinley.

[@komoriaimi]

One thing I disagree with is who's to blame here. It wasn't my parents, or me nor my grandparents. We didn't fail anyone. A handful of corporations are responsible for most of the emissions, in such a way that if we'd all collectively stop driving our cars, reducing or eliminating plastics we'd still be heading for destruction because it's not us. Power does not concede anything not even an inch. What were people supposed to do? Living their lives, trying to survive and just going along with the paradigms of our societies. No, I refuse to blame the regular people. The only thing everyone is guilty of is of the lack of a collective foot on the ground and loudly and clearly say: You'll do this no more to us, to other species. I don't know how to make change in the face of so much power and money.

[@eugenewade7171]

Well, by the end of 2022, in the USA where I live, it is still almost impossible to talk about the real threat of global warming without causing unease, disapproval, push back, hostility. People will think you are undergoing some depression, sucked into some doomsday cult, or worse, being pessimistic, critical of Progress. Young or old, I absolutely don't know anybody who would start the topic, or would be willing to listen one minute of it. Yet, all serious scientists give this evidence that many in the next generations, most of them actually if not all, will die. I feel like I'm living in some parallel universe, my universe being the real one, one this earth.

[@anthonymorris5084]

There isn't a reputable scientist on the face of this Earth claiming that we're all going to die and there isn't an ounce of evidence to make such an absurd claim. Data proves that humanity has never been safer, healthier or more prosperous than at any time in history, by any measurement you care to examine.

[@jennarose60monroe51]

Absolutely brilliant... Thank you.